Guaranteed arrest bond certificates as cash bail; forfeiture; sureties

A. A guaranteed arrest bond certificate with respect to which a fidelity and surety company has become surety as provided in Subsection B of this Section, when posted by the person whose signature appears thereon, shall be accepted in lieu of cash bail in an amount not to exceed two hundred dollars, as a bail bond, to guarantee the appearance of such person in any court in this state at such time as may be required by the court, when such person is arrested for violation of any motor vehicle law of this state or ordinance of any municipality or parish in this state, except for the offense of driving while intoxicated or for any felony, and the alleged violation was committed prior to the date of expiration shown on such guaranteed arrest bond certificate.

Any such guaranteed arrest bond certificate so posted as a bail bond in any court in this state shall be subject to the forfeiture and collection provisions of law applicable to a bail bond, except that any judgment forfeiting a guaranteed arrest bond certificate rendered under said forfeiture and collection provisions shall, at any time within thirty days after rendition, be set aside upon the surrender, or the appearance and trial and conviction or acquittal of the defendant, or upon a continuance granted upon motion of the district attorney after such appearance.

B. Any domestic or foreign insurance company which has qualified to transact fidelity and surety insurance business in this state may, in any year, become surety in an amount not to exceed two hundred dollars with respect to each guaranteed arrest bond certificate issued in such year by an automobile club, automobile association or insurance company authorized to transact automobile liability insurance business within this state or by the fidelity and surety company itself.

The term "guaranteed arrest bond certificate," as used herein, means a printed card or other certificate issued by an automobile club, automobile association, insurance company authorized to transact automobile liability insurance business within this state, or an insurance company authorized to transact fidelity and surety insurance business within this state to any of its members or insureds, which is signed by such member or insured, and contains a printed statement that a fidelity and surety company authorized to do business in this state guarantees the appearance of the person whose signature appears on the card or certificate, and that such company will, in the event of the failure of said person to appear in court at the time of trial, pay any fine or forfeiture imposed on such person in an amount not to exceed two hundred dollars.

The issuance of a "guaranteed arrest bond certificate," as hereinabove defined, by an automobile club, automobile association or insurance company not authorized to transact fidelity and surety insurance business in this state shall not be construed as engaging in fidelity and surety insurance business in this state by such automobile club, automobile association or insurance company.

Acts 1966, No. 290, §1.