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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>378659</law_id><section_number>9.1-186.3</section_number><catch_line>Powers of Department relating to bail enforcement agents</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="36" identifier="9.1">Commonwealth Public Safety</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="1">Department of Criminal Justice Services</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="12" identifier="12">Bail Enforcement Agents</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> In addition to the powers otherwise conferred upon it by <span class="dictionary">law</span>, the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> may charge each applicant for licensure or licensee a nonrefundable fee as established by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> to (i) cover the costs of processing an application for licensure, enforcement of the regulations, and other costs associated with the maintenance of the program of regulation; (ii) cover the costs of <span class="dictionary">bail recovery</span> training, processing school certifications and enforcement of training standards; (iii) conduct investigations to determine the suitability of applicants for licensure and (iv) conduct investigations to determine if any disciplinary actions against a licensed bail enforcement agent are warranted. For purposes of determining eligibility for licensure, the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> shall require the applicant to provide personal descriptive information to be forwarded, along with the applicant&#x2019;s fingerprints, to the Central Criminal Records Exchange for the purpose of conducting a Virginia criminal history records search. The Central Criminal Records Exchange shall forward the fingerprints and personal description to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the purpose of obtaining a national criminal record check. <a id="paragraph-1414052" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/9.1-186.3/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The Director or his designee may make an <span class="dictionary">ex parte</span> application to the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> for the city or county wherein <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> sought is kept or wherein a licensee does business for the issuance of a <span class="dictionary">subpoena duces tecum</span> in furtherance of the investigation of a sworn complaint within the <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> of the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> or the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> to request production of any relevant records, documents and physical or other <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> of any person, partnership, association or corporation licensed or regulated by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> pursuant to this article. The <span class="dictionary">court</span> may <span class="dictionary">issue</span> and compel compliance with such a subpoena upon a showing of reasonable cause. Upon determining that reasonable cause exists to believe that <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> may be destroyed or altered, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may <span class="dictionary">issue</span> a <span class="dictionary">subpoena duces tecum</span> requiring the immediate production of <span class="dictionary">evidence</span>. Costs of the investigation and adjudication of violations of this article or <span class="dictionary">Board</span> regulations may be recovered. All costs recovered shall be deposited into the state treasury to the credit of the Bail Enforcement Agent Regulatory Fund. Such proceedings shall be brought in the name of the Commonwealth by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> in the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> of the city or county in which the unlawful act occurred or in which the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> resides. The Director, or agents appointed by him, shall have the authority to administer <span class="dictionary">oaths</span> or affirmations for the purpose of receiving complaints and conducting investigations of violations of this article, or any regulation promulgated hereunder and to serve process issued by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> or the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>. <a id="paragraph-1414053" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/9.1-186.3/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2004, c. 397.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
