§15-13-101. Definitions.

As used in this article, the following terms shall have the following meanings, respectively, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

(1) APPEARANCE BOND. An appearance bond is an undertaking to pay the clerk of the circuit, district, or municipal court, for the use of the State of Alabama or the municipality, a specified sum of money upon the failure of a person released to comply with its conditions.

(2) JUDICIAL OFFICER. Any supreme court, appellate court, circuit court, district court, or municipal court judge or any magistrate of any court in this state.

(3) PROFESSIONAL BAIL COMPANY. A person, individual proprietor, partnership, corporation, or other entity, other than a professional surety company, that furnishes bail or becomes surety for a person on an appearance bond and does so for a valuable consideration.

(4) PROFESSIONAL BONDSMAN. An individual person or agent employed by a professional surety company or professional bail company to solicit and execute appearance bonds or actively seek bail bond business for or on behalf of a professional surety company or a professional bail company.

(5) PROFESSIONAL SURETY COMPANY. An insurance company, domestic or foreign corporation, or association engaged in the business of insurance, or a surety with a bail line of insurance to which has been issued a certificate of authority or certificate of compliance by the Alabama Department of Insurance to execute appearance bonds or bail bonds in criminal cases in the State of Alabama.

(Acts 1993, No. 93-677, p. 1259, §2.)