§375.  Illegal consideration for criminal bail bonds

A.  It shall be unlawful for any person to:

(1)  Charge a fee or to receive anything of value to act as a personal surety on a criminal bail bond or to procure another to act as a personal surety on a criminal bail bond in the state of Louisiana.  

(2)  Charge a fee for or to receive anything of value for obtaining a release of a criminal defendant on a bail without surety.  

B.  An attorney at law admitted to practice in the state of Louisiana, in the course of his representation of his client, shall not be affected by this Section.  

C.  Whoever violates the provisions of this Section:

(1)  When the amount charged or received is valued at five hundred dollars or more, shall be imprisoned with or without hard labor for not more than five years or may be fined not more than five thousand dollars, or both.

(2)  When the amount charged or received is valued at one hundred dollars or more, but less than five hundred dollars, shall be imprisoned with or without hard labor for not more than two years or may be fined two thousand dollars, or both.  

(3)  When the amount received or charged is valued at less than one hundred dollars, shall be imprisoned for not more than six months or fined not more than five hundred dollars, or both.  

Acts 1993, No. 834, §3, eff. June 22, 1993.