Bail Enforcement Agents and Firearms

[JayTee_IsMe]

Hey I am curious if Bail Enforcement Agents are allowed to carry firearms? i.e. say they are licensed by BSIS (where security officers/private investigators/etc are governed) for a exposed firearms license. What about chemical agents and Tasers?

I am not a bounty hunter... I am just extremely curious.

[Tincon]

My understanding is that while actually making an arrest they can be armed, same as any citizen. I believe there was a case where a bail agent tried to claim that wherever he was (or at least his truck) was his place of business (for that exemption to loaded carry) and he was shot down by the court (predictably).

As far as I know, there is no permit issued by BSIS to bail agents that would allow them to carry.

[FMFdevildoc]

I knew a couple in Fremont, CA who opened a bail bond agency. The TOOL who owned it simply attended guard card training & a few other weekend courses.

Granted, this was close to ten years ago. He carried under the then "open carry" rule which I am not clear on how it was written then. Ultimately, he opted to carry less than lethal options: taser, OC paintball guns like the ultimate tool bondsman - "Dog" the "bounty hunter"

[urbancommando]

standard guard card and firearms permit and can carry exposed.

[Petro6golf]

It was explained to me that the loop hole is you can carry a loaded firearm while you are in pursuit of a felon. if they are working then they are pursuing a felon and good to go. A friend was a bail agent and thats how he explained it to me.

[Notorious]

They worked under the federal Supreme Court case of Traynor or something before there was legislation... forgot the case name which said they can do almost whatever in pursuit of a bond, but since a few years ago, CA law has been passed to regulate this field and now they have certain rules to follow, not exactly sure. You would have to check with BSIS.

Sorry, haven't been following this topic since a few years ago... we used to have those guys check in at the station before they did a job in the jurisdiction, and they carried exposed like they were some type of feds playing dress up.

[HapaMan]

standard guard card and firearms permit and can carry exposed.

I believe the stipulation is "when in uniform", though. Having said that, I am not sure what counts as a uniform, if you normally wear jeans and a t-shirt while working.