What can a licensed bail agent do?

• A. Refuse to disclose any fees.
• B. Charge the filed 10% premium and disclosed expense fee; comply with ORC for collateral and solicitation.
• C. Only accept cash.
• D. Charge a 15% premium and transparent fee.

Answer: (B)

In Ohio, a licensed bail agent operates under strict rules about fees and security. The fee they may charge is a 10% premium of the bail amount, plus any disclosed expense fees. This premium is the agent’s compensation for posting the bond and providing the service, and the exact amounts must be clearly disclosed in the contract. Along with fees, the agent must comply with Ohio Revised Code requirements regarding collateral—what can be used as security, how it must be handled, and what happens if the defendant skips court—and with rules governing solicitation and advertising, ensuring practices are lawful and non-deceptive.

So the option that correctly reflects the allowed practice is charging the filed 10% premium plus a disclosed expense fee, and operating in accordance with the ORC rules for collateral and solicitation. The other choices conflict with Ohio law: the premium cannot be 15%, fees cannot be hidden, and there isn’t a requirement to accept only cash.