Going back to TN, if anyone needs help

Joe is correct about the law in TN, I don't know how widely known or enforced it is but it's still the law.

A few years ago I had the misfortune of getting involved with a nit wit that said that the TAPBA course was not required, this same guy took off with peoples money and equipment, Joe was kind enough to explain the law and point me to the statue listed on the TAPBA website.

Why not just take the class and get it over with, it's quick and you might make some good contacts.

Okay since this is on the public forum and not the private discussion group my hand is kind of forced to reply as to some extent I've already been made to look like I don't know what I'm doing. Let me preface this by saying that I've been conducting investigations for six years, and been licensed recovery for four. Of course when I was offered the opportunity to go to TN to do a warrant sweep I jumped on it. This is for bondsmans I've done pick ups for in the past when their skips ended up in Indiana. But before I took this opportunity I researched laws, just as I have done every time in the past when a skip took me into another state. Everything I found indicated that I was fine. After all, TN does not have licensing in place for recovery agents, and so to require an agent to undergoe a class when there is no licensing action that can be taken if the agent complies is not only backwards, it seems virtually un-enforcable. Not to mention how ambigously the law is worded, it leaves a lot up to simply "guessing" what the particular code or statute means. Now I am no novice at reading confusing laws. I am probably more familar with Indiana's criminal codes than most police officers simply because I've made it a point to study, memorize, understand, seek clarification, and dig deeper than what the academy teaches.

With that said my trip was uneventful, a complete success and actually was offered an opportunity for us to move down there and immediately take on full time work. Which I declined simply because I have too much time vested in Indiana but I did agree to return for a couple weeks of every month.

Why would this bail bondsman use us? Well, they had used several local "bounty hunters" in the past who kept being flaky, shady, dog wannabees, and the like. Our reputation proceeds us, and they knew bringing us down was a solid decision and we proved them right.

Am I sounding a little bit defensive? Of course. Do I believe Joe is watcing out for my best interest or do I think he is thinking that he is the big dog (honestly, no pun intended) and a little bit bitter that someone from Indiana got quite a bit of business in his back yard? I don't know Joe so I honestly can't comment, but its something when you're lying in bed kinda ticked off about a silly forum it makes ya think. And by that I don't mean any offense, Joe is obviously to TN as Max Astor is to NC, David Martz and Don Swaine to Indiana, etc.

Now with my pre-trip research and details of why a TN bondsman would hire someone in Indiana explained, let me continue.

Our entire industry in most aspects is what I like to call a "Gray-area" business. So much of what we do is either protected by law, against the law, and in some insane cases both. This is because there are so many local, state, and federal laws in play, some of which contradict each other, none of which most police officers, and prosecutors do not have a solid understanding of.

Also because a lot of laws have not been sufficiently clarified, even at the state level I am always hesitant to take another persons word, instead I usually check with my attorney (which I have and am awaiting word back). Not because I think I am beyond learning anything from anything else, to the contrary I respect everyone in this industry who has survived for longer than I have, much less those who have turned profitable.

But I also understand who people misunderstand facts about this industry all the time and how incorrect information can spread like gospel. When it comes down to it (not referencing this particular situation) a lot of it is simply personal opinion. A prime example would be a situation of "gearing up" before making an arrest. People go round and round about this topic all the time. I've gotten stern looks from law enforcement at times when I've been geared up, and I've also been scolded by law enforcement for not gearing up, being told that if they come flying in to shots fired or report of breaking and entering that they need to be able to easily identify me. And the list goes on and on. A lot of the old timers in this industry give very frank opinions about how certain things should be done, and sometimes their advice is worth its weight in gold, and sometimes they haven't kept up with the ever changing times and are what I refer lovingly to as "old-school" bondsmans.

Now I may have let my post get a little bit drawn out, but here I am, a person who generally refrains from online drama. I also believe there are two other groups of "bounty hunters". Those who sit online all day and talk about it, and those that are too busy making money to waste time online. Again, not referring to anyone in this thread.

Now in short, once I hear back from my attorney and if the attorney clears me I will return to TN very shortly. If the attorney does not clear me, I will complete a "class" (as if books could ever teach you about field work) and make the state of TN happy and the people of FRN. In that case I'll simply post-pone my trip until I can complete the rogouishly vauge requirement.

In my case, I was sidelined by a car wreck earlier this year and had no choice but to come out of the field and take a desk job.

I much prefer being out in the field, running my own show, investigating and apprehending. Sometimes though, fate just intervenes in ways we don't like and we have to make adjustments, however unpleasant those adjustments may be.

So for right now I am desk bound. I'm hoping the Dr. will clear me for field work here very soon, and I can get back to doing what I do best, which is running people down.

Take care and God Bless,

Ruffin.

_________________
River City Associates
Decatur, Al. 35601

Oh my stars ~ Matt you take this way too serious as you should. Learn what you can from the people that care and Be Safe out there while you are taking care of business.

_________________


Do not consider anything for your interest which makes you break your word, quit your modesty, or inclines you to any practice which will not bear the light, or look the world in the face .... Marcus Antonius

I AM Some Folks "KARMA" and A MODERATOR @ FRN

As far as being taken advantage of, lied to, and used, the bondsmans I'm working for have directed me to the best of their understanding. In fact they are very "by the book" people, and if they were mistaken it was an honest oversight. I always got paid same day, and the checks cleared.

Taking it too seriously? I've been accused of that before, and sure - there may be some truth to that. I'm man enough to admit it. I didn't take issue so much with people throwing in their "cautionary advice" more to the implications that something just wasn't right with the picture.

Anyway this thread has been beat to death, so thanks all and continued safety and luck out there.

Matt,
I know you don't know me or you would realize that I never post unless I can add something constructive. I am neither bitter nor jealous of yours or anyone's accomplishments. My sole purpose in participating in this and other forums is to better the industry.

It would be gauche to list my credentials here, but suffice it to say that it would have to be an extremely large pay day to get me to put together my guys and go chase jumpers in Nashville. In fact as a few here on this forum could attest, I could live quite comfortably and never pick up another jumper. That being the case I have just returned from picking someone up because that is what I do for a living.

My total concern was that I felt that when asked about your compliance with Tennesse law, you answered in a manner that indicated to me that you did not understand Tennesse laws governing bail recovery. Now I understand that not only do you feel that you understand them, but that you are also in compliance with them. On this we will have to disagree.

Regardless,it is against my nature to wish anyone ill, so I wish you luck in your future endeavors. May your captures be safe and uneventful.

_________________
Joe Stiles
Bail Fast Bonding/
Black Aces Bail Recovery
Knoxville, TN
800-689-5031

Matt
Since I instigated this, I want to close it out with a few things.

All of us have done recovery work where we were not compliant for one reason or another and gotten away with it. My point was to make you aware that there was a requirement. None of us want to be "In the News" as it makes the entire industry look bad.

I have bail bond and PI Agencies in Maryland and Virginia, and started out picking up skips in the early 90's. My business has steadily grown to what it is today, now second generation with my oldest son Dustin writing Bonds now.
I believe that I am successful, comfortable and rather liquid and Joe Stiles could buy and sell me many times over.

I came to know Mr. Stiles a number of years ago, we have attended classes each of us has taught and we have taught classes together. We have picked up skips for each other and transported them to the other, as well as picked up skips shoulder to shoulder.

Please understand that posts of this nature are meant to police ourselves so the government doesn't have to. We fight very hard and spend a ton of money to lobbyists to keep our businesses going and fight off the people who don't want commercial bail, period. It is our collective effort that keeps work available for recovery guys and girls. It only takes one mistake to allow the nay sayers to rally the troops against us, whether it be the truth or not (Remember AZ and Hutchins) just to keep themselves in the news papers.

In closing, I sincerely hope that you enjoy a long career in this trade, and that your success allows you to grow and progress into writing bonds, and that you have no skips, and that it is you writing this stuff to a whole new breed of recovery agents...Just be careful not believe that people who post here are less skilled than you, too old fashioned or incapable of doing what you do, they may just be in a financial position that they don't have to

Lastly, it is the sage advice of these old coots that may save your life one day.

Scott

_________________
R.E. "Scott" MacLean III

"Leaders are like Eagles, you never see them in a flock, but one at a time"

Chesapeake Group Investigations, Inc.
Chesapeake Bail Bonds
877-574-0500
301-392-1100 (fax)
301-392-1900 (Office)

END OF TOPIC

_________________


Do not consider anything for your interest which makes you break your word, quit your modesty, or inclines you to any practice which will not bear the light, or look the world in the face .... Marcus Antonius

I AM Some Folks "KARMA" and A MODERATOR @ FRN