New Mexico Statutes 59A-51-2. Definitions
As used in the Bail Bondsmen Licensing Law:
Terms Used In New Mexico Statutes 59A-51-2
- Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. Source: OCC
A. “bail bondsman” means a limited surety agent or a property bondsman as hereafter defined;
B. “insurer” means any surety insurer that is authorized to transact surety business in this state;
C. “limited surety agent” means any individual appointed by an insurer by power of attorney to execute or countersign bail bonds in connection with judicial proceedings and receives or is promised money or other things of value therefor;
D. “property bondsman” means any person who pledges United States currency, United States postal money orders or cashier’s checks or other property as security or surety for a bail bond in connection with a judicial proceeding and receives or is promised therefor money or other things of value; and
E. “solicitor” means a person employed by a bail bondsman for the purpose of assisting the bail bondsman in presenting the defendant in court when required, or to assist in the apprehension and surrender of the defendant to the court or in keeping the defendant under necessary surveillance, and to solicit bail bond business, to sign property bonds and to assist in other conduct of the business all as authorized by the employer bail bondsman. This does not affect the right of a bail bondsman to hire counsel or to ask assistance of law enforcement officers. A bail bondsman shall register a solicitor with the superintendent within seven days of employment.