76-6-505. Issuing a bad check or draft — Presumption.
| (1) |
Terms defined in Section 76-1-101.5 apply to this section. |
Attorney's Note
Under the Utah Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|
| class A misdemeanor | up to 364 days | up to $2,500 |
| class B misdemeanor | up to 6 months | up to $1,000 |
For details, see
Utah Code § 76-3-204
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Terms Used In Utah Code 76-6-505
- Actor: means a person whose criminal responsibility is in issue in a criminal action. See Utah Code 76-1-101.5
- Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
- Offense: means a violation of any penal statute of this state. See Utah Code 76-1-101.5
- Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
- Person: means an individual, public or private corporation, government, partnership, or unincorporated association. See Utah Code 76-1-101.5
- Property: includes both real and personal property. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
- State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes a state, district, or territory of the United States. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
| (2) |
| (a) |
| (i) |
An actor commits issuing a bad check or draft if:
| (A) |
the actor issues or passes a check or draft for the payment of money, for the purpose of obtaining from any person, firm, partnership, or corporation, any money, property, or other thing of value or paying for any services, wages, salary, labor, or rent; |
| (B) |
the actor knows the check or draft will not be paid by the drawee; and |
| (C) |
payment is refused by the drawee. |
|
| (ii) |
For purposes of this Subsection (2)(a), an actor who issues a check or draft for which payment is refused by the drawee is presumed to know the check or draft would not be paid if the actor had no account with the drawee at the time of issue. |
|
| (b) |
An actor commits issuing a bad check or draft if:
| (i) |
the actor issues or passes a check or draft for:
| (A) |
the payment of money, for the purpose of obtaining from any person, firm, partnership, or corporation, any money, property, or other thing of value; or |
| (B) |
paying for any services, wages, salary, labor, or rent; |
|
| (ii) |
payment of the check or draft is legally refused by the drawee; and |
| (iii) |
the actor fails to make good and actual payment to the payee in the amount of the refused check or draft within 14 days of the actor receiving actual notice of the check or draft’s nonpayment. |
|
|
| (3) |
A violation of Subsection (2)(a) or (b) is punished as follows:
| (a) |
if the check or draft or series of checks or drafts made or drawn in this state within a period not exceeding six months amounts to a sum that is less than $500, the offense is a class B misdemeanor; |
| (b) |
if the check or draft or checks or drafts made or drawn in this state within a period not exceeding six months amounts to a sum that is or exceeds $500 but is less than $1,500, the offense is a class A misdemeanor; |
| (c) |
if the check or draft or checks or drafts made or drawn in this state within a period not exceeding six months amounts to a sum that is or exceeds $1,500 but is less than $5,000, the offense is a third degree felony; or |
| (d) |
if the check or draft or checks or drafts made or drawn in this state within a period not exceeding six months amounts to a sum that is or exceeds $5,000, the offense is a second degree felony. |
|
| (4) |
This section may not be construed to impose criminal or civil liability on any law enforcement officer acting within the scope of a criminal investigation. |
Amended by Chapter 111, 2023 General Session
