Section 17-6-54. No further compensation after becoming surety; when sum received to be returned to defendant; right to surrender defendant and to keep sum paid when defendant forfeits

   (a) No professional bondsman or his or her agents or employees who receive compensation for becoming the surety on a criminal bond shall thereafter receive any other sum in the case. If the surety surrenders a defendant into the custody of the court, the sheriff, or another law enforcement officer in the jurisdiction where the bond was made before final disposition of the case, the surety is required to return to the principal the compensation received for signing the bond as surety if such surrender of the defendant is for reasons other than:

   (1) The defendant's arrest for a crime other than a traffic violation or misdemeanor;

   (2) The defendant's cosigner attests in writing the desire to be released from the bond;

   (3) The defendant fails to provide to the court and the surety the defendant's change of address;

   (4) The defendant fails to pay any fee due to the surety after being notified by certified mail or statutory overnight delivery that the same is past due;

   (5) The defendant fails to notify the court and the surety upon leaving the jurisdiction of the court; or

   (6) The defendant provides false information to the surety.

(b) In the event of a forfeiture on the bond by the defendant, the surety shall have the right to surrender into custody the defendant who is the principal on the bond without returning any compensation paid by the defendant for the signing of the bond.

Ga. L. 1921, p. 243, §§ 6, 7; Code 1933, §§ 27-506, 27-507; Ga. L. 1996, p. 1233, § 2; Ga. L. 2000, p. 1589, § 3.