Per this story - “Was Love lost? Snubs L.A. judge”
[quote]
5. Forfeiture Defenses.
The California Penal Code establishes a number of conditions under which the forfeiture [of bail] is set aside:
[ul][li] if case is dismissed or no complaint is filed within 15 days of arraignment [1305(a)(5)], [/li]
[li] if the clerk fails to mail forfeiture notice within 30 days or fail to mail to both agent and surety [1305(b)(1)-(3)], [/li]
[li] if defendant is returned to court within the 180 period [1305(b)(1)-(3)], [/li]
[li] if defendant is permanently disabled [PC 1305(d)], deceased or otherwise permanently unable to appear [PC 1305(d)(1)], temporarily disabled [PC 1305(e)(1)-(3)], or in custody beyond jurisdiction of the court [PC 1305(f)(g)], [/li]
[li] a motion is filed by the agent/surety within the 180 day period to be heard within 30 of the expiration of the 180 day period [PC 1305(I)], 1305.4], [/li]
[li] if the court has reason to believe there is a sufficient excuse for a failure to appear, it may continue the case for a period it deems reasonable [PC 1305.1].[/ul][/li][/quote]
Huh. I always figured that you paid a bondsman a premium, which he of course kept, in exchange for him putting up the rest of the cash.
A bondsman (or a surety) is not needed if one can put up the bond oneself. Jackson, for instance, put up his own bond. That statute kind of read as if was applicable only to bondsmen/sureties.