Bail and bail bonds; fixing of bail and authorized forms thereof

§ 520.10 Bail and bail bonds; fixing of bail and authorized forms thereof.

1. The only authorized forms of bail are the following:

(a) Cash bail.

(b) An insurance company bail bond.

(c) A secured surety bond.

(d) A secured appearance bond.

(e) A partially secured surety bond.

(f) A partially secured appearance bond.

(g) An unsecured surety bond.

(h) An unsecured appearance bond.

(i) Credit card or similar device; provided, however, that notwithstanding any other provision of law, any person posting bail by credit card or similar device also may be required to pay a reasonable administrative fee. The amount of such administrative fee and the time and manner of its payment shall be in accordance with the system established pursuant to subdivision four of section 150.30 of this chapter or paragraph (j) of subdivision two of section two hundred twelve of the judiciary law, as appropriate.

2. The methods of fixing bail are as follows:

(a) A court may designate the amount of the bail without designating the form or forms in which it may be posted. In such case, the bail may be posted in either of the forms specified in paragraphs (g) and (h) of subdivision one;

(b) The court shall direct that the bail be posted in any one of three or more of the forms specified in subdivision one of this section, designated in the alternative, and may designate different amounts varying with the forms, except that one of the forms shall be either an unsecured or partially secured surety bond, as selected by the court.