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Bad Check Information

Deposit Account Fraud: A person commits the offense of deposit account fraud when such person makes, draws, utters, executes, or delivers an instrument for the payment of money on any bank or other depository in exchange for a present consideration or wages, knowing that it will not be honored by the drawee.

For the purposes of this Code section, it is prima-facie evidence that the accused knew that the instrument would not be honored if:

• The accused had no account with the drawee at the time the instrument was made, drawn, uttered, or delivered; and/or
• Payment was refused by the drawee for lack of funds upon presentation within 30 days after delivery and the accused or someone for him or her shall not have tendered the holder thereof the amount due thereon, together with a service charge, within ten days after receiving written notice that payment was refused upon such instrument.
• A bad check in the amount of $499.99 or less on an intra-state bank is a misdemeanor.
• A bad check for $500 or more on an intra-state bank is a felony.
• A bad check in any amount on an out-of-state bank is a felony.Punishment: A person convicted of the offense of deposit account fraud shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as follows:
• When the instrument is for less than $100.00, a fine of not more than $500.00 or imprisonment not to exceed 12 months, or both;
• When the instrument is for $100.00 or more but less than $300.00, a fine of not more than $1,000.00 or imprisonment not to exceed 12 months, or both; or
• When more than one instrument is involved and such instruments were drawn within 90 days of one another and each is in an amount less than $100.00, the amounts of such separate instruments may be added together to arrive at and be punishable under subparagraph (B) of this paragraph.Required Information on Check: To establish this prima-facie evidence, the following information regarding the identity of the party presenting the instrument shall be obtained by the party receiving such instrument: The full name, residence address, and home phone number. Such information may be provided by either of two methods:
• The information may be recorded upon the instrument itself; or
• The number of a check-cashing identification card issued by the receiving party may be recorded on the instrument. The check-cashing identification card shall be issued only after the information required in this subsection has been placed on file by the receiving party.Witness Check Signing: In addition to the information required in this subsection, the party receiving an instrument shall witness the signature or endorsement of the party presenting such instrument and as evidence of such the receiving party shall initial the instrument.