The amount of the bond must be at least two times the amount of the fine and court costs.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. It must be equal to the fine alone
• D. It is set by the clerk

Answer: (A)

In this area, the bond for a Class C misdemeanor case in municipal court is required to be at least twice the amount of the fine plus court costs. This minimum double-bond rule provides a financial incentive for the defendant to appear in court and to pay any penalties assessed.

For example, if the maximum possible fine is 100 dollars and court costs total 40 dollars, the minimum bond would be 2 times (100 + 40) = 280 dollars. The bond can be higher if the court determines a greater risk of nonappearance or other factors, but it cannot be lower than that minimum.

This differs from being equal to the fine alone or being determined solely by the clerk, since the rule targets the combined amount of fine and costs and establishes a floor set by the court.