What are the criminal charges for a bad check?
Full Question:
Answer:
The following are NY statutes:
§ 190.00 Penal. Issuing a bad check; definitions of terms.
The following definitions are applicable to this article:
1. "Check" means any check, draft or similar sight order for the payment
of money which is not post-dated with respect to the time of utterance.
2. "Drawer" of a check means a person whose name appears thereon as the
primary obligor, whether the actual signature be that of himself or of a
person purportedly authorized to draw the check in his behalf.
3. "Representative drawer" means a person who signs a check as drawer in
a representative capacity or as agent of the person whose name appears
thereon as the principal drawer or obligor.
4. "Utter." A person "utters" a check when, as a drawer or representative
drawer thereof, he delivers it or causes it to be delivered to a person who
thereby acquires a right against the drawer with respect to such check. One
who draws a check with intent that it be so delivered is deemed to have
uttered it if the delivery occurs.
5. "Pass." A person "passes" a check when, being a payee, holder or
bearer of a check which previously has been or purports to have been drawn
and uttered by another, he delivers it, for a purpose other than
collection, to a third person who thereby acquires a right with respect
thereto.
6. "Funds" means money or credit.
7. "Insufficient funds." A drawer has "insufficient funds" with a drawee
to cover a check when he has no funds or account whatever, or funds in an
amount less than that of the check; and a check dishonored for "no account"
shall also be deemed to have been dishonored for "insufficient funds."
§ 190.05 Penal. Issuing a bad check.
A person is guilty of issuing a bad check when:
1. (a) As a drawer or representative drawer, he utters a check knowing
that he or his principal, as the case may be, does not then have sufficient
funds with the drawee to cover it, and (b) he intends or believes at the
time of utterance that payment will be refused by the drawee upon
presentation, and (c) payment is refused by the drawee upon presentation;
or
2. (a) He passes a check knowing that the drawer thereof does not then
have sufficient funds with the drawee to cover it, and (b) he intends or
believes at the time the check is passed that payment will be refused by
the drawee upon presentation, and (c) payment is refused by the drawee upon
presentation.
Issuing a bad check is a class B misdemeanor.
§ 190.10 Penal. Issuing a bad check; presumptions.
1. When the drawer of a check has insufficient funds with the drawee to
cover it at the time of utterance, the subscribing drawer or representative
drawer, as the case may be, is presumed to know of such insufficiency.
2. A subscribing drawer or representative drawer, as the case may be, of
an ultimately dishonored check is presumed to have intended or believed
that the check would be dishonored upon presentation when:
(a) The drawer had no account with the drawee at the time of utterance;
or
(b)(i) The drawer had insufficient funds with the drawee at the time of
utterance, and (ii) the check was presented to the drawee for payment not
more than thirty days after the date of utterance, and (iii) the drawer had
insufficient funds with the drawee at the time of presentation.
3. Dishonor of a check by the drawee and insufficiency of the drawer's
funds at the time of presentation may properly be proved by introduction in
evidence of a notice of protest of the check, or of a certificate under
oath of an authorized representative of the drawee declaring the dishonor
and insufficiency, and such proof shall constitute presumptive evidence of
such dishonor and insufficiency.
§ 190.15 Penal. Issuing a bad check; defenses.
In any prosecution for issuing a bad check, it is an affirmative defense
that:
1. The defendant or a person acting in his behalf made full satisfaction
of the amount of the check within ten days after dishonor by the drawee; or
2. The defendant, in acting as a representative drawer, did so as an
employee who, without personal benefit, merely executed the orders of his
employer or of a superior officer or employee generally authorized to
direct his activities.
