Art. 32 Forfeiture of peace bond

If someone signed a peace bond and then breaks the peace, a judge can decide that the bond is forfeited. This means the money or property put up as the bond can be taken. When this happens, the judge must send a certified letter telling both the person who broke the peace and their surety (the person or company who backed the bond) about the forfeiture.

After getting this notice, the defendant and their surety have 15 days to show up and challenge the forfeiture. They can argue that the bond should not be taken. But if nobody shows up within those 15 days to contest it, the forfeiture order becomes final. At that point, it can be enforced, and there is no more chance to fight it.

This rule gives people a fair chance to defend themselves before losing their bond money, but it also sets a clear deadline. Once that 15 day window closes without any response, the decision is locked in.