Section 13A-9-13.1

Negotiating worthless negotiable instrument - Generally.

(a) A person commits the crime of negotiating a worthless negotiable instrument if the person negotiates or delivers a negotiable instrument for a thing of value and with the intent, knowledge, or expectation that it will not be honored by the drawee.

(b) For the purposes of this section, it is prima facie evidence that the maker or drawer intended, knew, or expected that the instrument would not be honored in any of the following instances:

(1) The maker or drawer had no account with the drawee at the time the negotiable instrument was negotiated or delivered, as determined according to Section 7-3-503(2).

(2) Payment was refused by the drawee for lack of funds, upon presentation within 30 days after delivery, and the maker or drawer shall not have paid the holder thereof the amount due thereon, together with a service charge of not more than (fill in appropriate amount as provided by law), within 10 days after receiving written notice from the holder of the instrument that payment was refused upon the instrument, as provided in Section 13A-9-13.2.

(3) Notice that payment was refused is mailed by certified or registered mail and is returned undelivered to the sender, when the notice is mailed within a reasonable time after dishonor to the address printed on the instrument or given by the maker or drawer at the time of issuance of the instrument.

(c) Negotiating a worthless negotiable instrument is a Class A misdemeanor.

(d) The definition of "negotiable instrument" in Section 7-3-104 applies to this section and Sections 13A-9-13.2 and 13A-9-13.3.

(e) The definition of "negotiation" in Section 7-3-202 applies to this section and Sections 13A-9-13.2 and 13A-9-13.3.

(f) The definition of "delivery" in Section 7-1-201(14) applies to this section and Sections 13A-9-13.2 and 13A-9-13.3.

(Acts 1980, No. 80-200, p. 279, §1; Acts 1989, No. 89-807, p. 1608, §2; Acts 1991, No. 91-319, p. 578, §1; Acts 1997, No. 97–413, p. 679, §1.)