Clerks of the District Court and clerks of the Superior Court, during the hours when the clerk's office is open for business and subject to the control of the District Court Judge or Superior Court Justice, may, without fee, take the personal recognizance of any defendant for appearance on a charge of a Class D or Class E crime. Nothing in this section may be construed to prohibit the appointment of any clerk of the District Court or the Superior Court as a bail commissioner, except that no fee may be charged by the clerk while the clerk's office is open for business.   [PL 1987, c. 758, §20 (NEW).]

In any case when the District Judge or the Superior Court Justice has set bail for a defendant in a criminal case, the clerk of the District Court or of the Superior Court may, subject to the approval of the District Court Judge or Superior Court Justice, accept the bail, prepare the bond and take the acknowledgement of the defendant and sureties, if any, on the bond.   [PL 1987, c. 758, §20 (NEW).]