Private Investigator/Surveillance

[Guest cw38305]

I want to throw this out and see what you can tell me. A friend asked me the other day a question that I didn't know what to tell them. I need your input on this. What is the difference between a Private Investigator and a person that does surveillance work. Also he wanted to know what requirements he would need in order to work with a law firm here in TN. What are the advantages and disadvantages of both?

[dralarms]

You have to be licensed by the state contracting board. Best to refer him to them. You have to have a license issued by them to do PI work.

[Rightwinger]

The answer to your question is nothing. It doesn't matter what type of information, how your documenting it, who your giving it to or how much you charge, your conducting an investigation and must be licensed.

The basics of what you need to know is here:

http://tennessee.gov/commerce/boards/pi/

Been in the industry full and part time since 92. Probably the most prevelant incidents brought before the PI Commission are persons trying to skirt the laws on being an investigator.

In a nutshell, if you are going to gather any information on anyone else for payment, you must be licensed.

Edited June 6, 2008 by Rightwinger

[dariks]

That makes sense.

If you're receiving money for doing surveillance or investigative work then you are running a business. To run a business you have to be licensed.

[dralarms]

That makes sense.

If you're receiving money for doing surveillance or investigative work then you are running a business. To run a business you have to be licensed.

Not that lind of license.... You have to go through back ground checks, have to have training (former LE might be exempt), and you have to pay the state their hush money.

Anyone can get a business license in their city/ county for anything they want, locals don't care as long as they are making their money.

[Rightwinger]

Correct, you must of course pay the fees, but to be a Private Investigator in TN you must either be the owner of the business and license it (more fees) or be associated with a previously established business. (Business being a Private Investigation Company)

You must then submit fingerprints to TBI for a background search, take the States test managed by a authorized group and then take or earn equivalent credits for 12 hours continuing education each two years in order to renew your license.

[Guest nj.piney]

dont know if it helps, but new jersey law allows a p.i. to hire unlicensed investigators to work for his firm. they must be bonded and insured by his agency.

[Rightwinger]

Not here.

If you collect any data or any kind for the purpose of transferring that information you must be licensed.

There is no difference in a surveillance tech, an investigator, a data miner, a skip tracer, etc. If you work for an attorney as a investigator you must be licensed as a private investigator.

I have been to the commission meetings. They have tried every way in the book to get around paying the fees and the commission is death on those folks. They actually have to work harder at getting around the couple of hundred bucks to get licensed then risk never being allowed to get a license AFTER they pay the civil penalties the commission can and DOES levy against them for doing unlicensed work.

[Guest nj.piney]

thanks for the correction, i wasnt sure about tn. law.