I often get asked what a Private Investigator does. Many people have seen different variations of a Private Investigator, or P.I., on T.V. driving fancy cars or chasing around a bad guy in a movie. What usually isn’t portrayed is sitting in a hot surveillance vehicle peeing in empty bottles while waiting to hopefully obtain evidence or a lead. Much of the work done in the investigative industry is spent behind a keyboard or talking on the phone. While much information can be found this way, getting in the field and interviewing people, or obtaining records that require going to places in person.
There are many different types of investigations that a P.I. can work on. Very common types are Workers Compensation and Infidelity investigations. However, ask any P.I. what their strangest case is and your likely to get a good story because many uncommon investigative needs can be taken care of by a P.I..
Private investigators are not to be mistaken as Law Enforcement and have to obey the same laws as normal citizens. Most states but certainly not all of them require licensing to be a Private Investigator. With this in mind some P.I.’s may have some privileges that a typical citizen may not have, but they still have to obey the law in collecting any evidence or while performing any duties required during an investigation. I would like to say that all Private Investigators are lawful and honest, but it can be a shady industry so I always recommend checking with your local laws, and verifying licensing info on any P.I. you work with.