with no license getting paid to follow people aroudn and take pictures of them in public?

1/22/2008 1:16:44 PM

Have you heard of the Paparazzi?

1/22/2008 1:17:42 PM

Isn't that basically stalking them?

[Edited on January 22, 2008 at 1:19 PM. Reason : But no, taking pictures in public is not illegal.]

1/22/2008 1:18:02 PM

I think NC requires a license.


North Carolina Private Protective Services Board
1631 Midtown Place, Suite 104
Raleigh, North Carolina 27609
(919) 875-3611
(919) 875-3609 fax

http://www.ncdoj.com/law_enforcement/cle_pps.jsp
http://www.ncapi.org/

Quote :

"Private Investigator License: Three years of experience within the past ten years in private investigative work, or three years within the past ten years in an investigative capacity as a member of a law enforcement agency or other governmental agency. [See G.S. 74C-3(a)(8), 74C-8, 74C-9, 74C-10, 12 NCAC 7D .0401]."

[Edited on January 22, 2008 at 1:25 PM. Reason : .]

1/22/2008 1:24:34 PM

is private investigating law enforcement illegal?

if one could make a living going around giving fines for littering, animal cruelty, etc.

but remain completely private / not employed by any public entity

that would be good

1/22/2008 1:36:24 PM

No, that would just make you a bullying douche.

On second thought, your personality may be perfect for a career in law enforcement!

1/22/2008 1:47:20 PM

^


right, but I'd only want to enforce just laws, so I couldn't

I'd end up being a crooked cop, cause I would sabotage drug investigations, tip off dealers, etc.

but I'm a good guy,

and would like to punish irresponsible people (litterers, animal abusers, etc.) that get overlooked by police

1/22/2008 2:03:57 PM

ahaha, that would be awesome. I'd fine people all day for not picking up dog crap. set up a tiny office with just an address to collect payments and do my collection work

1/22/2008 2:07:50 PM

^
exactly

exactly

1/22/2008 2:13:22 PM

it's not breaking the law unless you get caught.

1/22/2008 2:45:37 PM

so do you need a license to get paid to take pictures of someone in public?

if i was paid to go into someones life, be their friend, lie about who I was and report back is any of that illegal? and which part is illegal?

taking pictures-legal
getting paid?
lying about who you are to a person?
reporting back information you gain from meeting said person?
etc etc

1/22/2008 2:53:12 PM

You can take pictures of whatever you please so long as they are in a place where they do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy. For instance, taking someone's picture on the sidewalk is perfectly legal. Where a PI license comes into play centers around what you do with the pictures you take. For instance, if you photograph someone having an affair because you were paid by their spouse to do so and those pictures are then submitted in evidence in a civil lawsuit or divorce case, you would need a license. If you do not have a PI license, then those pictures would most likely not meet civil evidence requirements and would not be admissible. See your local lawyer for details and confirmation. I am not a lawyer.

As with most things in life, it all comes down to your intentions.

1/22/2008 3:02:26 PM

ok it would just be for the other person to know what they were doing. not to use it as evience or anything. my main concern is if i am actually breaking the law and could go to jail for this.

1/22/2008 3:05:31 PM

So long as you're not trespassing or harassing the person you should be fine. PIs are still bound by all the laws a regular citizen is. Just don't cross any lines. Don't go onto private property unless explicitly invited.

1/22/2008 3:13:53 PM

lmao craigslist is my new site for comedy

1/22/2008 3:28:28 PM

Quote :

"with no license "

1/22/2008 3:40:51 PM

yes you need a state license for anything to meet civil evidence requirements.

1/22/2008 6:00:02 PM

i applied for a job with a private investigative unit of an insurance agency and they said no experience needed

1/22/2008 6:03:27 PM

^ You'll be doing computer background checks most likely.

1/22/2008 6:07:04 PM

Quote :

"is private law enforcement illegal? if one could make a living going around giving fines for littering, animal cruelty, etc. but remain completely private / not employed by any public entity that would be good "

that's basically an element of feudalism, "public power in private hands"

1/22/2008 11:57:41 PM

Quote :

"Have you heard of the Paparazzi?"

cracked up laughing. Good point, i mean, what they are doing is public stalking. Im not quite sure waht the diffrence is

1/23/2008 12:08:27 AM

In public, you have no reasonable expectation of privacy. FYI.

1/23/2008 1:03:35 AM

^^^
yeah, but it'd be a good thing, right?

1/23/2008 10:12:39 AM

Jesus, 392, you are the biggest one-note user in the history of this site

MLK, Jr? WAR ON DRUGS!

Private investigating? WAR ON DRUGS!

WAR ON DRUGS!
WAR ON DRUGS!
WAR ON DRUGS!

---

Haha, almost forgot why I posted in this thread. I'm actually in a situation similar to Howard's. There's a person wanting to pay me to keep tabs on their spouse because legit PI's are too expensive. So basically, I keep track until he starts doing something incriminating, then call the real deal to come out.

This thread has more or less confirmed what I thought, but I still don't think I'm gonna do it.

[Edited on January 23, 2008 at 1:20 PM. Reason : ]

1/23/2008 1:19:06 PM

Quote :

"So basically, I keep track until he starts doing something incriminating, then call the real deal to come out."

Correct. You can follow people around all you want, but you just can't harass them. There are some specific legal definitions of harassment that you should be aware of before attempting such an endeavor. Also, anything you see or capture on film may not be usable in court or any sort of legal arbitration setting. A lawyer will be able to confirm the details of what is and is not legal/allowed.

1/23/2008 1:50:01 PM

Quote :

"Also, anything you see or capture on film may not be usable in court or any sort of legal arbitration setting"

I imagine that if it's something you can see and photograph while going about in public, there's no reason it WOULDN'T be admissible. I'm not talking about standing on a sidewalk with a super lens, but you can make an argument for that, too.

[Edited on January 23, 2008 at 1:55 PM. Reason : jh]

1/23/2008 1:55:02 PM

^ The issue actually revolves around the fact that you are being paid by an interested party. If you were to just happen across something relevant during the normal course of you day, things would be different.

1/23/2008 1:59:26 PM