AZ Private Investigator cheat sheet

A.R.S. Title 32, Chapter 24 governs private investigators; A.A.C. Title 13, Chapter 2 contains the implementing rules.

A private investigator is defined as a person who, for hire, investigates crimes, identity, character, or location of persons, or obtains information about them.

Arizona requires licensure for private investigators, agencies, and employees who conduct investigations; unlicensed activity is a class 1 misdemeanor.

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) administers licensing; the Director may deny, suspend, or revoke a license for violations.

A.A.C. R13-2-101 et seq. set qualification, application, examination, and record-keeping standards for licensees.

Licensees must maintain a principal place of business in Arizona and notify DPS of changes within 10 days.

Firearms training and qualification requirements are incorporated for armed investigators under A.R.S. § 32-2441 and A.A.C. R13-2-110.

Continuing education of 16 hours every two years, including ethics, is required for renewal under A.A.C. R13-2-107.

Agency license requires a qualifying party who meets experience and examination requirements; each branch office must be registered.

Employee registration: all investigators and unarmed employees must be registered with DPS before performing regulated duties.

Application must include fingerprints, a recent photograph, and proof of the required experience or training.

Agency must maintain a surety bond of $10,000 and provide proof to DPS; bond is for client protection.

Records: agencies must keep client files for at least three years and make them available to DPS upon request.

Advertising must include the agency license number; use of false or misleading titles (e.g., 'police') is prohibited.

Change of address, name, or qualifying party must be reported to DPS within 10 days; failure may result in suspension.

License renewal: biennial, with continuing education and fee; late renewal may require reinstatement application and penalty.

A.R.S. § 32-2422 lists precluding offenses: any felony, any misdemeanor involving dishonesty or violence, and certain drug offenses.

Applicants with a precluding offense may be denied unless they demonstrate rehabilitation and the offense is not directly related to investigative work.

DPS conducts a criminal history check using fingerprints submitted to DPS and the FBI.

A conviction for a precluding offense within the past 5 years is a mandatory disqualifier unless the applicant obtains a waiver.

Pending criminal charges may result in suspension of application processing until resolved.

Applicants must disclose all arrests and convictions; failure to disclose is grounds for denial or revocation.

The Director may consider mitigating factors: age at offense, time elapsed, completion of sentence, and evidence of rehabilitation.

A person convicted of a felony may not be licensed as an armed investigator without specific statutory relief.

Licensees must not use false pretense, misrepresentation, or impersonate law enforcement.

Confidential client information may not be disclosed without consent or legal compulsion.

Complaints are filed with DPS; the Department investigates and may issue a notice of hearing.

Hearings are conducted under A.R.S. Title 41, Chapter 6 (Administrative Procedure Act) before an administrative law judge.

The Hearing Board may impose sanctions: reprimand, probation, suspension, revocation, or civil penalty up to $1,000 per violation.

Due process requires notice of charges and an opportunity to respond and present evidence.

Appeals of final agency decisions go to the Superior Court under A.R.S. § 12-901 et seq.

Licensees must cooperate with DPS investigations; failure to respond to a complaint within 20 days may result in default.