Guide Flashcards
7 cards from real Private Investigator Exam practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Guide flashcards as text
What is the legal concept of 'reasonable expectation of privacy'?
Answer: A standard determining whether a person has a legally recognized privacy interest in a given location or situation
The reasonable expectation of privacy standard, from Katz v. United States, determines when surveillance or observation may constitute a privacy violation.
Which of the following is an example of a permissible use of a GPS tracker by a private investigator?
Answer: Placing a tracker on a client's own vehicle to monitor an employee using it
A vehicle owner generally has the right to track their own property; thus, a client may authorize tracking of company vehicles used by employees.
In most U.S. states, recording a phone call without at least one party's consent is:
Answer: A potential violation of state wiretapping laws
Many states require at least one-party consent to record calls, and some require all-party consent; violating these laws can result in criminal charges.
What is 'chain of custody' and why does it matter to a PI?
Answer: The documented, unbroken record of who handled evidence and when, ensuring its integrity
Maintaining chain of custody ensures that evidence is not tampered with, preserving its admissibility and credibility in legal proceedings.
What is the primary difference between a civil and criminal PI investigation?
Answer: Civil investigations support private legal disputes; criminal investigations support prosecution by the state
Civil investigations gather evidence for private lawsuits, while criminal investigations support law enforcement prosecution of offenses against the state.
Which of the following actions by a PI could constitute stalking under state law?
Answer: Repeatedly following and monitoring a subject in a manner causing fear
Repeated, unwanted surveillance that causes the subject to fear for their safety may meet the legal definition of stalking regardless of professional status.
When a PI testifies in court, which ethical obligation applies?
Answer: Testify truthfully and accurately about observations and methods
A PI who testifies is under oath and must provide truthful, accurate testimony regardless of whether it benefits the client.