Can Surveillance Be Used In Court?

Like most States; there are laws that regulate how Private Investigators, Private Investigator Apprentices and Private Investigation Agencies operate in Alabama .

There are also very specific exceptions to the laws .

Surveillance is conducted in accordance to these laws ; the evidence would typically be admissible in court. There are however common over sites that can cause evidence to be ruled inadmissible. There should be caution taken to assure that your investigator is current on the latest legislation and regulations  especially when it comes to License for Private Investigators, Private Investigator Apprentices, Private Investigative Agencies and reciprocal or limited license agreements with surrounding states.

The latest laws can be found here.

Any Private Investigative Agency operating in Alabama is required to be licensed by the Alabama Private Investigator's board. Where companies are likely to fall short is in the case that they are licensed in another case and they sub contract or employ a private investigator who is licensed in Alabama  to handle their work in Alabama. That is legal only if the out of state agency becomes licensed in Alabama or the Licensee that thy contract with or hire in Alabama is licensed as an Agency as well.

Another example is when a client hires an investigator in Alabama to work a case that requires more than one investigator and that investigator has another licensee assist but bills the client directly for two investigators rather than having the second investigator bill from his own business. This is only acceptable one of the two investigators is licensed as an agency. These regulations are in place to protect the consumer by increasing the accountability of PI agencies.

Agencies are required to post their Agency license number on all forms of advertisement including web sites. If they are working solo and are not an agency; they are required to post their PI license number.

The law also requires Private Investigation Agencies to list a license number for each Investigator who's investigative services are being billed to a client , on the invoice to the client. If you are being billed for 4 investigator , you should see four license numbers on that invoice.

Apprentice Private Investigators can perform all the duties of a full licensee and testify to their work in court but must work under a sponsor who has been certified by the Alabama Private Investigators Board. An apprentice cannot work under a company if that company does not have a certified sponsor for that apprentice. An apprentice cannot directly invoice a client or solicit work from the public unless marketing for a licensed Investigator or company.

Alabama has entered into reciprocal or limited license agreements with most of our surrounding states. in every agreement the Investigator can only travel into the other state if the case originated in case in which that investigator is licensed in. There are other restrictions that may be unique to each state's agreement.