Private investigators - fact vs fiction

Private investigators are shown in films and (some) novels as shady people who solve crimes for the rich, and in some cases, get personally invested in the cases themselves. The reality is slightly less glamorous because PIs have to follow the law just like the rest of us. Most of the time, they are not loner detectives doing things by themselves and are part of a larger organization, like Pinkerton Detectives were. For the benefit of all those writers trying to write authentic private detectives, here are some basics on PIs, the real ones.

To be a private investigator legally, you have to have a license and renew it every year. To get that license, you have to know the state requirements. For Ohio, you need a good reputation, 4,000 hours of investigative experience, and education. You can't just stumble into this career path. There is a test to pass. Every state is different, so check your facts. Keep this in mind when your PI comes to life on the pages of your novel. They worked hard to get where they are.

One thing all PIs do is surveillance, but only on public property. Private property is trespassing and can land you in jail. That is one thing your fictional PI must know because if he/she doesn't, he/she can lose that license they worked for quicker than you can say 'you're fired'. Surveillance done wrong can also be seen as stalking in the eyes of the law, so it has to be done discreetly and correctly, or they can land in jail and - you guessed it - lose that license. A good investigator does pre-surveillance, that is finding out anything they can about habits and addresses, most of the time via the internet, where people post publicly and give away lots of information without thinking about it.

When doing surveillance, remember that a clear picture is good evidence, but a recording without consent (consult the laws according to your state on this) is not admissible evidence in court. When your fictional PI is staking out with a video camera, keep this in mind. It's also good to know that the same goes for hacking, GPS tracking, and wiretapping. No consent means no legal evidence. Fact check with local laws before you take my word for it, though. Different states have different laws.

What is accurate is that the rich do hire PIs and these PIs do end up in jail on occasion (when police see their surveillance-equipped cars). They are paid per day (like the movies tell you) plus expenses. They do see if someone's spouse is cheating. Lawyers do hire PIs, and because of this the PI can get more information (records financial and medical). This much of what the media tells you is true, but double check everything else you see in those noir black-and-white movies.

Happy writing and let me know if you want to hear about a specific topic!