The private investigation industry is clouded by misconceptions. Hollywood portrays PIs as rogue operators who break into buildings, hack computers, and operate in a legal gray zone. The reality is far more methodical, far more regulated, and far more useful than fiction suggests. Licensed private investigators provide critical services that attorneys, businesses, and individuals rely on every day — all within a strict legal framework.
In Texas, private investigators are regulated by the Department of Public Safety Private Security Bureau under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1702. To become a licensed PI, an individual must complete 32 hours of training from a DPS-approved school covering the legal aspects of conducting investigations at both state and federal levels. PI agencies must be managed by a qualified individual with a minimum of three years of investigative experience who has passed the manager's written examination and can demonstrate proof of liability insurance.
So what can a licensed private investigator legally do in Texas? The scope is broader than most people realize. PIs can conduct surveillance in public places, including following subjects, photographing or video-recording activity visible from public areas, and documenting patterns of behavior. They can perform comprehensive background checks using public records, court filings, property records, and other legally accessible databases. They can conduct asset searches to locate bank accounts, real estate holdings, vehicles, and other property. Skip tracing — locating individuals who have moved, are hiding, or have become unreachable — is another core capability.
Private investigators can interview witnesses, neighbors, and other individuals relevant to a case. They can research property records, legal filings, marriage and divorce records, and litigation history. They can serve legal documents. And they can assist in fraud investigations by documenting evidence, identifying patterns, and building cases that hold up in legal proceedings.
What PIs cannot do is equally important to understand. Private investigators are not law enforcement officers and have no authority to make arrests. They cannot tap telephone lines or intercept electronic communications. They cannot conduct illegal searches — entering private property without permission, opening someone's mail, or accessing sealed records. They cannot hack into computers, email accounts, or social media profiles. They cannot violate anyone's civil rights or break any federal, state, or local law in the course of an investigation.
GPS tracking occupies a nuanced legal space. Texas PIs are generally permitted to use GPS tracking devices, but only under specific conditions. They cannot place a tracking device on a vehicle they do not own or have permission to access. They cannot use GPS to monitor someone in locations where there's a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as inside a home.
The types of cases that bring clients to a PI's office span a wide range. Criminal defense attorneys hire investigators to interview witnesses, locate evidence, and build alternative theories for trial. Businesses hire PIs to investigate employee theft, workers' compensation fraud, and intellectual property violations. Individuals hire investigators for infidelity cases, child custody surveillance, and locating missing persons. Insurance companies use PIs to investigate suspicious claims. Attorneys in civil litigation hire investigators for discovery support and witness location.
One of the most important aspects of professional investigation work is maintaining evidence that holds up in court. Licensed investigators understand chain of custody requirements, know how to document findings in a manner that's admissible, and can provide expert testimony about their methods and observations. This is where the difference between a licensed professional and amateur investigation becomes critical.
EJR Agency's investigation division provides licensed private investigation services across Dallas-Fort Worth and nationwide. Our investigators handle criminal defense investigations, surveillance, background checks, asset searches, infidelity investigations, skip tracing, and fraud cases. Over 40 years of field experience. All work conducted under strict confidentiality. Free consultations available 24/7 through our operations desk.
