Missouri § 324.1100 - Definitions.

§ 324.1100. Definitions.

As used in sections 324.1100 to 324.1148, the following terms mean:

(1)  "Board", the board of private investigators, private fire investigators, and professional surety bail bond agents established in section 324.1102;

(2)  "Client", any person who engages the services of a private investigator or a private fire investigator;

(3)  "Department", the department of commerce and insurance;

(4)  "Director", the director of the division of professional registration;

(5)  "Division", the division of professional registration;

(6)  "Insurance adjuster", any person who receives any consideration, either directly or indirectly, for adjusting in the disposal of any claim under or in connection with a policy of insurance or engaging in soliciting insurance adjustment business;

(7)  "Law enforcement officer", a law enforcement officer as defined in section 556.061;

(8)  "Organization", a corporation, trust, estate, partnership, cooperative, or association;

(9)  "Person", an individual or organization;

(10)  "Principal place of business", the place where the licensee maintains a permanent office, which may be a residence or business address;

(11)  "Private fire investigation", the furnishing of, making of, or agreeing to make any investigation of a fire to determine the origin or cause of such fire, or responsibility for such fire;

(12)  "Private fire investigator", any person who receives any consideration, either directly or indirectly, for engaging in private fire investigation;

(13)  "Private fire investigator agency", a person or firm that employees any person to engage in private fire investigations;

(14)  "Private investigator", any person who receives any consideration, either directly or indirectly, for engaging in the private investigator business;

(15)  "Private investigator agency", a person who regularly employs any other person, other than an organization, to engage in the private investigator business;

(16)  "Private investigator business", the furnishing of, making of, or agreeing to make, any investigation for the purpose of obtaining information pertaining to:

(a)  Crimes or wrongs done or threatened against the United States or any state or territory of the United States;

(b)  The identity, habits, conduct, business, occupation, honesty, integrity, credibility, knowledge, trustworthiness, efficiency, loyalty, activity, movement, whereabouts, affiliations, associations, transactions, acts, reputation, or character of any person;

(c)  The location, disposition, or recovery of lost or stolen property;

(d)  Securing evidence to be used before any court, board, officer, or investigating committee;

(e)  Sale of personal identification information to the public; or

(f)  The cause of responsibility for libel, losses, accident, or damage or injury to persons or property or protection of life or property.

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(L. 2007 H.B. 780 merged with S.B. 308, A.L. 2010 H.B. 2226, et al., A.L. 2011 H.B. 464, A.L. 2026 S.B. 1421)

Severability clause, see § 1.1010

(2012) Sections regulating the business of private investigator professional are not overbroad.  Gurley v. Missouri Board of Private Investigator Examiners, 361 S.W.3d 406 (Mo.banc).

---- end of effective  28 Aug 2026 ----

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