New Jersey § 45:19-9

§ 45:19-9.

Definitions: (a) The term “ private detective business ” shall mean the business of conducting a private detective agency or for the purpose

of making for hire or reward any investigation or investigations for the purpose of

obtaining information with reference to any of the following matters, notwithstanding

the fact that other functions and services may also be performed by the same person,

firm, association or corporation for fee, hire or reward, to wit: (1) crime or wrong

done or threatened or assumed to have been done or threatened against the Government

of the United States of America, or any State, Territory or Possession of the United

States of America; (2) the identity, habits, conduct, movements, whereabouts, affiliations,

associations, transactions, reputation or character of any person, association, organization,

society or groups of persons, firms or corporations; (3) the credibility of witnesses

or other persons; (4) the whereabouts of missing persons; (5) the location or recovery

of lost or stolen property; (6) the causes and origin of, or responsibility for,

fires, libels, accidents, damage, injuries or losses to persons, firms, associations

or corporations, or to real or personal property; (7) the affiliation, connection

or relation of any person, firm or corporation with any organization, society, association,

or with any official member or representative thereof; (8) with reference to the

conduct, honesty, efficiency, loyalty or activities of employees, agents, contractors

and subcontractors; (9) the securing of evidence to be used before any investigating

committee, board of award, board of arbitration, or in the trial of any civil or criminal

cause; provided, however, that the term shall not include a person, firm, association

or corporation engaged exclusively in the business of making investigations and reports

as to the financial standing, credit and financial responsibility of persons, firms,

associations or corporations nor to electrically controlled burglar or fire alarm

system with a central unit, nor to any person, firm, association or corporation engaged

in the business of making reports for insurance or credit purposes. The term shall not include and nothing in this act shall apply to any lawful activity

of any board, body, commission or agency of the United States of America or of any

State, Territory or Possession of the United States of America, or any county, municipality,

school district, or any officer or employee solely, exclusively and regularly employed

by any of the foregoing; nor to any attorney or counselor-at-law in connection with

the regular practice of his profession, nor to any person employed by any such attorney

or counsellor-at-law when engaged upon his employer's business; nor to any employee,

investigator or investigators solely, exclusively and regularly employed by any person,

firm, association or corporation which is not engaged in any of the businesses hereinbefore

described in items numbered one to nine, both inclusive, of this subsection insofar

as their acts may relate solely to the business of the respective employers; nor

to any person, firm, association or corporation licensed to do a business of insurance

of any nature under the insurance laws of this State, nor to any employee or licensed

agent thereof; nor to any person, firm, association or corporation conducting any

investigation solely for its own account. (b) The terms “ the business of detective agency ” and “ the business of investigator ” shall mean any person, firm, association or corporation engaged in the private detective

business as defined in subsection (a) of this section, who employs one or more persons

in conducting such business , but shall not include the business of watch, guard or patrol agency . (c) The terms “ private detective ” or “ investigator ” shall mean and include any person who singly and for his own account and profit

conducts a private detective business without the aid or assistance of any employees

or associates. (d) The masculine shall include the feminine and the neuter genders. (e) The term “ superintendent ” means the Superintendent of State Police. (f) The terms “ firm ” and “ association ” shall include partnerships, but shall not include corporations.