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Thread: PI LICENSING: Rhode Island

  1. #1
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    PI LICENSING: Rhode Island

    (More later)

    For now:

    The State of Rhode Island requires licensing of this nature through the local towns or cities where the private investigator either resides or works. Out of state applicants may be able to obtain a PI license by mail. There is no state licensing.

    The PI License generally requires a background check and is approved by the Chief of Police.

    If anyone have phone numbers, addresses, and contacts for each city license, please post them in this topic to help others.
    Legal Affairs comments are not intended to be and should absolutely not be taken as legal advice. If you should require legal, tax, or financial advice, you must first enter into a written agreement with only a licensed professional for legal, tax, or financial services, signed by both you and the licensed professional, and paid a retainer in good funds. Legal Affairs is not, nor intends to be, nor solicits to be your licensed professional. Members accessing comments by Legal Affairs are required to be bound by their Terms of Use Agreement regarding Legal Affairs.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    New York
    Posts
    81

    Re: PI LICENSING: Rhode Island

    Are you telling me that in order for me to get a license as a private investigator, all I would have to do is get approval from the chief of police? Please reply at your earliest convenience. Thank you.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Rhode Island
    Posts
    72

    Re: PI LICENSING: Rhode Island

    Rhode Island's Private Investigation Licensing is handled by each city.

    The requirements are different for each city, and the applications are available at the city clerks office. Some require a psychological exam, some don’t. Most do require at least 5 years of experience working for a private Investigator or educational equivalent. A letter of experence, and surety bond of at least $5000.00 dollars or more. Four passport Photos are required as well. The registration fee of $150.00.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    New York
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    81

    Re: PI LICENSING: Rhode Island

    Ummm...I think i'll stick to what I have. I want to reiterate what you said about private investigators-as far as uniformity is concerned. If I do not "advertise" myself, I can still do private investigator work under you guys correct? The reason I ask is I am in the midst of starting my own consulting firm that includes paralegal work and ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) services. However, I would love to integrate PI services as well. Can I do that? Or, does that fall under conducting "promotion?" OR, alternatively, could I work with a local agency in the mean time to gain my 5 years experience? Cause I tell you right now, I DO NOT have a $5,000.00 surety bond.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Rhode Island
    Posts
    72

    Re: PI LICENSING: Rhode Island

    Walter
    You can get a surity bond for as little as $100 a month. It all depends on who you get it from. Follow this link http://www.ipiu.org/forums/showthread.php?t=9392 This will take you to another topic within the forum that talks about bonding. As for working under other Pi's you can work for others. Call the city hall's around the state because you can find some are more forgiving then others when it comes to the requirments.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    New York
    Posts
    81

    Talking Re: PI LICENSING: Rhode Island

    hmmm....interesting. I guess I have a lot of due diligence to do on my own. Thank you so much for your help.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 1992
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    National Office
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    2,569

    Re: PI LICENSING: Rhode Island

    What we need in this topic (since it was authored six years ago in 2001) are all of the local phone numbers, names, contacts, and PREFERABLY web addresses of where the cities have their statutes and applications details posted. A lot has changed in 6 years, and there is surely some good web links we can come up with to help others.

    And yes, a bond is like getting an insurance policy. If you do not have $5000 cash or can save $200 a month for a couple of years, then shop around for a low premium. A $100 per month premium seems pretty high for a $5000 policy, though. Maybe that is based on concealed bodyguard work, etc. Try to trim down the risky portion of what you will be doing, and leave the gun in a closet.

    If you want to know what you can "probably" do in Rhode Island without the need for a license, go to the other state topics we have that have a LOT of exemptions posted. All of the states pretty much agree that you do not need a license for about 10-12 areas of cases.


    Cynthia Ford
    Administrator - IPIU
    ----------

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    17

    Re: PI LICENSING: Rhode Island

    On surety Bonds, Contact your Insurance Agent, I am a Constable in Massachusetts and I have a surety Bond. The Bond Cost me $100.00 for a year. I am up for renewal and the cost is the same.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Rhode Island
    Posts
    72

    Re: PI LICENSING: Rhode Island

    This is the Rhode Island State Laws for Privat Ivvestigators. Rhode Island State Laws

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Rhode Island
    Posts
    72

    Re: PI LICENSING: Rhode Island

    Hear are the city names and their phone numbers. You will need to ask the clerk for the information.


    · Barrington
    http://www.ci.barrington.ri.us/ | Town hall phone: 401-247-1900
    · Bristol
    http://www.bristolri.us/ | Town hall phone: 401-253-7000
    · Burrillville
    http://www.burrillville.org/| Town hall phone: 401-568-4300
    · Central Falls
    http://www.centralfallsri.us/ | City hall phone: 401-727-7400
    · Charlestown
    http://www.charlestownri.org/ | Town hall phone: 401-364-1200
    · Coventry
    http://www.town.coventry.ri.us/ | Town hall phone: 401-821-6400
    · Cranston
    http://www.cranstonri.com/ | City hall phone: 401-461-1000
    · Cumberland
    http://www.cumberlandri.org/ | Town hall phone: 401-728-2400
    · East Greenwich
    http://www.eastgreenwichri.com/ | Town hall phone: 401-886-8665
    · East Providence
    http://www.eastprovidenceri.net/ | City hall phone: 401-435-7500
    · Exeter
    http://www.town.exeter.ri.us/ | Town hall phone: 401-295-7500
    · Foster
    http://www.muni.ri.net/foster/ | Town hall phone: 401-392-9200
    · Glocester
    http://www.glocesterri.org/ | Town hall phone: 401-568-6206
    · Hopkinton
    http://hopkintonritownhall.com/ | Town hall phone: 401-377-7777
    · Jamestown
    http://www.jamestownri.net/| Town hall phone: 401-423-7220
    · Johnston
    http://www.johnston-ri.us/ | Town hall phone: 401-351-6618
    · Lincoln
    http://www.lincolnri.org/ | Town hall phone: 401-333-1100
    · Little Compton
    http://www.riedc.com/riedc/ri_databank/31/293/ | Town hall phone: 401-635-4400
    · Middletown
    http://www.middletownri.com/ | Town hall phone: 401-849-5540
    · Narragansett
    http://www.narragansettri.com/townhall/index.htm | Town hall phone: 401-789-1044
    · New Shoreham
    http://www.town.new-shoreham.ri.us/ | Town hall phone: 401-466-3200
    · Newport
    http://www.cityofnewport.com/| City hall phone: 401-846-9600
    · North Kingstown
    http://www.northkingstown.org/ | Town hall phone: 401-294-3331
    · North Providence
    http://www.northprovidenceri.com/ | Town hall phone: 401-232-0900
    · North Smithfield
    http://www.northsmithfieldri.com/ | Town hall phone: 401-767-2200
    · Pawtucket
    http://www.pawtucketri.com/| City hall phone: 401-728-0500
    · Portsmouth
    http://www.portsmouthri.com/ | Town hall phone: 401-683-3255
    · Providence
    http://www.providenceri.com/| City hall phone: 401-421-7740
    · Richmond
    http://www.richmondri.com/ | Town hall phone: 401-539-2497
    · Scituate
    http://www.scituateri.org/ | Town hall phone: 401-647-2822
    · Smithfield
    http://www.smithfieldri.com/ | Town hall phone: 401-233-1000
    · South Kingstown
    http://www.southkingstownri.com/| Town hall phone: 401-789-9331
    · Tiverton
    http://www.tiverton.org/ | Town hall phone: 401-625-6700
    · Warren
    http://www.townofwarren-ri.gov/| Town hall phone: 401-245-7340
    · Warwick
    http://www.warwickri.gov/ | City hall phone: 401-738-2000
    · West Greenwich
    http://www.wgtownri.org/ | Town hall phone: 401-392-3800
    · West Warwick
    http://www.westwarwickri.org/ | Town hall phone: 401-822-9200
    · Westerly
    http://www.townofwesterly.com/| Town hall phone: 401-348-2500
    · Woonsocket
    http://www.ci.woonsocket.ri.us/| City hall phone: 401-762-6400

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Mar 1992
    Location
    National Office
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    2,569

    Re: PI LICENSING: Rhode Island

    Outstanding! Thank you.

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