Rules for Private Investigators Becoming More Stringent in Washington State
February 9, 2009
For private investigators in the state of Washington, staying under cover is about to become more difficult. In a recent session, state legislators passed RCW 46.12.380(4), which requires the Department of Licensing (DOL) to notify the registered owner of a vehicle if an attorney or private investigator request the owner’s motor vehicle record under public disclosure.
The DOL is in the process of revising WAC 308-10 by adding sections 80-100. The proposed section 100 (13) restates the legislation above as a rule. This rule states that the DOL will notify a vehicle’s registered owner with the name, address and phone number of an attorney or private investigator requesting the information. This contact information must be made available to the vehicle’s registered owner in case they have questions.
Several private investigators have voiced concerns over these rules. These concerns include safety issues and the ability to do their job unimpeded. For investigators who do high volumes of DOL lookups, simply responding to inquiries from the vehicle owners will be costly considering the time involved. The rule has not yet been adopted, but likely will be as the legislature requires these actions.
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