do you need an LTCF if licensed Private Investigator approved by the court

[gbrown221]

I have been doing criminal investigative work for approximately 5 years for a law firm and in the process of petitioning the court to receive my Private Investigators License. Is being a Private Investigator and exemption from needing an LTCF in PA under the UFA?

I still have my LTCF and also many reciprocal permits but just curious if this is an exemption or not.

gbrown221

[Curmudgeon]

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I'm guessing, no, it is not an excpetion. At least, I don't see it. See...

18 Pa.C.S. § 6106: Firearms not to be carried without a license

(b) Exceptions.--The provisions of subsection (a) shall not apply to:
(1) Constables, sheriffs, prison or jail wardens, or their deputies, policemen of this Commonwealth or its political subdivisions, or other law-enforcement officers.
(2) Members of the army, navy, marine corps, air force or coast guard of the United States or of the National Guard or organized reserves when on duty.
(3) The regularly enrolled members of any organization duly organized to purchase or receive such firearms from the United States or from this Commonwealth.
(4) Any persons engaged in target shooting with a firearm, if such persons are at or are going to or from their places of assembly or target practice and if, while going to or from their places of assembly or target practice, the firearm is not loaded.
(5) Officers or employees of the United States duly authorized to carry a concealed firearm.
(6) Agents, messengers and other employees of common carriers, banks, or business firms, whose duties require them to protect moneys, valuables and other property in the discharge of such duties.
(7) Any person engaged in the business of manufacturing, repairing, or dealing in firearms, or the agent or representative of any such person, having in his possession, using or carrying a firearm in the usual or ordinary course of such business.
(8) Any person while carrying a firearm which is not loaded and is in a secure wrapper from the place of purchase to his home or place of business, or to a place of repair, sale or appraisal or back to his home or place of business, or in moving from one place of abode or business to another or from his home to a vacation or recreational home or dwelling or back, or to recover stolen property under section 6111.1(b)(4) (relating to Pennsylvania State Police), or to a place of instruction intended to teach the safe handling, use or maintenance of firearms or back or to a location to which the person has been directed to relinquish firearms under 23 Pa.C.S. § 6108 (relating to relief) or back upon return of the relinquished firearm or to a licensed dealer's place of business for relinquishment pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S § 6108.2 (relating to relinquishment for consignment sale, lawful transfer or safekeeping) or back upon return of the relinquished firearm or to a location for safekeeping pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. § 6108.3 (relating to relinquishment to third party for safekeeping) or back upon return of the relinquished firearm.
(9) Persons licensed to hunt, take furbearers or fish in this Commonwealth, if such persons are actually hunting, taking furbearers or fishing as permitted by such license, or are going to the places where they desire to hunt, take furbearers or fish or returning from such places.
(10) Persons training dogs, if such persons are actually training dogs during the regular training season.
(11) Any person while carrying a firearm in any vehicle, which person possesses a valid and lawfully issued license for that firearm which has been issued under the laws of the United States or any other state.
(12) A person who has a lawfully issued license to carry a firearm pursuant to section 6109 (relating to licenses) and that said license expired within six months prior to the date of arrest and that the individual is otherwise eligible for renewal of the license.
(13) Any person who is otherwise eligible to possess a firearm under this chapter and who is operating a motor vehicle which is registered in the person's name or the name of a spouse or parent and which contains a firearm for which a valid license has been issued pursuant to section 6109 to the spouse or parent owning the firearm.
(14) A person lawfully engaged in the interstate transportation of a firearm as defined under 18 U.S.C § 921(a)(3) (relating to definitions) in compliance with 18 U.S.C. § 926A (relating to interstate transportation of firearms).
(15) Any person who possesses a valid and lawfully issued license or permit to carry a firearm which has been issued under the laws of another state, regardless of whether a reciprocity agreement exists between the Commonwealth and the state under section 6109(k), provided:
(i) The state provides a reciprocal privilege for individuals licensed to carry firearms under section 6109.
(ii) The Attorney General has determined that the firearm laws of the state are similar to the firearm laws of this Commonwealth.
(16) Any person holding a license in accordance with section 6109(f)(3).

Link to the above citation... http://reference.pafoa.org/statutes/...out-a-license/


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[gbrown221]

reading through the private detective act if you are govered that way.

[Curmudgeon]

reading through the private detective act if you are govered that way.

Aroo? English version please?

Anyway, you asked specifically about the UFA. I don't know anything about the "private detective act". I guess it might be possible that such a person would be covered under 6106(b)(1) or (b)(6). Is a P.I. considered a LEO?

[gbrown221]

from reading the private detective act it indicates that if you will be carrying a lethal weapon you must be Act 235 which I am. I guess as a PI you could claim you are always on duty. As for LEO status a PI is not considered Law Enforcement.

[gbrown221]

Aroo? English version please?

Anyway, you asked specifically about the UFA. I don't know anything about the "private detective act". I guess it might be possible that such a person would be covered under 6106(b)(1) or (b)(6). Is a P.I. considered a LEO?

It's late. sorry!

I was also thinking (b)(6) might be relevant.

[Curmudgeon]

from reading the private detective act it indicates that if you will be carrying a lethal weapon you must be Act 235 which I am. I guess as a PI you could claim you are always on duty. As for LEO status a PI is not considered Law Enforcement.

See that's what I was thinking. Sounds like you can be a PI, but don't have to be Act 235 unless you want to carry a weapon, although, doesn't 235 restrict you to carrying only while on duty?

So the answer lies within the UFA for a LTCF, or Act 235, but not the P.I. act, per se.

I think.

[timdennis]

When renewing my Act 235 I've met PI's in class. They said they rarely carried but did sometimes on "risky" jobs. All in class felt they needed Act 235 to carry while working. I'm not stating this as gospel but this is what they believed.