New Mexico Statutes
Article 27B - Private Investigations
Section 61-27B-23 - General operations provisions of companies; management; liability for employees' conduct; maintenance of records required; required and permitted activities; allowed categories of unlicensed employees. (Repealed effective July 1,...

A. An owner of a private investigation company providing services in New Mexico shall operate, direct, control and manage that company provided that the owner is licensed as a private investigator. An owner of a private investigation company who is not licensed as a private investigator shall employ a private investigator as a private investigations manager and shall turn over the operation, direction, control and management of the private investigation company to that manager.
B. An owner of a private patrol company providing services in New Mexico shall operate, direct, control and manage that company, provided that the owner is licensed as a private patrol operator or registered as a level three security guard. An owner of a private patrol company who is not licensed as a private patrol operator or registered as a level three security guard shall employ a private patrol operations manager and shall turn over the operation, direction, control and management of the private patrol company to that manager.
C. A private investigation company or a private patrol company shall not conduct business under a fictitious name until the company has obtained the authorization for use of the name from the department. The department shall not authorize the use of a fictitious name that may generate public confusion with the name of a public officer or agency or the name of an existing private investigation company or private patrol company.
D. A private investigation company is liable for the conduct of the company's employees, including the conduct of its private investigations manager.
E. A private patrol company is liable for the conduct of the company's employees, including the conduct of its private patrol operations manager.
F. A private investigation company or a private patrol company shall maintain records of the qualifications, performance and training of all of its current and former employees as required by the department. The records are subject to inspection by the department upon reasonable notice to the owner or private investigations manager or private patrol operations manager.
G. Except as otherwise provided in this section, every employee of a licensed private investigation company or private patrol company shall be licensed or registered by the department as employees of the company with which the employee is employed; provided, however, that a licensee or registrant may work for more than one company concurrently.
H. A licensee or registrant shall notify the department in writing within thirty days of each change in the licensee's or registrant's employment by filing an amendment to the licensee's or registrant's application obtained from the department. If a licensee or registrant ceases to be employed by a private investigation company or a private patrol company, the licensee or registrant shall notify the department in writing within thirty days from the date the licensee or registrant ceases employment with that company.
I. A private investigation company or a private patrol company shall notify the department within thirty days of a change in ownership structure or, if a corporation, a change in the membership of the board of directors.
J. Employees of a private investigation company or a private patrol company who are engaged exclusively to perform stenographic, typing, word processing, secretarial, receptionist, accounting, bookkeeping, information technology or other business applications or support functions and who do not perform the work of a private investigator, a private patrol operator or a security guard are not required to be licensed or registered pursuant to the Private Investigations Act.
K. An individual who is not licensed or qualified to be employed as a private investigations manager or a private patrol operations manager shall not be employed to perform the duties required of those managers.
History: Laws 2007, ch. 115, § 23.
Compiler's note. — Laws 2007, ch. 115, § 23 was enacted as a new section 61-27A-10.1 NMSA 1978. It has been codified by the compiler of the NMSA 1978 as a new section 61-27B-23 NMSA 1978. See the compiler's note following 61-27B-1 NMSA 1978.
Delayed repeal. — For delayed repeal of the section, see 61-27B-36 NMSA 1978.
Effective dates. — Laws 2007, ch. 115, § 38, makes the section effective July 1, 2007.