Free NY-PI Practice Questions

Question 1

During mobile surveillance, the subject accelerates through a red light. There is no observed emergency, violent act, or immediate threat. What response best preserves safety and the reliability of the surveillance record?

Accepted Answer

Stop for the signal, note the last verified location and exact loss-of-contact time, then attempt a lawful reacquisition

Answer

Enter the intersection after slowing and checking for traffic because uninterrupted visual contact is the overriding priority in mobile surveillance

Answer

Activate hazard lights and follow through the signal so other drivers can yield

Answer

End the assignment permanently and report the subject to police solely for the traffic violation

Question 2

An LLC applying for a New York private investigator license has three members. One member is 31, has four years of qualifying full-time investigative experience, and passed the written examination 11 months ago. The other two members have no qualifying investigative experience. For purposes of the entity's qualifying experience and examination, the correct conclusion is:

Accepted Answer

At least one LLC member may supply the qualifying experience and examination requirement for the entity

Answer

All three members must independently document three years of qualifying investigations and pass the examination

Answer

The LLC is ineligible unless the two nonqualifying members withdraw before the application is filed

Answer

Experience is unnecessary for an LLC if every member submits fingerprints and character references

Question 3

A New York investigator meets a witness in a Manhattan conference room. The investigator participates in the conversation and records it; the witness has not consented. The facts involve only New York. As to Penal Law §250.00's definition of mechanical overhearing, the recording:

Accepted Answer

Ordinarily falls outside that definition because the recorder is present and is a party to the conversation

Answer

Is unlawful mechanical overhearing because New York requires every participant in an in-person conversation to consent before any recording

Answer

Is permitted only after a judge issues an eavesdropping warrant

Answer

Becomes lawful only if the witness is told immediately after the conversation

Question 4

From a public sidewalk, an investigator sees Avery hand Blake a closed white envelope at 14:32. The investigator cannot see inside it. Select the report sentence that stays within the investigator's observed facts.

Accepted Answer

At 14:32, Avery handed Blake a closed white envelope; its contents were not visible

Answer

Avery paid Blake at 14:32

Answer

Avery transferred evidence of fraud to Blake

Answer

Avery probably gave Blake cash in a concealed envelope

Question 5

A signed agreement authorizes surveillance at $95 per hour and permits up to 12 hours without further specific authorization. After 9.25 hours have been completed, the client telephones and asks for four additional hours but sends nothing in writing. How much additional work may be performed before written consent is required under 19 NYCRR §173.1?

Accepted Answer

Perform up to 2.75 more hours, but obtain the client's written consent before exceeding the 12-hour limit

Answer

Perform all four hours because the client's oral request modifies the written limit

Answer

Stop immediately and require an entirely new contract before using any of the 2.75 hours still available under the signed limit

Answer

Perform three more hours because partial hours are rounded to the next whole unit

Question 6

A witness says, 'I saw a dark sedan leave, but Dana later told me it belonged to Lee, so I assumed Lee was driving.' The note that accurately separates observation, secondhand information, and assumption is:

Accepted Answer

The witness saw a dark sedan leave; Dana supplied the ownership claim, and the witness did not identify the driver

Answer

The witness identified Lee as the driver of Lee's dark sedan

Answer

The witness independently confirmed that Lee owned and drove the sedan

Answer

Dana's statement corroborated the witness's direct observation and established both ownership and driver identity without further verification

Question 7

Without permission, an investigator uses a copied key to enter a locked private office after business hours, intending to steal a personnel file. The investigator is stopped before touching the file. The most directly established offense is:

Accepted Answer

Burglary in the third degree, because the unlawful entry was accompanied by intent to commit a crime inside

Answer

Criminal trespass only, because no property was actually removed

Answer

Attempted petit larceny only, because the office was entered with a key rather than by force

Answer

Criminal mischief, because entering the office interfered with the owner's use of the premises

Question 8

A newly hired investigator is assigned a first solo mobile-surveillance shift. Which supervisory plan best demonstrates the required regular, frequent, and consistent guidance, instruction, oversight, and superintendence?

Accepted Answer

Give a detailed briefing and stop rules, schedule field check-ins, and review the notes and media promptly

Answer

Provide the address and review only the invoice after the operation

Answer

Tell the employee to use good judgment and call only if arrested

Answer

Require the qualifier to ride in the employee's vehicle continuously because physical presence is the only form of supervision the regulation permits

Question 9

A private investigator's license expired four months ago. The licensee stopped operating on the expiration date and now files a renewal application with the required bond, renewal fee, and $100 late fee. Under General Business Law §78, what is the licensee's legal position?

Accepted Answer

Renewal may still be granted because fewer than six months have elapsed, but no regulated business may be conducted during the lapse

Answer

Renewal is permanently barred once the license expires

Answer

The licensee may resume operations as soon as the renewal application is mailed

Answer

The licensee must retake the written examination and submit new qualifying-experience proof whenever renewal is filed more than 90 days late

Question 10

A surveillance log begins at 22:47 and ends at 00:17 the next day, with no pauses. The invoice bills 2.0 hours and contains no separate travel or setup charge. Before the invoice is released, what should the reviewer conclude?

Accepted Answer

The log supports 1.5 hours, so the additional 0.5 hour must be reconciled before billing

Answer

The 2.0-hour charge is correct because work spanning two calendar dates is billed as one hour per date

Answer

The elapsed time is 1.3 hours because 30 minutes is written as 0.30 of an hour

Answer

Elapsed time cannot be determined when a surveillance period crosses midnight

Free NY-PI Practice Questions

Domain 1: License Law

Question 1

Question 2

Domain 2: Penal and Criminal Procedure Law

Question 3

Question 4

Domain 3: Investigative Techniques

Question 5

Question 6

Domain 4: Supervision

Question 7

Domain 5: Restrictions

Question 8

Domain 6: Interpreting Written Material

Question 9

Domain 7: Report Writing

Question 10

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