{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-47-2853.208","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 47-2853.208","heading":"Detective and security agencies; security services occupations.","body":"(a)\nIt shall be unlawful for a person to engage in the business of operating, managing, or conducting a security agency or detective agency, for profit or gain, or to advertise or represent his or her business to that of a security agency or detective agency, or that of conducting, managing, or operating a detective agency or security agency, without first obtaining:\n(1)\nA public safety services license issued pursuant to § 47-2851.03; and\n(2)\nApproval from the Chief of Police.\n\n(b)\nIn addition to the requirements of subsection (a), no person shall act as a campus police officer, private detective, or special police officer in the District of Columbia without first obtaining:\n(1)\nAn occupational license issued by the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection; and\n(2)\nApproval from the Chief of Police.\n\n(c)\nAll laws that govern the Metropolitan Police force of the District of Columbia in the matters of persons, property, or money shall be applicable to all private detectives licensed under this section, and the detectives shall make like returns and dispositions of such matters as is required by existing law and the rules of the Mayor of the District of Columbia governing the Metropolitan Police Department.\n\n(d)\nThe Director of the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection is authorized and empowered to:\n(1)\nIssue civil penalties to a person who violates any provision of this section or the provisions of Chapter 21 of Title 17 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations pertaining to security agencies; and\n(2)\nSuspend or revoke the license of a private detective when such action is deemed advisable in the public interest.\n\n(e)\nAny occupational license fees collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited into the Occupations and Professions Licensing Special Account established pursuant to § 47-2853.11.\n\n(f)\nThe Department may, through the promulgation of rules pursuant to subchapter 1 of Chapter 5 of Title 2, establish qualifications and fees for occupational licenses issued pursuant to this section, and establish civil penalties for violations of this section.","path":["Title 47. Taxation, Licensing, Permits, Assessments, and Fees. [Enacted title]","Chapter 28. General License Law.","Subchapter I-B. Non-Health Related Occupations and Professions Licensure.","Part Q-i. Detective and Security Services."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/47-2853.208","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"75ef6a75696f8990ec96e3df5e00785b1a277d7c1cde9220206d8939c1279e28","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-47-2853.207","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-47-2853.211"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}