Action | Amend 6VAC20-172 and 6VAC20-174 to Address Insurance Requirements for Independent Contractors |
Stage | Proposed |
Comment Period | Ended on 4/21/2017 |
I oppose an increase to the mandatory insurance amounts private investigative businesses must carry. In fact, I oppose having a mandate to carry any insurance at all, for businesses where no firearm is carried..
DCJS has the obligation to view "one man shops", and PI businesses that operate without firearms, differently than larger businesses and those who carry firearms. Our need for insurance is much lower.
This insurance requirement would raise my insurance costs 400%, enough to make me quit the profession. I work as a PI part-time, and the current insurance requirement is already very onerous. This is a detriment to the public, in that I regularly take civil rights cases and help those with little means, for a fraction of what other businesses would charge. Virginia requirements should not be so onerous as to eliminate pro bono or "low bono" work from PIs.
Law firms in Virginia are not required to carry insurance. Why should a PI business with no firearms be any different? It should be our choice.