Sec. 29.04.08.01. Applicant for Agency License

A. In this chapter, "licensee" includes an applicant for a private detective agency license, except that written charges may not be filed against an applicant.

B. An applicant shall submit an application provided by the Secretary of State Police with the following signatures:

(1) If the applicant is an individual, the application form shall be signed under oath by the individual; and

(2) If the applicant is a firm, the application form shall be signed under oath by the representative member and all other members of the firm.

C. An applicant for a license shall pay to the Secretary an application fee as follows:

(1) Individual-$200;

(2) Firm-$375;

(3) For a license for both an unincorporated private detective agency and security guard agency under the same licensee name submitted simultaneously-$375;

(4) For a license for both an incorporated private detective agency and security guard agency under the same licensee name submitted simultaneously-$750;

(5) For a license as a firm member-$42; or

(6) For a license as a representative member-$42.

D. An applicant shall submit to the Secretary a complete set of the applicant's legible fingerprints taken on standard fingerprint cards, accompanied by payment for the costs of the fingerprint card record checks, which are $24 for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and $18 for the Criminal Justice Information System. If the applicant is a firm, the applicant shall pay the cost of the fingerprint card record checks for each firm member.

E. Recommendations.

(1) An applicant shall submit three notarized recommendations for the individual, or, if a firm, three notarized recommendations for each member of the firm.

(2) Each recommendation shall be prepared by a reputable citizen who owns property in the county where the individual applicant or firm member resides or where the business of the private detective agency is to be conducted.

F. An applicant for a license who intends to employ at least five individuals as private detectives shall submit with the application proof of liability insurance in an amount not less than $1,000,000, as required under Business Occupations and Professions Article, §13-604, Annotated Code of Maryland.

G. Photograph.

(1) An applicant, and each member of a firm, or representative member wishing to be a certified private detective, who will be engaging in private detective services, shall submit two photographs, 1-1/2 inches square, of the applicant's head and shoulders.

(2) Printed computer-generated photographs that are similar to the size indicated in §G(1) of this regulation and represent a clear display of the applicant's head and shoulders are acceptable.

H. A completed application form shall include the:

(1) Address of the applicant's proposed principal place of business and of each proposed branch office;

(2) Trade name, as approved by the Department of Assessments and Taxation, or fictitious name that the applicant intends to use while conducting the business of the private detective agency;

(3) Submission of a facsimile of any trademark that the applicant intends to use while conducting the business of the private detective agency;

(4) Verification that the applicant or firm has established a Maryland Sales Tax Account for the agency;

(5) If the applicant is a firm, copies of the articles of incorporation and any resolutions passed by the board of directors showing that the representative member is a corporate office of the firm; and

(6) A signed copy of the Authorization for Release of Information.

I. A nonresident applicant shall submit a consent and any related document, as required by Business Occupations and Professions Article, §13-605, Annotated Code of Maryland.