California Private Investigator Practice Exam

Which is the most appropriate action after losing sight of a vehicle during surveillance?

1. Drive away and come back later

2. Begin a new surveillance

3. Visit the subject's known frequented places

4. Stop the surveillance entirely

The correct answer is: Visit the subject's known frequented places

After losing sight of a vehicle during surveillance, the most appropriate action is to visit the subject's known frequented places. This approach is beneficial because it allows the investigator to gather information based on the subject’s patterns and behaviors. By checking locations where the subject is known to spend time, the investigator maximizes the chance of re-establishing contact and can potentially observe the subject again. This method leverages prior intelligence about the subject’s habits, increasing the likelihood of successfully continuing the investigation. It maintains the continuity of the surveillance, rather than abandoning it entirely or moving in a less strategic manner. Additionally, this approach can help to identify important contextual information about the subject's activities, which could be critical for the investigation. Other options, while they might seem reasonable, do not effectively utilize the information already gathered. For instance, driving away and coming back later risks losing valuable time and potential leads. Beginning a new surveillance may lead to the same situation of losing the vehicle again without any new information. Stopping the surveillance entirely would end the investigation prematurely and forfeit any progress made so far. Therefore, visiting the subject’s known frequented places is the most tactical response in this scenario.