Since investigators remain private citizens, they must abide by the law much like everyone else. While an investigator may work in conjunction with law enforcement officers or lawyers, an investigator does not have special legal privileges. With this in mind, it is important to understand the legal limitations that exist for a private investigator, and to temper one’s expectations accordingly. Unlike the movies, investigators can not simply snoop around for evidence in places where they are not wanted or given permission/access. That means that an investigator cannot wander onto private property, because that is considered trespassing. Recording conversations or wiretapping is also an illegal act if an individual is not granted permission.