N.Y. General Business Law Section 70-A
Bail enforcement agents and watch, guard or patrol agencies

1.

The department of state shall have the power to issue separate licenses to bail enforcement agents and to watch, guard or patrol agencies. Nothing in this article shall prevent a private investigator licensed hereunder from performing the services of a watch, guard or patrol agency or bail enforcement agent as defined in this article; however, a watch, guard or patrol agency or bail enforcement agent may not perform the services of a private investigator as defined in this article.

2.

No person, firm, company, partnership, limited liability company or corporation shall engage in the business of bail enforcement agents or the business of watch, guard or patrol agency, or advertise his, their or its business to be that of bail enforcement agent or watch, guard or patrol agency, notwithstanding the name or title used in describing such agency or notwithstanding the fact that other functions and services may also be performed for fee, hire or reward, without having first obtained from the department of state a license so to do, as hereinafter provided, for each bureau, agency, sub-agency, office and branch office to be owned, conducted, managed or maintained by such person, firm, company, partnership, limited liability company or corporation for the conduct of such business.

3.

Any person, firm, company, partnership or corporation who violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a class B misdemeanor.

Source: Section 70-A — Bail enforcement agents and watch, guard or patrol agencies, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/GBS/70-A (updated Aug. 19, 2016; accessed Jan. 17, 2026).

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Verified:
Jan. 17, 2026

Last modified:
Aug. 19, 2016

§ 70-A. Bail enforcement agents & watch, guard or patrol agencies's source at nysenate​.gov

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