Prepare for the California Private Investigator Exam with confidence! Our quiz offers multiple-choice questions and detailed explanations to ensure you're well-prepared. Unlock your potential and get ready to pass your licensing exam!

Practice this question and more.


A tort is considered to be:

  1. A criminal law violation

  2. A civil law violation

  3. A federal law violation

  4. A statute violation

The correct answer is: A civil law violation

A tort is typically classified as a civil law violation. In civil law, torts are wrongful acts or infringements of rights that lead to civil legal liability. Unlike criminal law, which pertains to offenses against the state and is punishable by fines, imprisonment, or other penalties, tort law focuses on situations where a person's actions cause harm or loss to another individual. This can include a wide range of behaviors, such as negligence, defamation, and battery. The injured party in a tort case seeks compensation for the damages incurred as a result of the wrongful act, which is a hallmark of civil law practices. Understanding this distinction is critical for private investigators, who may encounter tort cases during their work when investigating incidents or gathering evidence related to civil disputes.