The following are listserv violations which will result in a warning. These violations will apply to posts to the listserv and replies to listserv messages. The ListServ Committee will review your post and may ask you to make changes and resubmit the post to the listserv before it is sent to the membership.

1.1. Messages About The Association
Posting questions, concerns or comments about the Association, the CALI President, the Board of Directors, the Executive Director or their staff or CALI matters or policies, unless specifically authorized by the Board of Directors to do so.

1.2. Messages About Other People
Posting questions, concerns, or comments about a CALI member, a person who is not a member of CALI, or any government or business entity.

1.3. Improper Language 
Use of inflammatory, derogatory, profane, or vulgar language.

1.4. Electioneering 
Posting endorsements of candidates for CALI or any non-CALI election campaign. Posting campaign posts, positive or negative, or attacks against candidates.

1.5. Public Policies or Politics or State Legislative Matters
Debating public policy issues or submitting politically based posts. Opinions or discussion of California State Legislative matters unless authorized or requested by the CALI Governmental Affairs Committee

1.6. Fundraising 
Posting messages to the list for fundraising for events not related to CALI without first receiving approval from the CALI President or the CALI ListServ Committee.

1.7. Posting for Unauthorized Members or Non-Members  
Dissemination of messages on behalf of members whose listserv privileges have been modified or suspended. Posting on behalf of a non-member, a member suspended from the Listserve, or posting contact information of a non-member. 

1.8. Repetitive, Redundant Posts
Posting repetitive, redundant posts, by the same member on an identical topic within a 30 day period, aside from the posting of announcements for District Meetings or other sanctioned CALI events. (An exception is permitted for re-posting of an unfilled request for assistance on an investigation, or for an unfilled request for a subcontractor, is permitted upon review by the ListServ committee.)  

1.9. Requests for Unlawful or "Questionable” Services
Posting requests to the list for unlawful or "questionable” services, as defined: Information about a person or entity that cannot, in all probability, be accomplished in compliance with all the laws applicable to that activity. Examples include, but are not limited to, personal information that is contained in telephone, medical, social security, tax, and/or financial records including banks and credit card providers, or information that requires a release of the owner of the information.

1.10. Personal Identifying Information
Disclosure of personal identifiers regarding parties to your investigation. Do not post the name, address, date of birth, social security number or other types of information which might identify a person.

1.11. Warning or Opinions About Specific People 
Warning of or asking for opinions of potential clients or another investigator by personal name or entity name.

1.12. Warnings About Businesses or Technology 
Posting warning messages, not already approved by the CALI President or CALI ListServ Chair, which alert members to potential viruses, Trojan attacks, identity theft concerns, potential business scams, or other computer security issues.

1.13. Member Advertisements or Promotions
Advertisements or promotional announcements for any organization, person or business, including notices for other association meetings or seminars, or for your services or the services of others are prohibited unless approved in advance by the listserv committee. (A new CALI Member may make a single, one time only, announcement via the CALI Listserv in which they introduce themselves, discuss their areas of expertise and services they offer. For the purposes of this rule, a new member is defined as someone who has not been a member of CALI for more than three months.)

1.14. Discussing Quality of Service or Pricing
Promoting or recommending a service provider is permitted, however, any further reference to “quality of service” or “pricing” of services is prohibited.

1.15. Non-Professional Posts 
Posting jokes or motivational messages. (The CALI listserv is for professional and business-related postings only.)

1.16. Polls
Polling of the CALI membership, unless specifically approved in advance by the CALI President or the CALI Board of Directors.

1.17. Reply-All Conditions
Responses to specific questions should be sent to the posting originator and not to the entire listserv unless the response is well thought out and is of interest, or possible interest, to the entire membership.

1.18. Signature Block 
The posting member's signature line must clearly display their name, company name and private investigator's license number in their signature block.

1.19. Items For Sale
In general, the sale of items on the CALI ListServ is prohibited. (A member who holds a Service & Industry Level Membership may “On Occasion”, and with the approval of the CALI ListServ Chair, make a post to the CALI ListServ about a special event or item they wish to sell. CALI Members who do not sell items as the primary function of their business, may “On Occasion” send a post in which they offer new or used items for sale which they no longer have a use for. The members offering these new or used items must accurately state whether the item is new or used and cannot state the price of the item, only that it is available for purchase. The member should make one post with multiple items for sale rather than making multiple posts as only one post will be forwarded to the membership. Members who are retiring or leaving the Private Investigator profession may offer their business for sale. A price or details related to the sale of the business should be left out of the members listserv post. CALI is not liable for the condition of the items or for the false advertising of its members on the CALI ListServ.)

1.20. Copyright Protection and Trademarks 
Posting of copyrighted published works is not permitted unless the posting is consistent with the Fair Use Doctrine. Display of a registered trademark other than those registered to the posting member is prohibited. 

The following two violations are listserv violations which will result in a warning or possibly a loss of listserv privileges. A first-time violation will result in a warning via email and a second violation will result in an automatic 30-day loss of listserv privileges. A third time violation will result in a permanent loss of listserv privileges. The 30-day loss of listserv privileges may be appealed via a written complaint to the CALI Board of Directors which will be reviewed in executive session at the next regularly schedule CALI Board of Directors meeting. A permanent loss of listserv privileges will be immediate, but not become permanent until the CALI Board of Directors makes the final decision to do so at the next regularly scheduled CALI Board of Directors meeting.

2.1. Forwarding Messages From the List
Forwarding message to non-members or members who have had their listserv privileges suspended or permanently revoked is strictly prohibited. Non-members also includes your staff or business associates. (Members of CALI who have access to the CALI ListServ include those members who hold an Active, Associate, Affiliate and Service & Industry level membership.)

2.2. Price Fixing 
Messages should not be posted, and replies to members posts should not be made, if they encourage or facilitate members to arrive at any agreement that either expressly or impliedly leads to price fixing, a boycott of another's business, or other conduct intended to illegally restrict free trade.

The following three prohibitions are listserv violations which will result in an immediate loss of listserv privileges. The loss of listserv privileges will remain in place until the CALI Listserv Committee and/or the CALI Board of Directors can review the violation. If the CALI Board of Directors is asked by the committee to review the violation this will be done in executive session at the next regularly scheduled CALI Board of Directors meeting.

3.1. Illegal Services or Criminal Activity
Replying to a listserv message or attempting to send a listserv message which suggests, recommends or offers illegal services or those of a criminal nature. Replying to a listserv message includes both replying directly to the CALI ListServ or replying directly to the original sender of the message. (Illegal services or those of criminal nature is meant to describe those prohibitions commonly found in federal and state penal codes, civil codes or other statutes and propositions.)

3.2. Discrimination
Replying to a listserv message or attempting to send a listserv message which is discriminatory in nature. Replying to a listserv message includes both replying directly to the CALI ListServ or replying directly to the original sender of the message. (Discrimination based on race, gender, religion, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, sexual orientation or gender identity will not be tolerated in the listserv community.)
 
3.3. Abuse 
Replying to a listserv message or attempting to send a listserv message which is demeaning, threatening or hateful in any way will not be tolerated. Replying to a listserv message includes both replying directly to the CALI ListServ or replying directly to the original sender of the message.

The CALI Listserv is the property of the California Association of Licensed Investigators. Its use is a privilege, not a right of membership.

The CALI membership or fee(s) is nonrefundable once membership has been approved. You will not receive a refund or credit if the CALI ListServ is not available to you or the membership for all forms of technical reasons or because you had your CALI ListServ access temporarily or permanently suspended for violations of the CALI ListServ rules.

The CALI ListServ is provided as a service of the California Association of Licensed Investigators. CALI accepts no responsibility for the opinions and information posted on the listserv by others. CALI disclaims all warranties regarding information posted on the listserv, whether posted by CALI or any third party; this disclaimer includes all implied warranties of merchantability and fitness. In no event shall CALI be liable for any special, indirect, or consequential damages or any damages whatsoever resulting from loss of use, data, or profits, arising out of or in connection with the use or performance of any information posted on the listserv.

By using the CALI listserv, members agree to indemnify defend and hold harmless the California Association of Licensed Investigators, its committees, its subsidiaries, affiliates, officers and agents from and against all losses, claims, demands, causes of action, liabilities, expenses, including reasonable attorney’s fees and costs arising from any claims arising out of or resulting from any breach of these guidelines by the user or any omission or act taken by the user.

CALI Does not guarantee the timeliness of your message being sent to the listserv. Due to unforeseen delays, or the time you send your message, your message may not be immediately posted to the CALI ListServ.

The CALI ListServ Committee, the CALI Board of Directors and the CALI President reserve the right to make immediate changes to the listserv rules and policies at anytime and without notice to the membership.

The CALI ListServ Committee, the CALI Board of Directors and the CALI President reserve the right to make decisions and moderate posts which are not covered under the Rules & Prohibitions listed above.

CALI reserves the right to terminate access to any member who does not abide by these guidelines.


Revised March 22, 2024