How Does a Criminal Conviction Affect an
Insurance Agent License in Pennsylvania?
To become a Licensed Insurance Agent in Pennsylvania, you must pass a challenging licensing examination about each area of insurance you wish to sell. The Pennsylvania Department of Insurance regulates the licensing and conduct of Licensed Insurance Agents in Pennsylvania. Being a Licensed Insurance Agent is a very demanding, lucrative, and respected profession; it takes a high level of intelligence, hard work, and sale expertise to be successful. Therefore, since it is not easy to become a Licensed Insurance Agent, and it is a great profession, why risk your Insurance Agent License and hard work making a foolish mistake, such as a DUI conviction? So: How Does a Criminal Conviction Affect an Insurance Agent License in Pennsylvania?
Paul S. Peters III, Esq. understands the dire consequences of losing your Insurance Agent License, such as threatening your ability to work and provide for yourself and your family. If you find yourself in danger of losing your Insurance Agent License through action by the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance, you will need an experienced, trusted, and aggressive lawyer at your side to advocate on your behalf. Paul S. Peters III, Esq. will provide you with that needed advocacy and legal defense. Call Paul S. Peters III, Esquire at 215-291-2944.
Pennsylvania Insurance Agent License Regulation
The Pennsylvania Department of Insurance regulates the licensing of Insurance Agents through 31 Pa.Code Chapter 37, Agent Certificates Of Qualification And Broker Licenses. The law applies to:
- Insurance Agents and Brokers selling Life, Accident and Health, Auto, Property, Homeowners, Rental, Casualty, Credit Life Accident and Health
- Title agents
- Surplus Lines Agents
- Public adjusters
Regarding insurance agent licenses and criminal convictions, the law requires that an applicant:
“Who within 5 years of applying for a certificate or license, an applicant has pleaded guilty, entered a plea of nolo contendere or has been found guilty of a felony in a court of competent jurisdiction, or has pleaded guilty, entered a plea of nolo contendere, or been found guilty of criminal conduct which relates to the applicant’s suitability to engage in the business of insurance, shall be evidence of lack of fitness for a certificate or license.”
Criminal violations the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance can consider in issuing an insurance agent license are:
“Unlawful advertising of insurance business, unlawful coercion in contracting insurance, furnishing free insurance as an inducement for purchases, unlawful collection practices, embezzlement, obtaining money under false pretenses, conspiracy to defraud, bribery or corrupt influence, perjury or false swearing, unlicensed activity or a criminal offense involving moral turpitude or harm to another.”
“Summary offenses, records of arrest if there is no conviction of a crime based on the arrest, convictions which have been annulled or expunged or convictions for which the applicant has received a pardon from the Governor,” shall not be considered for licensing purposes.
Once obtaining an Insurance Agent License, an agent or broker who has pleaded guilty or been found guilty of criminal conduct as outlined in the insurance law, must report the conviction in writing to the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance ten days of the conviction. How the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance addresses, the conviction will be the same as when this issue arises at the time of initial application.
Pennsylvania Licensed Insurance Agent and DUI Conviction
Per the language and requirements placed upon a Pennsylvania Licensed Insurance Agent, a DUI conviction can have a devastating impact in terms of obtaining your Insurance Agent License and keeping it. Pennsylvania Licensed Insurance Agents are required to be of “high moral character” and must disclose and face suspension if convicted of a “crime of moral turpitude.” Therefore, a Licensed Insurance agent must disclose a DUI conviction to the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance. The Board reviews these matters on a case by case basis as the circumstances leading to the conviction can be for numerous reasons. The Board is most concerned with the presence of an alcohol or substance abuse issue. A DUI conviction before obtaining an Insurance Agent License must be disclosed and will undoubtedly make getting an Insurance Agent License more difficult and scrutinized. An investigation by the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance can result in probation, a suspension, or termination of your Pennsylvania Insurance Agent License.
A DUI conviction, as well as other serious crimes, will cause the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance to call into question your judgment, character, fitness, and ability to serve the public as a Licensed Insurance Agent. The Pennsylvania Department of Insurance demands a high ethical and moral standard, given the nature of selling and putting in place insurance.
You may be able to avoid putting your Insurance Agent License at risk if you hire an experienced DUI and Licensed Insurance Agents License Defense Attorney such as Paul S. Peters III, Esq. Attorney Peters can aggressively advocate for your entry into the ARD Diversion Program if the DUI is your first offense. The ARD program will avoid a conviction and allow you to expunge the DUI arrest from your record. The ARD program can act to prevent an Insurance Agent License suspension.
If you are a Licensed Insurance Agent faced with consequences from a DUI conviction, it is essential to have an aggressive, experienced, and trusted lawyer for both your DUI matter and hearing before the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance. Paul S. Peters III, Esquire, is the legal advocate you need. Call him at 215-291-2944!
Other Crimes in Pennsylvania
Any serious felony offense such as Murder, Arson, Kidnapping, Burglary, or Rape, will undoubtedly prevent you from obtaining or result in a loss of your Insurance Agent License. As will any conviction for all levels of sexual offenses and offenses involving harm to children. Crimes for theft can also result in a license suspension. These crimes call into question a person’s morals, ethics, character, and judgment. The crimes also fall into the category of crimes of “MORAL TURPITUDE” requiring disclosure.
Alcohol and Substance Abuse
If accused or suspected of substance or alcohol abuse, your job and license are in jeopardy. Substance and alcohol abuse issues are extremely concerning to the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance for apparent reasons. If abuse is suspected, you can face an investigation and hearing before the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance. The investigation can result in a requirement that you attend and complete drug and alcohol counseling, submitting to random drug screens, and having your position or license placed on probation, restrictions, or terminated and suspended.
All categories and levels of criminal charges are taken extremely seriously by the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance. If you are facing criminal charges of any kind, your ability to be a Licensed Insurance Agent in Pennsylvania is in jeopardy. For the criminal case and hearings before the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance, you must have competent and aggressive legal representation. Paul S. Peters III, Esquire, with his 20-years of legal experience in criminal defense and licensing defense, will provide the trusted, experienced, and zealous legal advocacy needed to protect your liberty and Insurance Agent License.
How We Can Help
If you are a Licensed Insurance Agent and facing DUI or other criminal charges, you must immediately obtain an experienced, trusted, and aggressive Criminal and License Defense Lawyer. You will need representation for both the DUI or other criminal charges and defense of your Licensed Insurance Agents License before the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance. Paul S. Peters III, Esq. is the trusted, experienced, and aggressive legal partner needed to defend your rights and Insurance Agent License in Criminal Court and before the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance.
Paul S. Peters III, Esq. handles matters in Pennsylvania arising in: Montgomery, Philadelphia, Bucks, Delaware, Chester, Lehigh, Lancaster, Northampton, and Berks, County, just to name a few.
Hopefully you do not have to ask the question: How Does a Criminal Conviction Affect an Insurance Agent License in Pennsylvania? If you do, then Do Not waste one minute, contact the Aggressive, Experienced, Trusted, and Compassionate Pennsylvania Criminal and Insurance Agent License Defense Lawyer, Paul S. Peters III, Esq.
YOU BETTER CALL PAUL!
215-291-2944
ppeters@thepetersfirm.com
TRUSTED, AGRESSIVE, ZEALOUS, AND EXPERIENCED PENNSYLVANIA PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE DEFENSE ATTORNEY
If your Professional license is at risk in any of the following Pennsylvania Counties: Montgomery, Philadelphia, Bucks, Delaware, Chester, Lehigh, Lancaster, Northampton, Berks, Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Huntington, Juniata, Lebanon, Mifflin, Perry, Snyder, York Bradford, Cameron, Centre, Clinton, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Potter, Sullivan, Tioga, Union, Carbon, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wyoming County
It is important you contact the trusted, aggressive, and experienced Pennsylvania Professional and Occupational License Defense Attorney:
Paul S. Peters III, Esquire at:
215-291-2944
ppeters@thepetersfirm.com
