Section 150. Standards of conduct

A registrant shall:

1. Conform to all requirements pursuant to the Code of Virginia and this chapter.

2. Not violate or aid and abet others in violating the provisions of Article 4 (§ 9.1-138 et seq.) of Chapter 1 of Title 9.1 of the Code of Virginia or this chapter.

3. Not commit any act or omission that results in a private security license, registration, or certification being suspended, revoked, or not renewed or the licensee, registrant, or certificate holder otherwise being disciplined in any jurisdiction.

4. Not have been convicted or found guilty in any jurisdiction of the United States of any felony or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, assault and battery, damage to real or personal property, controlled substances or imitation controlled substances as defined in Article 1 (§ 18.2-247 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 18.2 of the Code of Virginia, prohibited sexual behavior as described in Article 7 (§ 18.2-61 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2 of the Code of Virginia, or firearms. Any plea of nolo contendere shall be considered a conviction for the purpose of this chapter. The record of conviction certified or authenticated in such form as to be admissible in evidence under the laws of the jurisdiction where convicted shall be prima facie evidence of such guilt.

5. Not obtain a license, license renewal, registration, registration renewal, certification, or certification renewal through any fraud or misrepresentation.

6. Not solicit or contract to provide any private security services without first having obtained a private security services business license with the department.

7. Carry a valid registration card or valid temporary registration letter at all times while on duty. Individuals requiring registration as an unarmed security officer, an alarm respondent, a locksmith, a central station dispatcher, an electronic security sales representative, or an electronic security technician may be employed for not more than 90 consecutive days in any category listed in this subdivision while completing the compulsory minimum training standards and may not be employed in excess of 120 days without having been issued a registration or an exception from the department and must carry a photo identification and authorization from their employer on a form provided by the department at all times while on duty.

8. Carry the private security state-issued registration card at all times while on duty once the authorization has been approved from the department, except those individuals operating outside the Commonwealth of Virginia who shall obtain the state-issued registration card prior to providing services when physically located in the Commonwealth.

9. Perform those duties authorized by his registration only while employed by a licensed private security services business and only for the clients of the licensee. This shall not be construed to prohibit an individual who is registered as an armed security officer from being employed by a nonlicensee as provided for in § 9.1-140 of the Code of Virginia.

10. Possess a valid firearms training endorsement if he carries or has access to firearms while on duty and then only those firearms by type of action and caliber to which he has been trained on and is qualified to carry. Carry or have access to a patrol rifle while on duty only with the expressed written authorization of the licensed private security services business employing the registrant.

11. Carry a firearm concealed while on duty only with the expressed written authorization of the licensed private security services business employing the registrant and only in compliance with Article 6.1 (§ 18.2-307.1 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 18.2 of the Code of Virginia.

12. Transport, carry, and utilize firearms while on duty only in a manner that does not endanger the public health, safety, and welfare.

13. If authorized to make arrests, make arrests in full compliance with the law and using only the minimum force necessary to effect an arrest.

14. Engage in no conduct that shall mislead or misrepresent through word, deed, or appearance that a registrant is a law-enforcement officer or other government official.

15. Display one's registration or temporary registration along with a photo identification while on duty in response to the request of a law-enforcement officer, department personnel, or client. Individuals providing private security services as authorized pursuant to subdivision 7 of this section who have not received their registration must display a state-issued photo identification and authorization while on duty in response to the request of a law-enforcement officer, department personnel, or a client.

16. Not perform any unlawful or negligent act resulting in a loss, injury, or death to any person.

17. If a uniform is required, wear the uniform required by his employer. If wearing a uniform while employed as an armed security officer, unarmed security officer, alarm respondent, or armored car personnel, that uniform must:

a. Include at least one insignia clearly identifying the name of the licensed firm employing the individual and, except armored car personnel, a nameplate or tape bearing, at a minimum, the individual's last name attached on the outermost garment, except rainwear worn only to protect from inclement weather; and

b. Include no patch or other writing (i) containing the word "police" or any other word suggesting a law-enforcement officer; (ii) containing the word "officer" unless used in conjunction with the word "security"; or (iii) resembling any uniform patch or insignia of any duly constituted law-enforcement agency of this Commonwealth, its political subdivisions, or the federal government.

18. When providing central station monitoring services, attempt to verify the legitimacy of a burglar alarm activation by calling the site of the alarm. If unable to make contact, call one additional number provided by the alarm user who has the authority to cancel the dispatch. This shall not apply if the alarm user has provided written authorization requesting immediate dispatch or one-call dispatch to both his local police department and his dealer of record. This shall not apply to duress or hold-up alarms.

19. Act only in such a manner that does not endanger the public health, safety, and welfare.

20. Not represent as one's own a registration issued to another individual.

21. Not falsify, or aid and abet others in falsifying, training records for the purpose of obtaining a license, registration, certification, or certification as a compliance agent, training school, school director, or instructor.

22. Not provide information obtained by the registrant or his employing firm to any person other than the client who secured the services of the licensee without the client's prior written consent. Provision of information in response to official requests from law-enforcement agencies, the courts, or the department shall not constitute a violation of this chapter. Provision of information to law-enforcement agencies pertinent to criminal activity or to planned criminal activity shall not constitute a violation of this chapter.

23. Not engage in acts of unprofessional conduct in the practice of private security services.

24. Not engage in acts of negligent or incompetent private security services.

25. Not make any misrepresentation or make a false promise to a private security services business client or potential private security services business client.

26. Satisfy all judgments to include binding arbitrations related to private security services not provided.

27. Not provide false or misleading information to representatives of the department.

28. Not provide materially incorrect, misleading, incomplete, or untrue information on a registration application, renewal application, or any other document filed with the department.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 31, Issue 25, eff. September 9, 2015.

Statutory Authority

§ 9.1-141 of the Code of Virginia.