                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

LIMITATION ON POWERS OF REGISTERED ARMED SECURITY OFFICERS (§ 9.1-146)

Compliance with the provisions of this article shall not itself authorize any
person to carry a concealed weapon or exercise any powers of a conservator of
the peace. A registered armed security officer of a private security services
business while at a location which the business is contracted to protect shall
have the power to effect an arrest for an offense occurring (i) in his presence
on such premises or (ii) in the presence of a merchant, agent, or employee of
the merchant the private security business has contracted to protect, if the
merchant, agent, or employee had probable cause to believe that the person
arrested had shoplifted or committed willful concealment of goods as
contemplated by § 18.2-106. For the purposes of § 19.2-74, a registered armed
security officer of a private security services business shall be considered an
arresting officer.

HISTORY: 1976, c. 737, § 54-729.33; 1978, c. 560, § 54.1-1907; 1980, c. 425;
1988, cc. 48, 765; 1992, c. 578, § 9-183.8; 1994, c. 45; 2001, c. 844.