Ohio Security Guard License Practice Exam 2025 - Free Security Guard License Practice Questions and Study Guide

The legal limitation of a security guard's authority primarily revolves around their role as private personnel. Security guards do not have the same power as law enforcement officers. Therefore, their authority typically allows them to detain individuals only until law enforcement arrives. This means that while they can intervene in situations to protect property and ensure safety, their ability to make arrests is limited and must be conducted under certain legal frameworks.

By detaining an individual, security guards can hold them in place for a reasonable amount of time while waiting for police to arrive, ensuring that they do not interfere with legal processes. This aligns with the expectation that security guards act responsibly and within the boundaries of the law. Understanding this limitation is crucial for security personnel to avoid overstepping their legal boundaries, which could result in civil liability or criminal charges against them for unlawful detention or false arrest.

Furthermore, the other options reflect misunderstandings of a security guard's legal limitations and responsibilities. The option stating that security guards can arrest individuals on the spot suggests an authority they do not possess, while the idea that they have no limitations at all misrepresents their essential function. Lastly, while keeping a supervisor informed is considered best practice in many situations, it is not a legal limitation on a guard's authority