MT Code § 37-60-101 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 37. Professions and Occupations|Chapter 60. Private Investigators, Private Security and Fire Entities, and Process Servers|Part 1. General|37-60-101. Definitions

  37-60-101. Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following definitions apply:   (1) "Alarm response runner" means an individual employed by an electronic security company, a contract security company, or a proprietary security organization to respond to security alarm system signals.   (2) "Armed" means an individual who at any time wears, carries, or possesses a firearm in the performance of professional duties.   (3) "Armed carrier service" means any person or security company who transports or offers to transport under armed private security guard from one place to another any currency, documents, papers, maps, stocks, bonds, checks, or other items of value that require expeditious delivery.   (4) "Armed private investigator" means a private investigator who at any time wears, carries, or possesses a firearm in the performance of the individual's duties.   (5) "Armed private security guard" means an individual employed by a contract security company or a proprietary security organization whose duty or any portion of whose duty is that of a security guard, armored car service guard, or carrier service guard and who at any time wears or carries a firearm in the performance of the individual's duties.   (6) "Armored car service" means any person or security company who transports or offers to transport under armed private security guard from one place to another any currency, jewels, stocks, bonds, paintings, or other valuables of any kind in a specially equipped motor vehicle that offers a high degree of security.   (7) "Board" means the board of private security provided for in 2-15-1781.   (8) "Branch office" means any office of a licensee within the state, other than its principal place of business within the state.   (9) "Contract security company" means any person who undertakes to provide a private security guard, alarm response runner, armored car service, street patrol service, or armed carrier service on a contractual basis to another person who exercises no direction and control over the performance of the details of the services rendered.   (10) "Department" means the department of labor and industry provided for in 2-15-1701.   (11) (a) "Electronic security company" means a person who sells, installs, services, or maintains a security alarm system and who undertakes to hire, employ, and provide alarm response runners and security alarm installers on a contractual basis to another person who does not exercise direction and control over the performance of the services rendered.   (b) The term does not include a person whose primary business is that of a locksmith and who may also install closed-circuit television cameras and battery-operated door devices.   (12) "Firearms course" means the course approved by the board and conducted by a firearms instructor.   (13) "Firearms instructor" means an individual who has been approved by the board to instruct firearms courses in the use of weapons.   (14) "Insurance adjuster" means a person employed by an insurance company, other than a private investigator, who for any consideration conducts investigations in the course of adjusting or otherwise participating in the disposal of any claims in connection with a policy of insurance but who does not perform surveillance activities or investigate crimes against the United States or any state or territory of the United States.   (15) "Licensee" means a person licensed under this chapter.   (16) "Paralegal" or "legal assistant" means a person qualified through education, training, or work experience to perform substantive legal work that requires knowledge of legal concepts and that is customarily but not exclusively performed by a lawyer and who may be retained or employed by one or more lawyers, law offices, governmental agencies, or other entities or who may be authorized by administrative, statutory, or court authority to perform this work.   (17) "Person" means an individual, firm, company, association, organization, partnership, or corporation.   (18) "Private investigator" means a person other than an insurance adjuster who for any consideration makes or agrees to make any investigation with reference to:   (a) crimes against the United States or any state or territory of the United States;   (b) the identity, habits, conduct, business, occupation, honesty, integrity, trustworthiness, efficiency, loyalty, activity, movement, location, affiliations, associations, transactions, reputation, or character of any person;   (c) the location, disposition, or recovery of lost or stolen property;   (d) the cause or responsibility for fires, libels, losses, accidents, or injury to persons or property; or   (e) gathering evidence to be used before any court, board, officer, or investigating committee.   (19) "Private security guard" means an individual employed or assigned duties to protect a person or property or both a person and property from criminal acts and whose duties or any portion of whose duties include but are not limited to the prevention of unlawful entry, theft, criminal mischief, arson, or trespass on private property or the direction of the movements of the public in public areas.   (20) "Process server" means a person described in 25-1-1101(1).   (21) "Proprietary security organization" means any person who employs a private security guard, alarm response runner, armored car service, street patrol service, or armed carrier service on a routine basis solely for the purposes of that person and exerts direction and control over the performance of the details of the service rendered.   (22) "Resident manager" means the person appointed to exercise direct supervision, control, charge, management, or operation of each office located in this state where the business of the licensee is conducted.   (23) (a) "Security alarm installer" means an individual who sells, installs, services, or maintains security alarm systems to detect and signal unauthorized intrusion, movement, break-in, or criminal acts and is employed by an electronic security company.   (b) The term does not include a person whose primary business is that of a locksmith and who may also install closed-circuit television cameras and battery-operated door devices.   (24) (a) "Security alarm system" means an assembly of equipment and devices or a single device or a portion of a system intended to detect or signal or to both detect and signal unauthorized intrusion, movement, or criminal acts at a location.   (b) The term does not include systems that monitor temperature, humidity, or any other atmospheric condition not directly related to the detection of an unauthorized intrusion or criminal act at a location.   (25) "Security company" means an electronic security company, a proprietary security organization, or a contract security company.   (26) "Street patrol service" means a person providing patrols by means of foot, vehicle, or other method of transportation using public streets, thoroughfares, or property in the performance of the person's duties and responsibilities.   (27) "Unarmed private investigator" means a private investigator who does not wear, carry, or possess a firearm in the performance of the individual's duties.   (28) "Unarmed private security guard" means an individual who is employed by a contract security company or a proprietary security organization, whose duty or any portion of whose duty is that of a private security guard, armored car service guard, or alarm response runner, and who does not wear, carry, or possess a firearm in the performance of those duties.   History: En. 66-3301 by Sec. 1, Ch. 234, L. 1974; R.C.M. 1947, 66-3301; amd. Sec. 15, Ch. 274, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 550, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 647, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 63, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 50, Ch. 83, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 217, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 332, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 47, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 147, Ch. 483, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 12, Ch. 405, L. 2007; amd. Sec. 28, Ch. 502, L. 2007; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 194, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 17, Ch. 100, L. 2011.