Can a security guard ticket or tow cars in a private parking lot?

Only if the client has made that part of the job in the post orders, and only within provincial and city rules. The towing itself is done by a tow company, which in some provinces, such as Ontario, must hold a provincial certificate.

Should I chase someone I see breaking into a car?

No. Keep a safe distance, call police and record a good description of the person, any vehicle and the direction they went. A chase puts you and the public at risk.

What should I do if I find someone sleeping in a parkade stairwell?

Check that they are breathing and okay, and treat them with respect. Explain the site rules and offer information about shelters or outreach services. Call 911 if you cannot wake them or they are in distress.

Why do patrol times need to change?

If you check the same places at the same times every night, anyone watching learns when an area is empty. Changing your route and timing makes a crime harder to plan.

Is the certificate accredited or officially recognised?

No. It is a private certificate of completion for knowledge only. It is not recognised, accredited or approved by any government, licensing body, regulator or educational institution, and it does not replace the security licence training required in your province or territory.

Parking Lot Patrol Course for Security Guards 2026

Question 1 of 25

What is the main purpose of a security guard on parking lot patrol?

To move badly parked vehicles
To replace police patrols in the area
To observe, deter and report
To issue as many tickets as possible

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Answer: C. To observe, deter and report

Parking patrol is about being seen, noticing what is wrong and getting the right help quickly.

Question 2 of 25

Where do a security guard's arrest powers mainly come from?

The security company's post orders
The client's parking rules
Section 494 of the Criminal Code
The city's parking bylaw

Show answer

Answer: C. Section 494 of the Criminal Code

Guards have about the same arrest powers as any private citizen, mainly under section 494 of the Criminal Code, plus provincial trespass law.

Question 3 of 25

A guard makes a citizen's arrest in a parking lot. What does the Criminal Code require next?

Let the person go once they apologize
Deliver the person to a peace officer right away
Hold the person until the client arrives
Take the person's photo and release them

Show answer

Answer: B. Deliver the person to a peace officer right away

Section 494(3) says anyone who is not a peace officer and arrests without a warrant must deliver the person to a peace officer right away.

Question 4 of 25

Who decides which parking rules a guard enforces at a site?

Drivers who complain about other cars
The client, through the site's post orders
The guard, based on experience
The tow company

Show answer

Answer: B. The client, through the site's post orders

Post orders set out which rules you enforce and how. Never invent rules or penalties that are not in them.

Question 5 of 25

An Alberta lot owner wants to use signs to give notice that trespassing is not allowed. Under the Trespass to Premises Act, where should the signs go?

At each entrance normally used to enter the premises
Only on the main office door
Anywhere on the property, as long as one sign is posted
On every parking stall

Show answer

Answer: A. At each entrance normally used to enter the premises

Alberta's Trespass to Premises Act allows notice by signs posted at each entrance normally used to enter.

Question 6 of 25

In Ontario, a guard authorized by the occupier arrests a trespasser under the Trespass to Property Act. What must the guard do?

Hold the person until the end of the shift
Release the person after writing down their name
Promptly call for police and hand the person over
Drive the person off the property

Show answer

Answer: C. Promptly call for police and hand the person over

Section 9 of Ontario's Trespass to Property Act says a person other than a police officer who arrests must promptly call for police and give the person into their custody.

Question 7 of 25

Post orders say a vehicle parked in a fire route may be towed. Who actually tows it?

The guard, using the patrol vehicle
The guard's supervisor
A tow company, following the client's process
Any driver the client asks

Show answer

Answer: C. A tow company, following the client's process

Guards do not tow vehicles. They follow the client's process, and a tow company does the towing.

Question 8 of 25

What does a business need in Ontario before it provides towing or vehicle storage services?

A provincial certificate under the Towing and Storage Safety and Enforcement Act
A federal transport permit
Nothing, if the lot is private property
A security guard licence

Show answer

Answer: A. A provincial certificate under the Towing and Storage Safety and Enforcement Act

Ontario requires a certificate to provide towing or vehicle storage services.

Question 9 of 25

Why should you change your patrol route and timing?

Because the Criminal Code requires it
So the client cannot check on you
So no one can predict when an area will be unwatched
To use less fuel

Show answer

Answer: C. So no one can predict when an area will be unwatched

If you check the same places at the same times, people watching the lot learn when it is empty.

Question 10 of 25

During a parkade patrol, which places should you check each round?

Stairwells, elevators and emergency phones
Only the entrance gate
Only the levels with the most cars
Only vehicles without permits

Show answer

Answer: A. Stairwells, elevators and emergency phones

Stairwells, elevators and emergency phones are where people get hurt or need help, and they are easy to skip.

Question 11 of 25

A parked vehicle's reverse lights come on as you walk past. What should you do?

Tap on the trunk to let the driver know you are there
Stand behind it so the driver sees you in the mirror
Walk quickly behind it before it moves
Stay out of the area behind it until it has moved

Show answer

Answer: D. Stay out of the area behind it until it has moved

Drivers backing out often look only for other cars. Never stand or walk behind a vehicle that may reverse.

Question 12 of 25

Why should a guard wear high-visibility clothing on parking patrol?

Because the Criminal Code requires it
So people think you are a police officer
So drivers can see you in low light and busy lanes
To keep you warm in winter

Show answer

Answer: C. So drivers can see you in low light and busy lanes

Moving vehicles are one of the biggest dangers on parking patrol. High-visibility clothing helps drivers see you.

Question 13 of 25

You find ice forming on a parkade ramp at night. What should you do?

Leave it for the morning shift
Report it right away and follow the site's process for salt or sanding
Park your vehicle across the ramp
Note it only if someone falls

Show answer

Answer: B. Report it right away and follow the site's process for salt or sanding

Ice causes falls and crashes. Report hazards right away and follow the site's process.

Question 14 of 25

Which is the most useful vehicle description?

A Corolla with a plate that starts with A
Dark blue Toyota Corolla sedan, Ontario plate ABC-1234, dent on rear bumper
A blue car parked near the exit
A nice newer car, probably expensive

Show answer

Answer: B. Dark blue Toyota Corolla sedan, Ontario plate ABC-1234, dent on rear bumper

A good description includes the plate and province, colour, make, model, body style and any unique damage or features.

Question 15 of 25

When should you write down a licence plate you need to report?

Right away, as soon as you see it
At the end of the shift
Only if the driver argues with you
After you call the client

Show answer

Answer: A. Right away, as soon as you see it

Plates are easy to forget and easy to mix up, so write them down at once.

Question 16 of 25

You see a person trying the door handles of several parked cars. What is the best first action?

Run over and grab the person
Lock the cars yourself
Keep a safe distance, keep watching and call police
Ignore it unless a window is broken

Show answer

Answer: C. Keep a safe distance, keep watching and call police

If a crime may be happening, stay safe, call police and watch so you can describe the person and what they do.

Question 17 of 25

A person who broke into a car drives off. Should you chase them?

Yes, on foot if they drive slowly
No. Record the vehicle, direction and description and give them to police
Only if the client asks you to
Yes, in your patrol vehicle

Show answer

Answer: B. No. Record the vehicle, direction and description and give them to police

Chasing puts you and the public at risk. A good description helps police more than a chase.

Question 18 of 25

A child is alone in a parked car on a hot day and seems to be in distress. What should you do?

Leave a note on the windshield
Wait 30 minutes for the owner to return
Write a parking violation notice
Call 911 right away and follow the dispatcher's directions

Show answer

Answer: D. Call 911 right away and follow the dispatcher's directions

A child, vulnerable adult or pet in distress in a vehicle is an emergency. Call 911 first.

Question 19 of 25

Under PIPEDA, Canada's federal private-sector privacy law, what counts as personal information?

Only information stored on a computer
Only a person's name and address
Only medical records
Any information about an identifiable person

Show answer

Answer: D. Any information about an identifiable person

PIPEDA describes personal information as factual or subjective information, recorded or not, about an identifiable individual.

Question 20 of 25

A friend asks you to tell them who owns a car you saw at your site. What should you do?

Refuse, because plate details are used only for the job and shared only as policy allows
Give them the plate number but not the name
Tell them if they promise to keep it secret
Look it up and tell them, since plates are public

Show answer

Answer: A. Refuse, because plate details are used only for the job and shared only as policy allows

Plate numbers can often be linked to an owner, so treat them as confidential and share them only with people your policy allows.

Question 21 of 25

A driver is angry because their car got a parking violation notice. What is the best approach?

Block their car so they cannot leave
Stay calm, listen, then explain the rule and how to dispute it
Argue until they admit they were wrong
Tear up the notice to end the argument

Show answer

Answer: B. Stay calm, listen, then explain the rule and how to dispute it

Listening first and explaining calmly helps tension come down. Never block a person's path or vehicle.

Question 22 of 25

You find a person sleeping in a parkade stairwell on a cold night. What should you do first?

Shake them hard and order them out
Check that they are breathing and okay
Take photos for your report first
Leave them alone, since it is not your job

Show answer

Answer: B. Check that they are breathing and okay

Safety comes first. Check the person is okay, treat them with respect, then explain the site rules and offer information about services.

Question 23 of 25

Which of these is a sign of an opioid overdose listed by Health Canada?

Very large pupils
Slow, weak or no breathing
Fast, deep breathing and a red face
Shouting and sweating heavily

Show answer

Answer: B. Slow, weak or no breathing

Health Canada lists slow, weak or no breathing, blue or grey lips or nails, pinpoint pupils and being unable to wake up as overdose signs.

Question 24 of 25

After naloxone is given to a person who overdosed, why should you stay with them?

The law says you must arrest them
Naloxone only starts working after an hour
You must collect their ID for your report
Naloxone can wear off before the opioid does, so breathing may stop again

Show answer

Answer: D. Naloxone can wear off before the opioid does, so breathing may stop again

Naloxone lasts 30 to 120 minutes, but most opioids last longer, so the person may stop breathing again.

Question 25 of 25

Which is the best way to write a note about a damaged car?

Driver-side window broken, glass on the ground, no one seen nearby, 02:15
Probably the same person as last week
Car got hit, looks bad
Someone obviously broke in to steal stuff

Show answer

Answer: A. Driver-side window broken, glass on the ground, no one seen nearby, 02:15

Notes should record facts you saw, with times and places, not guesses about who did it or why.

Parking Lot Patrol Course for Security Guards 2026

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