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Medium urgency

Horvath v. DBIA Servs.

Detected July 8, 2026 · in Private Security Licensing

Court ruling clarifies that 'private security guard' definition under RCW 18.170 applies to all licensed individuals, potentially expanding regulatory scope.

Aforeworn detected this change in the Private Security Licensing space on July 8, 2026 and published this briefing so affected operators are forewarned rather than caught off guard. It is rated Medium urgency. All licensed private security personnel and firms in Washington state should confirm how it applies to their specific situation before acting. There is a time constraint attached: Within 90 days. Acting after that point can mean penalties, a lapsed licence, or lost eligibility — exactly the kind of surprise Aforeworn exists to prevent. Aforeworn monitors Private Security Licensing continuously and turns every detected change into a plain-English briefing like this one, so you always know first. Forewarned is forearmed.

What changed

The court affirmed that the statutory definition of 'private security guard' under RCW 18.170 applies broadly to all licensed individuals, not just those employed by guard-service firms.

Who it affects

All licensed private security personnel and firms in Washington state

What you must do

Review current licensing and training programs to ensure compliance with RCW 18.170 for all personnel, including in-house and armored transport.

Deadline

Within 90 days

Source: https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/10760875/horvath-v-dbia-servs/

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