Burbank Municipal Code Art. 17 Escort Bureau

3-4-1701: DEFINITIONS:

As used in this article, unless the context otherwise clearly indicates, “escort bureau” shall mean any business or agency which, for a fee, commission, hire, reward, or profit, furnishes, or offers to furnish escorts or persons who, for hire or reward, accompany others to or about social affairs, entertainments or places of amusement, or who consort with others, for hire or reward, about any place of public resort or within any private quarters. [Formerly numbered Section 8-139; renumbered by Ord. No. 3058, eff. 2/21/87.]

3-4-1702: LICENSE FEE:

A. Every person engaging in the business of an escort bureau shall pay an annual license fee in the amount designated in the Burbank Fee Resolution, as amended from time to time.

B. Every person employed as an escort in an escort bureau shall pay an annual license fee in the amount designated in the Burbank Fee Resolution, as amended from time to time. [Formerly numbered Section 8-140; Amended by Ord. No. 3293, eff. 7/4/92; 3058.]

3-4-1703: APPLICATION FEE:

Every application for a license shall be accompanied by an application fee in the amount designated in the Burbank Fee Resolution, as amended from time to time. [Formerly numbered Section 8-141; Amended by Ord. No. 3293, eff. 7/4/92; 3058.]

3-4-1704: APPLICATION FOR LICENSE:

Application for such license shall be under oath and shall contain the following information:

A. The name of the applicant and a complete statement regarding any and all true and fictitious names used by the applicant within five (5) years immediately prior to the date of filing the application;

B. The residence address and telephone number of the applicant;

C. The age, date and place of birth of the applicant;

D. The place or places where the applicant will engage in their business, calling or employment;

E. The nature and place of the applicant’s business or employment within five (5) years immediately prior to the date of filing the application;

F. A photograph of the applicant taken within sixty (60) days immediately prior to the date of filing the application, which picture shall be two by two inches (2" x 2"), showing the head and shoulders in a clear and distinguishing manner;

G. The finger- and thumbprints of the applicant, to be taken by the Police Department of the City;

H. The name of at least two (2) reliable property owners of the County, who will certify as to the applicant’s good character or business responsibility; or in lieu of the names of such references, such other available evidence as to the good character or business responsibility of the applicant as will enable an investigator to properly evaluate such character or business responsibility;

I. A statement that applicant has never been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude, or a felony; or, if any such crime has been committed by the applicant, a complete statement of the nature of such crime and the place and date of conviction. [Formerly numbered Section 8-142; renumbered by Ord. No. 3058, eff. 2/21/87.]

3-4-1705: PERMIT:

No person shall engage in the business of an escort bureau without a permit so to do from the Chief of Police. [Formerly numbered Section 8-143; renumbered by Ord. No. 3058, eff. 2/21/87.]

3-4-1706: GRANTING OR REFUSAL OF PERMIT:

If the Chief of Police, after investigation, shall find the applicant for the permit is of good moral character and reputation, and that the business is to be conducted at a suitable and proper place and is not calculated or intended to be operated as a subterfuge for the conduct of any unlawful or immoral business or practice, then a permit shall be granted. Otherwise, the application shall be denied. [Formerly numbered Section 8-144; renumbered by Ord. No. 3058, eff. 2/21/87.]

3-4-1707: LIMITATION ON ISSUANCE OF PERMIT:

No permit to engage in the business of any escort bureau shall be issued to, or in the name of, any organization, group, corporation, partnership, or entity other than an individual person; but the business may be advertised and carried on by the permittee’s fictitious name in the manner permitted by law; provided such fictitious name is first approved by the Chief of Police. [Formerly numbered Section 8-145; renumbered by Ord. No. 3058, eff. 2/21/87.]

3-4-1708: REGISTRATION:

Each application for a permit must state the names and addresses of all escorts intended to be employed by the applicant and, if a permit be granted, the permittee must notify the Chief of Police in writing, within twenty four (24) hours, of any change in personnel with regard to escorts. All such escorts shall be registered by the Chief of Police; provided, however, that no escort shall be registered unless there be furnished to the Chief of Police satisfactory evidence of the good moral character of such. The registration of any escort may be cancelled for cause by the Chief of Police and thereafter no escort bureau shall employ, engage, or deal with such escort. Any escort who has had their registration cancelled by the Chief of Police may appeal to the Council from such decision in the manner provided in Section 2-1-1513 of this code. [Formerly numbered Section 8-146; renumbered by Ord. No. 3058, eff. 2/21/87.]

3-4-1709: RECORDS:

A record shall be kept by each permittee showing every transaction whereby any escort is employed, furnished or arranged for on behalf of any patron or customer, the date and approximate hour of the transaction, the name, address and telephone number of the patron or customer, the name of each escort involved and such other information as the Chief of Police may reasonably require by rule or regulation. Such record shall be kept available and open to the inspection of any police officer at any time during business hours and shall be presented before the Chief of Police at any time upon written request therefor. [Formerly numbered Section 8-147; renumbered by Ord. No. 3058, eff. 2/21/87.]

3-4-1710: GROUNDS FOR REVOCATION OF PERMIT:

In addition to the grounds for revocation contained in Section 2-1-1521, any permit to engage in the business of an escort bureau may be revoked upon any of the following grounds:

A. That the permittee has, in the course of said business, committed, or caused, permitted, encouraged or condoned the commission of any act in violation of this article, or any lewd and immoral act, or any act of prostitution; or

B. That the business has been conducted, in whole or in part, as a subterfuge to facilitate or to conceal the conduct of any unlawful or immoral business or practice. [Formerly numbered Section 8-148; renumbered by Ord. No. 3058, eff. 2/21/87.]

3-4-1711: MINORS:

A. No permittee under the provisions of this article shall employ, as an escort, any person under twenty one (21) years of age.

B. No permittee under this article shall furnish any escort to, or accept employment from, any patron, customer, or person to be escorted who is under twenty one (21) years of age, except at the special instance and request of the parent, guardian or other person in lawful custody of the person on whose behalf the escort service is engaged. [Formerly numbered Section 8-149; renumbered by Ord. No. 3058, eff. 2/21/87.]

3-4-1712: EXEMPTION:

The provisions of this article shall not apply to the lawful business of any employment agency licensed under the laws of the State. [Formerly numbered Section 8-150; renumbered by Ord. No. 3058, eff. 2/21/87.]