Los Angeles County Municipal Code Ch. 7.38 Escort Bureaus

A.

"Escort" means:

Any person who, for hire or reward, accompanies others to or about social affairs, entertainment or places of amusement;

Any person who, for hire or reward, consorts with others about any place of public resort or within any private quarters.

B.

"Escort bureau" means any business or agency which, for a fee, commission, hire, reward or profit, furnishes or offers to furnish escorts.

(Ord. 5860 Ch. 2 Art. 7 §§ 531 and 532, 1951.)

Every person conducting, managing or carrying on any escort bureau shall first procure a license and pay an annual license fee in the amount set forth in Section 7.14.010 of this title, under the appropriate heading.

(Ord. 11209 § 1 (part), 1975: Ord. 8608 § 1 (part), 1964: Ord. 7159 § 6 (part), 1957: Ord. 5860 Ch. 2 Art. 7 § 533, 1951.)

This chapter does not apply to the lawful business of any employment office or employment agency licensed under state law which does not conduct an escort bureau.

(Ord. 5860 Ch. 2 Art. 7 § 549, 1951.)

Each application for a license to conduct an escort bureau shall state the names and addresses of all escorts employed by or intended to be employed by the applicant.

(Ord. 5860 Ch. 2 Art. 7 § 535, 1951.)

A license to conduct an escort bureau shall not be issued to or in the name of any organization, group, corporation, partnership or any other entity other than an individual.

(Ord. 5860 Ch. 2 Art. 7 § 537, 1951.)

The business may be carried on under a fictitious name in the manner provided by law if the business license commission first approves of the use of such name, and if the name is recorded pursuant to the provisions of Section 2466 of the Civil Code.

(Ord. 88-0126 § 15, 1988: Ord. 5860 Ch. 2 Art. 7 § 538, 1951.)

The tax collector, or the sheriff at the request of the tax collector, shall conduct or cause to be conducted an investigation of the applicant and a report of such investigation shall be forwarded to the business license commission. The business license commission shall make a determination as to whether the applicant for a license to conduct an escort bureau is of good moral character and reputation, the business is to be conducted at a suitable place, or is calculated or intended to be operated as a subterfuge for the conduct of an unlawful or immoral business and practice. Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.06.260 the commission or referee shall hold a public hearing on the application, notice of the time and place of which shall be given to the applicant as provided in Section 7.10.100 of this title.

(Ord. 88-0126 § 16, 1988: Ord. 10217 § 9 (part) 1971: Ord. 5860 Ch. 2 Art. 7 § 536, 1951.)

Every escort shall furnish satisfactory evidence of good moral character of such escort on a form approved by the tax collector and shall register with the tax collector, the tax collector shall deliver such evidence to the sheriff.

(Ord. 88-0126 § 17, 1988: Ord. 5860 Ch. 2 Art. 7 § 539, 1951.)

The tax collector may cancel the registration of any escort for cause. Thereafter an escort bureau shall not employ such escort.

(Ord. 88-0126 § 18, 1988: Ord. 5860 Ch. 2 Art. 7 § 540, 1951.)

An escort bureau shall not hire or employ any escort who is not registered with the tax collector.

(Ord. 88-0126 § 20, 1988: Ord. 5860 Ch. 2 Art. 7 § 541, 1951.)

Every escort bureau shall within 24 hours notify the tax collector of every change in personnel of escorts and the tax collector shall deliver such notification to the sheriff.

(Ord. 88-0126 § 20, 1988: Ord. 5860 Ch. 2 Art. 7 § 542, 1951.)

A person conducting an escort bureau shall not employ as an escort any person under 21 years of age.

(Ord. 5860 Ch. 2 Art. 7 § 544, 1951.)

A person conducting an escort bureau shall not furnish any escort to, or accept employment from, any patron, customer or person to be escorted who is under 21 years of age, except at the special instance and request of the parent, guardian or other person in lawful custody of the person upon whose behalf the escort service is engaged.

(Ord. 5860 Ch. 2 Art. 7 § 543, 1951.)

Every escort bureau shall post in a place clearly visible to a person entering the establishment, and in lettering not less than one-quarter inch, a sign containing the following information:

A.

A description of each service available;

B.

The price charged for each service;

C.

The following language:

"Any person who disrobes and shows his or her private parts or any female who disrobes and exposes her breasts while participating in any of the activities which this establishment offers for hire violates Los Angeles Ordinances Nos. 9884 and/or 9885."

(Ord. 11108 § 1, 1975: Ord. 5860 Ch. 2 Art. 7 § 545, 1951.)

Every person managing an escort bureau shall keep a record of every transaction showing:

A.

The name of each escort employed, furnished or arranged for;

B.

The name, address and telephone number of the patron or customer;

C.

Such other information as the tax collector requires.

(Ord. 88-0126 § 21, 1988: Ord. 5860 Ch. 2 Art. 7 § 546, 1951.)

The record required by Section 7.38.150 shall be kept available by the licensee, open to the inspection of the tax collector, the sheriff, any one of his deputies, and of any police officer. The licensee shall deliver it to the sheriff and/or the tax collector upon written request.

(Ord. 88-0126 § 22, 1988: Ord. 5860 Ch. 2 Art. 7 § 547, 1951.)

In addition to the grounds specified in Section 7.06.090 and Chapter 7.08 of this title, a license to conduct an escort bureau may be suspended or revoked if the business license commission finds:

A.

That the licensee has committed, or caused, permitted, encouraged or condoned the commission of, any lewd or immoral act or any act of prostitution;

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;

C.

That the business has failed to comply with the requirements of Section 7.38.140 of this chapter.

(Ord. 11108 § 2, 1975; Ord. 9714 § 11, 1969: Ord. 5860 Ch. 2 Art. 7 § 548, 1951.)