National City Municipal Code Ch. 10.74 Escort Services

This chapter may be cited as the National City escort service ordinance. Issuance and administration of permits is governed by Chapter 10.70.

(Ord. 2204 § 7 (part), 2002)

It is the purpose and intent of this chapter to provide for the orderly regulation of escort service business in the city to ensure that an escort service business does not facilitate the practice of prostitution or allow persons who have been convicted of crimes of prostitution or violence to function as escorts, in order to protect the public health, welfare and safety.

(Ord. 2204 § 7 (part), 2002)

A. "Escort service" means any business providing social companions for hire to accompany a person of the opposite or same sex to events including, but not limited to, social events, sporting events and theatrical events.

B. "Escort service technician" means any person employed by an escort service to render services as a companion for hire to its clients.

C. "Specified anatomical areas" is defined in Section 18.69.020(A) and "specified sexual activity" is defined in Section 18.69.020(B).

(Ord. 2204 § 7 (part), 2002)

It is unlawful for any person to operate an escort service business within the city without the permit required by this chapter, or to employ or allow a person to act as an escort service technician unless such person has a valid escort service technician permit.

(Ord. 2204 § 7 (part), 2002)

A. Except as provided in Section 10.74.050(D), it is unlawful and a misdemeanor for any person to act as an escort service technician unless such person holds a valid permit issued by the chief of police.

B. A permit to act as an escort service technician does not authorize the operation of an escort service business. A person with a valid permit to operate an escort service may also act as an escort service technician within or for the permitted escort service establishment.

C. This Chapter 10.74 shall not apply to any private investigator or security operative licensed by the state of California to provide investigation or security services.

D. This Chapter 10.74 shall not apply to an escort service technician who is licensed and operating under a valid escort service technician permit issued by another jurisdiction within San Diego County only so long as that person remains in compliance with Sections 10.74.060 and 10.74.070 during the performance of escort services within this jurisdiction.

(Ord. 2204 § 7 (part), 2002)

A. No escort service business permitted under this chapter shall place, publish or distribute or cause to be placed, published or distributed, any advertising matter that describes or depicts any portion of the human body in a manner which, or through the use of descriptive language, would reasonably suggest that any service regarding the display of specified anatomical areas or the performance of specified sexual activity, or both, is available.

B. No escort service technician performing services for hire or having accepted or solicited any form of consideration from a patron, shall: 1) disrobe or expose specified anatomical areas for the view of that patron or any other person; 2) allow the touching of the technician's specified anatomical areas by the patron; or, 3) touch the patron's specified anatomical areas, whether those areas are exposed or not.

C. This section is regulatory only. Violation shall be grounds for revocation of the permit.

(Ord. 2204 § 7 (part), 2002)

A. Every operator of an escort service business shall keep a record of the date and hour of each engagement, the name and address of the patron, and the name of the escort service technician engaged. This record shall be open to inspection by officials charged with the enforcement of these provisions for the purpose of law enforcement and for public health reasons. The information furnished or secured as a result of any such inspection shall be kept confidential and shall not be released to any source except pursuant to a lawful subpoena or court order. Records shall be maintained by the operator for a period of six months from the date of engagement of services, and may be destroyed after that date.

B. Every patron must furnish photo identification to an escort service operator. Photo identification consists of one of the following: a valid driver's license issued by the patron's state or country of residence; a federal or state government or military identification card; a passport; or any other form of identification on which the patron's photograph and current address appears. If, because of physical disability, a patron is unable to furnish a governmentally issued form of photographic identification, an escort service operator is authorized to accept any commercially reasonable form of identification that will serve to identify that patron.

C. The escort service operator shall maintain a record of the identification produced by the patron, which shall be kept for the times specified in subsection A. Notwithstanding the use of a credit card, each patron must comply with subsection B of this section.

D. No escort service operator or technician shall provide services to a patron who has refused to provide required identification. This subsection D is regulatory only. Violation shall be grounds for revocation of the permit.

(Ord. 2204 § 7 (part), 2002)