Placerville Municipal Code Ch. 15 Private Patrol Service Regulations

Before any person shall engage in the business of maintaining any patrol service or patrol system, or patrolling any district, he shall make an application in writing to the chief of police for permission to engage in such business, and describe therein the district in which he shall desire to operate. (Ord. 1075, 7-8-1975)

Said application shall be made to the chief of police, who shall cause an investigation to be made concerning the conditions prevailing within the district designated in any such application, whether already supplied with sufficient patrol service, patrol system, guard or watchman, and shall see that the applicant has complied with all of the following requirements.

(A) Contents: Said application shall be signed and verified by the applicant, and shall specify his name, business address, residence address, and the numbers of any telephones maintained by him, the length of his residence in Placerville, the location of his last place of business, and the name and character of said business, and the length of time he was engaged therein, and the names and addresses of three (3) persons residing within said city as references.

(B) Surety Bond: Said application must be accompanied by a surety bond, the form of which shall be approved by the city attorney, and the penal sum of which must be one thousand dollars ($1,000.00).

(C) Condition Of Bond: The condition of each bond must be substantially such that the principal therein named will faithfully conform to the code of the city, and to each and all laws of the state, whether then in force, or which may thereafter be adopted, relating to the business of the applicant.

(D) Liability On Bond: The principal and sureties named in said bond, and their successors and assigns, shall be jointly and severally bound unto the city, and unto any and every person aggrieved or damaged by the breach of the conditions of said bond; and said bond shall not be void upon the said recovery, but may be sued and recovered upon, from time to time, by any person, aggrieved or damaged, until the whole penalty is exhausted.

(E) Additional Bond: In the event that the total liability of the sureties upon such bond falls below one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), applicant shall furnish an additional bond to keep the liability at a minimum of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00).

(F) Motor Vehicle Insurance: If the applicant intends to, or does operate any motor vehicle in the conduct of his business, he shall file with the city clerk an insurance policy covering such motor vehicle, which said insurance shall include public liability to the extent of ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) for the death or injury of one person, twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00) for the death or injury of two (2) or more persons, and property damage in the sum of two thousand dollars ($2,000.00).

(G) Issuance Of Permit: If satisfied that the statements and references contained in said application are true and that application has been approved as hereinafter provided, and upon applicant's compliance with all the requirements of this chapter, the chief of police shall cause to be issued to applicant a permit hereunder, subject to the terms and conditions outlined in section 6-15-3 of this chapter.

(H) Information Required: Said permit holder shall file with the chief of police, prior to the employment of any person, the applicant's description, photograph, and fingerprints, accompanied by at least two (2) letters of recommendation.

Any person employed by a permit holder shall be approved by the chief of police before being regularly employed; said employee to be removed for any reasonable cause offered by the chief of police.

(I) Length Of Permit: All permits shall be issued for one year, and only after being approved and countersigned by the chief of police. (Ord. 1075, 7-8-1975)

(J) Investigation Fee: The applicant shall pay an investigation fee as set by resolution of the council. (Ord. 1300, 5-25-1982)

(A) Said patrol service or patrol system or public guards shall be operated and conducted under the general supervision of the chief of police.

(B) Said chief of police shall regulate the style and color of uniform to be used by said patrol system or patrol service or public guard. This will include, but not be limited to:

1. Patches: The patch will be oval in shape with one-half inch (1/2") lettering giving the name of the company and the words "Private Patrol".

2. Badges And Cap Pieces: The patrol service, system, or public guard may not wear badges resembling a star nor including a seal or emblem. This must be a plain badge with the name of the company and the words "Private Patrol" placed on both.

3. Rank And Title: The members of the patrol service or system or public guard shall not hold rank nor title nor wear insignia (stripes, bars, etc.) similar to the police services.

4. Vehicles: The color of the vehicles is not to be black, black and white, gold, gold and white, brown, brown and white, or white. No vehicle is to have white door panels. No seals or decals are to be placed on the vehicle, but the name of the company and the words "Private Patrol" must be placed on the side of the doors and the rear of the vehicle. Lettering will be not less than two and one-half inches (21/2") in height and the lettering shall be in contrast to the color of the background upon which it is placed.

(C) Any such permit and any license issued pursuant thereto may at any time be revoked by the chief of police for cause shown, after notice to the holder thereof and an opportunity to be heard shall have been given.

(D) That the persons operating any patrol service or system in the city of Placerville shall have complied with an act to license and regulate the business of private detectives and detective agencies, being a law of the state of California. (Ord. 1075, 7-8-1975)

Every person, firm or corporation as herein provided conducting or operating any patrol system or patrol service shall pay, in lieu of any other business license of the city, a license fee to the city of Placerville of twenty five dollars ($25.00) per annum, payable yearly.

Every person, firm, or corporation as herein provided performing the function of a public guard shall pay, in lieu of any other business license of the city, a license fee to the city of Placerville of ten dollars ($10.00) per annum, payable yearly. (Ord. 1075, 7-8-1975)

Any person violating or causing to be violated any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be fined in addition to having all permits and licenses canceled, the fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500.00), or shall be punishable by imprisonment in the county jail of the county of El Dorado for not more than six (6) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. (Ord. 1075, 7-8-1975)