San Luis Obispo County Municipal Code Ch. 6.52 Private Patrol Services

For the purposes of this title, "private patrol service" includes any person, firm, association or corporation who agrees to furnish, or furnishes, a watchman, guard, patrolman, or other person, in uniform or otherwise, to protect persons or property or to prevent the theft, unlawful taking, loss, embezzlement, misappropriation, or concealment of goods, wares, merchandise, money, bonds, stocks, notes, documents, papers, or property of any kind; or performs the service of such watchman, guard, patrolman, or other person, for any of said purposes, for a consideration, or otherwise.

(Ord. 1045 § 2 (part), 1969: prior code § 8-004.6(A))

It is unlawful for any person to engage in the business of conducting, maintaining or soliciting business for any private patrol service in the unincorporated area of the county without first obtaining a permit to do so from the sheriff of the county and obtaining a business license as provided in this title and paying the necessary fees therefor.

(Ord. 1045 § 2 (part), 1969: prior code § 8-004.6(B))

The application for a business license to conduct or maintain any private patrol service shall be submitted to the sheriff of the county, who shall make an investigation concerning the character of the applicant. Following such investigation, the sheriff shall grant or deny the applicant permission to engage in such business. Such permission shall be granted unless it appears from the investigation that the applicant is not a person of good moral character or has not a good character in respect to honesty or integrity, or the sheriff determines that the granting of the application would not be in the best interests of law enforcement in the county.

Applicant shall submit such information as the sheriff may request, such as name, address, organization of the patrol service, its method of operation, the territory or locations it proposes to serve, and the names, addresses, personal descriptions, photographs and fingerprints of its owners, officers and employees.

(Ord. 1045 § 2 (part), 1969: prior code § 8-004.6(C))

Any permit granted by the sheriff of the county as provided in Section 6.52.030 shall be issued upon the following terms and conditions:

(1) Every employee engaged by the licensee shall be investigated in the same manner as the private patrol service under Section 6.52.030, and must be found to be of the same good moral character as the licensee.

(2) Every person engaged by a patrol service shall at all times wear an identification card issued by the sheriff on the front of the outer garment or uniform in such a way as to be conspicuous and plainly visible. The card shall name the patrol service by which he is employed, and contain a photograph, personal description, and right index finger print of the bearer; provided, however, any identification card issued by a municipality within the county, which card contains the same information, may be worn in lieu thereof if such private patrol service has in fact a similar license from that entity.

(3) The holder of the identification card shall immediately return the same to the sheriff whenever his employment as a private patrolman is terminated. If a private patrolman changes his employment from one patrol service to another, he shall report that fact to the sheriff and the name of his new employer shall be endorsed on his identification card.

(4) The sheriff shall prescribe or approve the style or type of uniform, if any, to be used by the private patrol service, for the purpose of maintaining readily apparent distinction from the uniforms worn by the regularly employed peace officers in the county. Any and all such uniforms shall, however, be slate gray in color. This section shall become effective December 1, 1969.

(5) No equipment or motor vehicle shall be used in any business or activity permitted hereunder except with the prior approval of the sheriff, who shall inspect such equipment or motor vehicle to insure the maintenance of a readily apparent distinction from the equipment in motor vehicles used by authorized law enforcement agencies.

The sheriff shall prescribe or approve the types or character of identification markings or insignia placed on any motor vehicle used in the operation of any private patrol service. All vehicles shall be distinctly marked on the front doors only with the designation "private patrol," and all such letters shall be four inches in height.

(6) Any such permit, including a business license, issued pursuant thereto may at any time be revoked after notice to the holder thereof and opportunity to be heard have been given pursuant to Section 6.08.120.

(Ord. 1635 § 3 (part), 1976; Ord. 1045 § 2 (part), 1969: prior code § 8-004.6(D))