San Mateo County Municipal Code Ch. 2.40 Court Facility Security

As used in this chapter, "court facility" includes any building at which court hearings, court calendars, court or jury trials, or any other court proceedings are conducted including but not limited to the Hall of Justice and Records at 400 County Center in Redwood City, the court building located at 1050 Mission Road in South San Francisco, the court building located at 800 N. Humboldt Street in San Mateo, the Juvenile Court building located at 21 Tower Road in San Mateo, and any building at which sessions of traffic court or any other court hearings, court calendars, court or jury trials or any other court proceedings are conducted. Any such building is a court facility regardless of whether said building is owned or leased by the County.

(Ord. 4324, 08/15/06)

The Sheriff and his deputies, other peace officers who come to their aid, and contractors who are engaged for the purpose of implementing court facility security, may conduct pat-down, electronic or magnetometer searches of persons entering court facilities for weapons, and may examine for weapons the contents of any purses, parcels, and other items carried by such persons, as may be reasonably necessary to ensure the security of court facilities. If any person refuses to submit to a search, he or she shall have the option of leaving the court facility without a search, unless a search is otherwise permitted by law.

(Ord. 4324, 08/15/06)

(a) It is unlawful for any person to breach, defeat, bypass or tamper with any mechanism, system, or equipment designed to prevent or restrict access to any court facility with the intent to circumvent court facility entry screening, or to aid another in such breach, defeat, bypass or tampering.

(b) It is unlawful for any person to enter, with the intent to circumvent court facility entry screening, or to exit any court facility by way of any access door, hallway or entryway which is posted as "restricted" or "no access," unless authorized to do so by a peace officer.

(Ord. 4324, 08/15/06)

(a) Any person who violates the provisions of this chapter is guilty of an infraction punishable by a fine in an amount not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00).

(b) Any person who violates this chapter, having been convicted of one or more violations of this chapter within the twelve-month period preceding the commission of the offense alleged in the accusatory pleading is guilty of a misdemeanor. For this purpose, a bail forfeiture shall be deemed to be a conviction of the offense charged.

(Ord. 4324, 08/15/06)