Santa Barbara Municipal Code Ch. 5.07 Private Patrol Operators

The following words and phrases shall have the meaning indicated, unless the context or usage clearly requires a different meaning.

Commission.

The Fire and Police Commission of the City of Santa Barbara.

Private Patrol Operator.

Any person, partnership, corporation, firm, agency or other organization which provides security or investigative services within the City of Santa Barbara wholly or partially through the use of personnel attired in distinctive uniforms and/or vehicles with distinctive markings.

(Ord. 3748, 1975; Ord. 4499, 1988)

This chapter is adopted to ensure that the uniforms and vehicles used by employees of private patrol operators are clearly distinguishable from those used by the Santa Barbara Police Department and other law enforcement agencies in the South Coast area of Santa Barbara County.

(Ord. 3748, 1975; Ord. 4499, 1988)

No private patrol operator shall provide services within the City of Santa Barbara without first having registered with the Commission in the manner provided in this chapter.

(Ord. 3748,1975; Ord. 4499, 1988)

Any person, partnership, corporation, firm, agency or other organization desiring to be a private patrol operator in the City of Santa Barbara shall register with the secretary of the Commission. The registration submittal shall contain at least the following information:

A. Name of registrant.

B. Business address of registrant.

C. Description of the type of private patrol operation which registrant plans to conduct.

D. Number of uniformed employees registrant plans to perform services in the City of Santa Barbara.

E. Description of employees' uniform including, but not limited to the following information:

1. Color of clothing;

2. Color and design of badge to be worn by employees;

3. Color, design and location on the uniform of any distinctive patches.

F. Description of all distinctively marked vehicles to be used in the City of Santa Barbara, including, but not limited to the following:

1. Color;

2. Description and location on the vehicle of any distinctive insignia;

3. Description and location on the vehicle of any emergency lights.

G. Number of distinctively marked vehicles to be used by the applicant in the City of Santa Barbara.

H. A copy of the registrant's current state license.

(Ord. 3748, 1975; Ord. 4499, 1988)

A registration for a private patrol operator permit shall be placed on the next agenda of the Commission which has not been finalized at the time the registration is filed.

(Ord. 3748, 1975; Ord. 4499. 1988)

The Commission shall review all registrations for private patrol permits to determine whether the uniforms and vehicles to be used by the registrant are clearly distinguishable from those used by the Santa Barbara Police Department and other law enforcement agencies in the South Coast area of Santa Barbara County. If the Commission determines that said uniforms and vehicles are not clearly distinguishable, it shall order the registrant to modify the uniforms and vehicles in a manner which the Commission determines will make them clearly distinguishable from those used by the Santa Barbara Police Department and other law enforcement agencies in the South Coast area of Santa Barbara County. No registrant may utilize a uniform or vehicle which has not been approved by the Commission pursuant to this section.

(Ord. 3748, 1975; Ord. 4499, 1988)

A private patrol operator registration shall be valid for one year and may be renewed annually by the Police Chief by the registrant filing a statement with the secretary of the Commission declaring under penalty of perjury that the uniforms and vehicles used by the registrant in the City of Santa Barbara are the same as those approved by the Commission.

(Ord. 3748, 1975; Ord. 4499, 1988)

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to excuse the payment of the normal business tax required by Chapter 5.04 of this code.

(Ord. 3748, 1975; Ord. 4499, 1988)

No registrant shall modify, change, or alter the uniforms and vehicles approved by the Commission without first applying to the Commission and receiving its determination that its uniforms and vehicles as modified, changed or altered are clearly distinguishable from those used by the Police Department of the City of Santa Barbara and other law enforcement agencies in the South Coast area of Santa Barbara County.

(Ord. 3748, 1975; Ord. 4499, 1988)

A private patrol operator registration may be revoked by the Commission if it determines that the uniforms and vehicles used by the permittee in the City of Santa Barbara are not the same as those approved by the Commission. Prior written notice of the date of Commission meeting at which the Commission will consider revoking the permittee's registration and an opportunity to be heard shall be provided to the registrant.

(Ord. 3748, 1975; Ord. 4499, 1988)