Tuolumne County Municipal Code Ch. 9.18 Display of Harmful Matter to Minors
Tuolumne County Municipal Code · 2026-09 edition · updated 2026-10-02 · Tuolumne County
Cite as: Tuolumne County Municipal Code Chapter 9.18 · Text as of 2026-10-02
9.18.010 Definitions. As used in this chapter:¶
A. "Harmful matter" means matter, taken as a whole, which to the average person, applying contemporary statewide standards, appeals to the prurient interest, and is matter which, taken as a whole, depicts or describes in a patently offensive way sexual conduct and which, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors.
When it appears from the nature of the matter or the circumstances of its dissemination, distribution or exhibition that it is designed for clearly defined deviant sexual groups, the appeal of the matter shall be judged with reference to its intended recipient group.
In prosecutions under this chapter, where circumstances of production, presentation, sale, dissemination, distribution, or publicity indicate that matter is being commercially exploited by the defendant for the sake of its prurient appeal, that evidence is probative with respect to the nature of the matter and can justify the conclusion that the matter lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors.
B. "Matter" means any book. magazine,
newspaper, video recording, or other printed or
written material or any picture, drawing,
photograph, motion picture, or other pictorial
representation or any statue or other figure, or
any recording, transcription, or mechanical,
chemical, or electrical reproduction or any other
articles, equipment, machines, or materials.
"Matter" also includes live or recorded telephone
messages when transmitted, disseminated, or
distributed as part of a commercial transaction.
C. "Minor" means any natural person under eighteen years of age. (Ord. 1765 § 1 (part), 1990).
9.18.020 Display of harmful matter unlawful.¶
A. It is unlawful for any person to display harmful matter in a public place, other than a public place from which minors are excluded, unless devices commonly known as blinder racks are placed in front of the matter so that the lower two-thirds of the matter is not exposed to view.
B. Violation of this section shall be punished as an infraction pursuant to Section 1.08.030. (Ord. 1765 § 1 (part), 1990).
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