Ventura Municipal Code § 6.300.010 Patrol service permit

5 Cross reference(s): Public peace and morals regulations, Title 10.

A. Required. It is hereby declared to be unlawful for any person, either as principal or agent, to engage in the business of conducting or maintaining, or soliciting business, for any patrol service or system without first obtaining a permit from the manager therefor.

B. Definition. For the purpose of this section, the words “patrol service” and “patrol system” shall be deemed to be any service or system which purports to furnish or does furnish to members or subscribers for a consideration, or otherwise, any watchman or guard, either uniformed or otherwise, to patrol any district in the city, or to guard or watch any property, or to perform any service usually and customarily performed by the regular patrol of the police department.

C. Application. Before any person shall engage in the business of conducting or maintaining any patrol service or system in the city, the person or it shall make an application in writing to the manager for permission to engage in such business and describe therein the district in which the person or it shall desire to operate. Said application shall be referred to the chief of police who shall make an investigation concerning the character of the applicant and the condition of police protection prevailing within the district designated and shall within seven days report thereon to the manager. Upon receiving such report, the manager shall grant or deny the applicant permission to engage in such business; and such permission shall be granted unless it shall appear from such report of the chief of police that the applicant is not a person of good moral character or has not good character in respect to honesty and integrity, or that the district designated in any such application is already supplied with sufficient or ample police protection by the city or by a patrol service or system, or both.

D. Terms and Conditions. Any permit granted by the manager as provided in the last preceding section shall be issued upon the following terms and conditions:

1. Said patrol service or patrol system shall be operated and conducted under the general supervision of the chief of police;

2. Said chief of police shall regulate the style of uniform, if any, to be used by said patrol system or patrol service;

3. Any such permit and any license issued pursuant thereto may at any time be revoked by the council for cause shown, after notice to the holder thereof and an opportunity to be heard shall have been given. (Code 1971, § 2261)