Visalia Municipal Code Ch. 5.36 Private Patrol Services

A. For the purpose of this chapter, certain terms used herein are defined as follows:

The term "Private patrol service" means any individual or entity which furnished or purports to furnish to members, subscribers, or customers any uniformed security guard or special officer for the purpose of affording security protection for hire or reward, and as defined in Section 7582.1, Division 3, Chapter 11.5, Article 3 of the Business and Professions Code of the State of California.

B. This chapter shall not apply to a watchman or caretaker working for a single employer in a line of business other than a licensed private patrol service or to an individual operating an armored car service for transporting money or other valuable personal property under guard. (Ord. 9605 § 16 (part), 1996: Ord. 9517 § 1 (part), 1995: prior code § 6600)

Any private patrol service operator, or any employee thereof, as defined by Section 5.36.020 of this chapter and Section 7582.1, Division 3, Chapter 11.5, Article 3 of the Business and Professions Code of the state of California, shall register their firm name, names of employees, and file a copy of their State Bureau of Consumer Affairs identification cards with the Chief of Police, or designee, before engaging in the provision of private patrol services within the corporate limits of the city notwithstanding compliance with the provisions of Chapter 5.04. No application for such registration as required by this section. It is unlawful for any private patrol operation, or employee thereof, to engage in the business of private patrol service without first complying with the registration requirements of this section. (Ord. 9605 § 16 (part), 1996: Ord. 9517 § 1 (part), 1995: prior code § 6601)

The chief of police shall approve the type or character of identification markings and/or insignia placed on uniforms worn by private patrol service employees so as to insure that the uniforms and insignia are clearly distinguishable from the uniforms and insignia worn by Visalia police personnel. (Ord. 9517 § 1 (part), 1995: prior code § 6602)

The chief of police shall approve the type or character of identification markings and/or insignia placed on any motor vehicle used in the operation of any private patrol service. No vehicle used by a private patrol service shall be equipped with a red light or a siren. Such vehicles will be clearly distinguishable from the vehicles used by the Visalia Department of Public Safety as emergency vehicles. (Ord. 9517 § 1 (part), 1995: prior code § 6603)

No provision of this chapter shall be deemed, whether directly or indirectly, to authorize any act which is otherwise prohibited by any law of the state of California or require any act which is otherwise prohibited by any law of the state of California. Nor shall any provision of this chapter be deemed whether directly or indirectly, to authorize any act or acts which are prohibited by any law of the state of California. (Ord. 9517 § 1 (part), 1995: prior code § 6604)