"Emergency call"
means a report of a situation where immediate assistance
is deemed to be reasonably necessary to prevent injury, protect life
or property.
"Emergency personnel"
means police officers, employees, officers and agents of
the city responding to an emergency call, or police officers responding
to a non-emergency call and actively engaged in the performance of
their duties.
"Gated community"
means any residential neighborhood where accessibility is
controlled by means of a gate, barrier or other similar improvement
within or across privately maintained rights-of-way.
"Master key"
means a key specified by the city that activates automatic
gates, barriers, doors or other devices or opens a locked Knox box
where an access key is kept.
"Radio control device"
means a radio control system permitting the activation of
automatic gates or barriers by use of a radio transmitter and receiver
system. For purposes of this section, this device will be a separate
and distinct system used solely by emergency personnel for public
safety access. The assigned and restricted code will not be issued
to resident(s) of the gated community nor any other person, except
by written authorization of the chief of police.
(Ord. 1724 § 1, 2000)
This chapter shall apply to all gated communities. For gated
communities where final subdivision maps have been approved, or in
the case of multi-family housing where a valid certificate of occupancy
has been issued, compliance shall be mandatory within twelve months
after the effective date of this chapter. The requirements of this
chapter are in addition to any requirements of the Los Angeles County
fire department.
(Ord. 1724 § 1, 2000)
Each gated community shall install and maintain in good working
order emergency public safety access devices at all times, as follows:
(a) Where
automatic gates or other vehicle barriers exist:
(1) A radio control device as specified by the chief of police; and
(2) A master key as specified by the chief of police for activating automatic
gates or other vehicle barriers in the event of the failure of the
radio control device.
(b) In
apartment houses where locked pedestrian access doors or gates bar
entry:
(1) Master key box as specified by the chief of police where a key to
the door or gate is kept.
(c) Where
more than one vehicle gate or barrier exists or more than one pedestrian
access door or gate is maintained, the chief of police shall determine
if more than one vehicle or pedestrian access point shall have a radio
control device and/or master key.
(Ord. 1724 § 1, 2000)
Any gated community maintained in violation of the provisions of this chapter shall be declared a public nuisance under Chapter
9.36 of this code and shall be handled according to the processes contained therein.
(Ord. 1724 § 1, 2000)
Should responding emergency personnel responding to the report
of an emergency, whether or not a true emergency exists, find it necessary
to force entry into a gated community because the provisions of this
chapter are not in full compliance or the gate fails to open for any
reason, the city, its police officers, employees, officers or agents
shall not be held responsible for such damage.
(Ord. 1724 § 1, 2000)
Any person who uses a radio control device transmitter unless
authorized by the chief of police, or uses a master key except as
authorized by the chief of police or the owners or agents of a gated
community, to access, open or activate a gate, door or barrier of
a gated community is guilty of a misdemeanor. Nothing in this section
shall prohibit a person from such entry in the event of an actual
emergency situation involving the risk of injury or death to any person
within a gated community.
(Ord. 1724 § 1, 2000)
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall
be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(Ord. 1724 § 1, 2000)
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to impose upon the
city or any police officer, officer or employee of the city, any duty
or obligation of any kind to any person.
(Ord. 1724 § 1, 2000)