§ 34-127 — Authority of chief of police to issue news media identification cards; to whom issued

Sec. 34-127. - Authority of chief of police to issue news media identification cards; to whom issued.

The chief of police is hereby authorized to issue news media identification cards (hereinafter referred to as a "personal card") and news media vehicle identification cards (hereinafter referred to as a "vehicle card") to news-gathering representatives of electronic and print media organizations that maintain a news service which regularly covers police, fire and other official municipal events within the City of Houston. Print media qualify if the publication appears on a regular basis. Such cards may also be issued to a self-employed reporter or photographer who routinely covers police, fire, and official municipal events. The representative or the self-employed reporter or photographer shall be principally, actively, and routinely employed, by a news media organization qualified under this article, to gather information or pictures for distribution or broadcast to the general public as news. The exclusive purpose of the personal and vehicle cards shall be to enable the bearer thereof to pass through established police, fire and official municipal lines in order to cover news events occurring behind such lines or to utilize the press facilities located in city hall, the Houston Police Department, or the Houston Fire Department.

(Code 1968, § 2-312; Ord. No. 78-1630, § 2, 8-15-78; Ord. No. 84-790, § 1, 5-22-84)