Lifeguards Authorized to Enforce State and Local Codes — Arrests and Citations
San Diego Municipal Code § 63.20.8
in effect§63.20.8 Lifeguards Authorized to Enforce State and Local Codes — Arrests and Citations
(a) Purpose and Intent. It is the purpose and intent of the Council in enacting this section that all City lifeguards be specifically authorized pursuant to the provisions of Section 836.5 of the Penal Code of the State of California, to make arrests without a warrant whenever any such lifeguard has reasonable cause to believe that the person to be arrested has committed a misdemeanor in the lifeguard’s presence which is a violation of a statute or ordinance which such lifeguard has the duty to enforce.
(b) Lifeguards of the City of San Diego are authorized, empowered, and given the duty to enforce provisions of the San Diego Municipal Code and misdemeanors designated in the State Codes; to make arrests without a warrant whenever any such lifeguard has reasonable cause to believe that the person to be arrested has committed a misdemeanor in the lifeguard’s presence; and while engaged in the performance of their duties, to arrest persons and issue citations for violations of all Codes under the provisions of Municipal Code section 836.5 and 853.6 of the Penal Code of the State of California when violations occur in City of San Diego beach areas.
(Retitled to “Lifeguards Authorized to Enforce State and Local Codes — Arrests and Citations” on 5–31–1994 by O–18073 N.S.)
(Amended 1-13-2023 by O-21606 N.S.; effective 2-12-2023.)
Source: City of San Diego Office of the City Clerk, San Diego Municipal Code and City Charter (docs.sandiego.gov PDFs)URL: https://docs.sandiego.gov/municode/MuniCodeChapter06/Ch06Art03Division00.pdf#page=11Fetched: 10/28/2026