[Miscellaneous Conduct]

SF-POLICE art. 9, pt. [Miscellaneous Conduct]

in effect

SF Police Code § 622 REGULATIONS TO BE OBSERVED AT FIRES.

SEC. 622. REGULATIONS TO BE OBSERVED AT FIRES. It shall be the duty of the police officers, at the time of any fire, to place ropes and guard lines across all public streets on which any burning buildings or premises are situated and at such points as they may be deemed necessary. (Added by Ord. 1.075, App. 10/11/38)

SF Police Code § 623 PUBLIC TO REMAIN OUTSIDE LINES.

SEC. 623. PUBLIC TO REMAIN OUTSIDE LINES. It shall be unlawful for any person except owners and occupants, and their employees, of buildings endangered by fire, and officers and members of the Fire Department and Police Department, and persons having permits from the Fire Commissioners or Police Commissioners, to pass within such lines or to remain within such lines when ordered outside thereof by any Police Officer. (Added by Ord. 1.075, App. 10/11/38)

SF Police Code § 628 COERCION OF LABORERS FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES PROHIBITED.

SEC. 628. COERCION OF LABORERS FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES PROHIBITED. No officer, board or commission, authorized by law to appoint subordinates or to engage the services of laborers, shall solicit or demand of such subordinates or laborers that they vote for or against any candidate for any elective office; or procure, engage, or endeavor to procure from such subordinate or laborer any sum of money or contribution to be used for the election or defeat of any candidate for any elective office; and any officer, or member of any board or commission, who demands such contribution and any subordinate or laborer who pays any such contribution, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall forfeit his office or position. (Added by Ord. 1.075, App. 10/11/38)

SF Police Code § 630 UNAUTHORIZED REMOVAL OF NEWSPAPERS PROHIBITED.

SEC. 630. UNAUTHORIZED REMOVAL OF NEWSPAPERS PROHIBITED. (a) Findings. (1) The Board of Supervisors of the City and County of San Francisco finds that the unauthorized removal of newspapers before they reach their intended reading public, including the unauthorized removal of newspapers circulated to the public free of charge, injures the people of the City and County by depriving them of informative printed news, entertainment, and public notices. (2) The Board further finds that the unauthorized removal of newspapers infringes on the right of the public to a free press under the First Amendment to the United State Constitution and Article I, Section 2 of the California Constitution, and the public's right to express and exchange diverse ideas and opinions. (3) The Board further finds that the unauthorized removal of newspapers from newsracks, storefronts, residential properties, bundle drop locations and other locations where newspapers are delivered in mass for public consumption, has become a substantial problem in the City and County of San Francisco. (4) The Board further finds that persons taking newspapers from these locations are often selling them to recyclers, and are thus appropriating the newspapers for monetary gain. (b) Definitions. (1) Newspapers. For purposes of this Section, "newspapers" shall mean any publication made available to the public on a periodic basis (whether daily, weekly, monthly or quarterly), regardless of whether a fee is charged for the publication. (2) Newsracks. For purposes of this Section, "newsracks" shall mean any self-service or coin-operated box, container, storage unit, or other dispenser installed, used, or maintained for the display and sale of newspapers. (3) Residential Property. For purposes of this Section, "residential property" shall mean any property attached or adjacent to a single-family residence, apartment or other building used as a residential dwelling where a person would reasonably expect newspapers to be placed for the use of individuals residing in the building. Such property includes, but is not limited to, any front yard, driveway, or mailbox associated with such dwelling. (4) Storefront. For purposes of this Section, "storefront" shall mean any property attached or adjacent to a business, including but not limited to grocery or convenience stores, where a person would reasonably expect newspapers to be placed for the use of the business. (5) Bundles. For purposes of this Section, "bundles" shall mean a quantity of newspapers gathered or bound together by a publisher or distributor for the purpose of distribution to its intended audience. (6) Bundle Drop Locations. For purposes of this Section, "bundle drop locations" shall mean places where bundles are placed in mass for distribution by authorized delivery persons. (c) Prohibitions. (1) It shall be unlawful for any person to remove, take, or appropriate more than one copy of a newspaper from any newsrack or bundle drop location for the purpose of (i) selling such newspaper to any recycler; (ii) selling, trading, or bartering such newspaper to anyone for any payment; or (iii) depriving others of the opportunity to read or enjoy such newspaper. This prohibition shall not apply to an authorized representative of the owner or operator of any newsrack, or any publisher, authorized printer or authorized distributor of newspapers. (2) It shall be unlawful for any person, other than a business owner or the owner's authorized agent, to remove, take, or appropriate more than one copy of a newspaper from any storefront for the purpose of (i) selling such newspaper to any recycler; (ii) selling, trading, or bartering such newspaper to anyone for any payment; or (iii) depriving others of the opportunity to read or enjoy such newspaper. (3) It shall be unlawful for any person to remove, take, or appropriate from any residential property more than one copy of a newspaper for the purpose of (i) selling such newspaper to any recycler; (ii) selling, trading, or bartering such newspaper to anyone for any payment; or (iii) depriving others of the opportunity to read or enjoy such newspaper. This prohibition shall not apply to the owner of such residential property, a person residing at such property, or the authorized representative of the owner of or person residing at such property. (4) It shall be unlawful for a recycler or any other person or entity to purchase more than one copy of any newspaper, or to obtain more than one copy of any newspaper or other publication through trade or barter, from any person ("seller") under circumstances sufficient to give a reasonable person knowledge that the seller has removed, taken, or appropriated such newspapers before they reached their intended reading public. Circumstances sufficient to give a reasonable person such knowledge include, but are not limited to, being offered for purchase, trade or barter a bundle or bundles of multiple copies of the same edition of a newspaper by any person other than a publisher, printer, distributor or retail seller of such newspaper, or an authorized representative of such a publisher, printer, distributor or retail seller. (d) Record Keeping. Any recycler or other person or entity purchasing newspapers in quantities of greater than 100 pounds per transaction, shall be required to record the following information for each such transaction: the seller's name, address, phone number, valid driver's license number, automobile license plate number, amount of newspapers, and amount paid per transaction. Any recycler or other person required to keep records pursuant to this Section shall maintain such records and make them available for inspection for at least one year. (e) Penalties. Any person or entity violating any provision of this Section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor or an infraction. The complaint charging such violation shall specify whether, in the discretion of the District Attorney, the violation is a misdemeanor or infraction. If charged as an infraction, upon conviction, the violator shall be punished by a fine of not less than $50 or more than $100, and/or community service, for each provision violated. If charged as a misdemeanor, upon conviction, the violator shall be punished by a fine of not less than $100 or more than $500, and/or community service, for each provision violated, or by imprisonment in the County Jail for a period of not more than six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. In any accusatory pleading charging a violation of this Section, if the defendant previously has been convicted of a violation of this Section, each such previous violation and conviction shall be charged in the accusatory pleading. Any person or entity violating any provision of this Section a second time within a ninety-day period shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not less than $200 and not more than $500, and/or community service, for each provision violated, or by imprisonment in the County Jail for a period of not more than six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Any person or entity violating any provision of this Section a third time, and each subsequent time, within a ninety-day period shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not less than $300 and not more than $500, and/or community service, for each provision violated, or by imprisonment in the County Jail for a period of not more than six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. (f) Severability. If any subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or word of this Section be for any reason declared unconstitutional or invalid or ineffective by any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity or the effectiveness of the remaining portions of this Section or any part thereof. The Board hereby declares that it would have adopted this Section notwithstanding the unconstitutionality, invalidity, or ineffectiveness of any one or more of its subsections, sentences, clauses, phrases, or words. (Added by Ord. 99-96, App. 3/6/96)

SF Police Code § 633 REQUIRING DAMAGED TRAFFIC STANDARDS TO BE REPORTED TO CHIEF OF POLICE.

SEC. 633. REQUIRING DAMAGED TRAFFIC STANDARDS TO BE REPORTED TO CHIEF OF POLICE. It shall be the duty of the driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in damage to any traffic standard, sign or signal, pole, fire alarm box, police telephone signal box, or hydrant belonging to the City and County of San Francisco, to notify, within 24 hours thereafter, the Chief of Police of the City and County of San Francisco of the name of the owner and driver of said vehicle, their address, registration number of said vehicle and the location of the property so damaged. (Added by Ord. 1.075, App. 10/11/38)

SF Police Code § 635 CITY AND COUNTY BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS; VIOLATIONS OF RULES AND REGULATIONS RELATING THERETO PROHIBITED.

SEC. 635. CITY AND COUNTY BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS; VIOLATIONS OF RULES AND REGULATIONS RELATING THERETO PROHIBITED. No person shall violate or attempt to violate any rule or regulation prescribed by the appropriate officer, board or commission of the City and County for the administration and protection of any public building or grounds of said City and County under the control and jurisdiction of said officer, board or commission, provided that a copy of said rule or regulation is posted in a conspicuous place in the public building or grounds to which said rule or regulation applies. (Added by Ord. 79-72, App. 4/3/72)

SF Police Code § 644 THE USE, SALE OR POSSESSION OF BALLOONS INFLATED WITH INFLAMMABLE OR EXPLOSIVE GASES PROHIBITED.

SEC. 644. THE USE, SALE OR POSSESSION OF BALLOONS INFLATED WITH INFLAMMABLE OR EXPLOSIVE GASES PROHIBITED. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to use, sell or possess any balloon inflated with inflammable or explosive gases. (Added by Ord. 1.075, App. 10/11/38)

SF Police Code § 645 ABANDONING REFRIGERATOR EQUIPPED WITH LOCKING DEVICES PROHIBITED.

SEC. 645. ABANDONING REFRIGERATOR EQUIPPED WITH LOCKING DEVICES PROHIBITED. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to leave or permit to remain outside of any dwelling, building or other structure, or within any unoccupied or abandoned building, dwelling or other structure under his or its control, in a place accessible to children, any abandoned, unattended or discarded ice box, refrigerator or other container which has an air-tight door or lid, snaplock or other locking device which may not be released from the inside, without first removing said door or lid, snaplock or other locking device from said ice box, refrigerator or container. (Added by Ord. 8454, Series of 1939, App. 3/17/54)

SF Police Code § 646 PENALTY.

SEC. 646. PENALTY. Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any of the provisions of Section 645 of this Article shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof, shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $500, or by imprisonment in the County Jail for a period of not more than 90 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. (Added by Ord. 8454, Series of 1939, App. 3/17/54)

SF Police Code § 647 UNAUTHORIZED REMOVAL OF SHOPPING CARTS; NOTICE, EXCEPTIONS.

SEC. 647. UNAUTHORIZED REMOVAL OF SHOPPING CARTS; NOTICE, EXCEPTIONS. No person shall remove any shopping cart, shopping basket, or other similar device from the premises of any business establishment, any parking area maintained for the customers of said business establishment, or sidewalks and passageways adjacent to said business establishment or said parking areas, for the purposes of temporarily using the same, or for any purpose whatsoever, if such shopping cart, basket, or device has securely affixed to it a sign identifying it as belonging to said business establishment and there is posted on the premises of said business establishment a notification to the effect that said cart, basket or device is not to be removed from said premises, parking areas, or sidewalks and passageways adjacent thereto. This Section shall not be enforceable against any alleged violators unless there is posted at the place or places where said carts, baskets or devices are stored for customer use, a sign or signs positioned and of sufficient size and legibility to be seen by an ordinarily observant person, to notify customers and the general public of the prohibitions set forth herein. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to removal of a shopping cart, shopping basket or other similar device by the owner thereof, the agent of said owner, an employee of said business establishment, or by any person possessing the written consent of said owner or the manager of said business establishment. (Added by Ord. 263-66, App. 10/28/66)

SF Police Code § 648 AUTOMATIC CALLING DEVICES - USE OF REGULATED.

SEC. 648. AUTOMATIC CALLING DEVICES - USE OF REGULATED. No person, partnership, corporation or any other type or class of association of persons, except a public utility engaged in the business of providing communications services and facilities, shall use or operate, attempt to use or operate, or cause to be used or operated, or arrange, adjust, program or otherwise provide or install any device or combination of devices that will upon action either mechanically, electronically or by any other automatic means, initiate a call and deliver a recorded message to any telephone number or numbers assigned to the City and County of San Francisco by a public telephone company, without the prior written consent of said City and County. The term "telephone number" includes any additional numbers assigned by a public utility company engaged in the business of providing communications services and facilities to be used by means of a rotary or other system to connect with said City and County to such primary number when the primary telephone number is in use. (Added by Ord. 222-70, App. 6/25/70)

SF Police Code § 649 APPLICATION FOR PERMISSION TO INSTALL.

SEC. 649. APPLICATION FOR PERMISSION TO INSTALL. Any and all applications for the consent required by Section 648 shall be made to the Head of the Department of the City and County of San Francisco which has a telephone number to which it is desired to initiate a call and/or deliver a recorded message. The form and detail of the application for such consent must be furnished by the Department Head and such consent does not take the place of any license required by law. Said Department Head may withhold said consent until satisfied that the granting of said consent will not interfere with the operations of his department. (Added by Ord. 222-70, App. 6/25/70) ARTICLE 9.1: [RESERVED] ARTICLE 9.2: [RESERVED] ARTICLE 9.3: [RESERVED] ARTICLE 9.4: [RESERVED]

Source: City and County of San Francisco, Charter and Municipal Codes (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/san_francisco/latest/sf_police/0-0-0-9898Fetched: 11/1/2026