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. (a) A subpoena may be served by any person, except that the
defendant may not serve a subpoena in the criminal action to which he
or she is a party, but a peace officer shall serve in his or her
county any subpoena delivered to him or her for service, either on
the part of the people or of the defendant, and shall, without delay,
make a written return of the service, subscribed by him or her,
stating the time and place of service. The service is made by
delivering a copy of the subpoena to the witness personally.
(b) (1) If service is to be made on a minor, service shall be made
on the minor's parent, guardian, conservator, or similar fiduciary,
or if one of them cannot be located with reasonable diligence, then
service shall be made on any person having the care or control of the
minor or with whom the minor resides or by whom the minor is
employed, unless the parent, guardian, conservator, or fiduciary or
other specified person is the defendant, and on the minor if the
minor is 12 years of age or older. The person served shall have the
obligation of producing the minor at the time and place designated in
the subpoena. A willful failure to produce the minor is punishable
as a contempt pursuant to Section 1218 of the Code of Civil
Procedure. The person served shall be allowed the fees and expenses
that are provided for subpoenaed witnesses.
(2) If the minor is alleged to come within the description of
Section 300, 601, or 602 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and
the minor is not residing with a parent or guardian, regardless of
the age of the minor, service shall also be made upon the designated
agent for service of process at the county child welfare department
or the probation department under whose jurisdiction the child has
been placed.
(3) The court having jurisdiction of the case shall have the power
to appoint a guardian ad litem to receive service of a subpoena of
the child and shall have the power to produce the child ordered to
court under this section.
(c) If any peace officer designated in Section 830 is required as
a witness before any court or magistrate in any action or proceeding
in connection with a matter regarding an event or transaction which
he or she has perceived or investigated in the course of his or her
duties, a criminal subpoena issued pursuant to this chapter requiring
his or her attendance may be served either by delivering a copy to
the peace officer personally or by delivering two copies to his or
her immediate superior or agent designated by his or her immediate
superior to receive the service or, in those counties where the local
agencies have consented with the marshal's office or sheriff's
office, where appropriate, to participate, by sending a copy by
electronic means, including electronic mail, computer modem,
facsimile, or other electronic means, to his or her immediate
superior or agent designated by the immediate superior to receive the
service. If the service is made by electronic means, the immediate
superior or agency designated by his or her immediate superior shall
acknowledge receipt of the subpoena by telephone or electronic means
to the sender of origin. If service is made upon the immediate
superior or agent designated by the immediate superior, the immediate
superior or the agent shall deliver a copy of the subpoena to the
peace officer as soon as possible and in no event later than a time
which will enable the peace officer to comply with the subpoena.
(d) If the immediate superior or his or her designated agent upon
whom service is attempted to be made knows he or she will be unable
to deliver a copy of the subpoena to the peace officer within a time
which will allow the peace officer to comply with the subpoena, the
immediate superior or agent may refuse to accept service of process
and is excused from any duty, liability, or penalty arising in
connection with the service, upon notifying the server of that fact.
(e) If the immediate superior or his or her agent is tendered
service of a subpoena less than five working days prior to the date
of hearing, and he or she is not reasonably certain he or she can
complete the service, he or she may refuse acceptance.
(f) If the immediate superior or agent upon whom service has been
made, subsequently determines that he or she will be unable to
deliver a copy of the subpoena to the peace officer within a time
which will allow the peace officer to comply with the subpoena, the
immediate superior or agent shall notify the server or his or her
office or agent not less than 48 hours prior to the hearing date
indicated on the subpoena, and is thereby excused from any duty,
liability, or penalty arising because of his or her failure to
deliver a copy of the subpoena to the peace officer. The server, so
notified, is therewith responsible for preparing the written return
of service and for notifying the originator of the subpoena if
required.
(g) Notwithstanding subdivision (c), in the case of peace officers
employed by the California Highway Patrol, if service is made upon
the immediate superior or upon an agent designated by the immediate
superior of the peace officer, the immediate superior or the agent
shall deliver a copy of the subpoena to the peace officer on the
officer's first workday following acceptance of service of process.
In this case, failure of the immediate superior or the designated
agent to deliver the subpoena shall not constitute a defect in
service.