Section 31360 Of Chapter 3. Body Armor From California Penal Code >> Division 10. >> Title 4. >> Part 6. >> Chapter 3.
31360
. (a) A person who has been convicted of a violent felony
under the laws of the United States, the State of California, or any
other state, government, or country, who purchases, owns, or
possesses body armor, as defined in Section 16288, except as
authorized under subdivision (b), is guilty of a felony, punishable
by imprisonment in state prison for 16 months, or two or three years.
(b) A person whose employment, livelihood, or safety is dependent
on the ability to legally possess and use body armor, who is subject
to the prohibition imposed by subdivision (a) due to a prior violent
felony conviction, may file a petition for an exception to this
prohibition with the chief of police or county sheriff of the
jurisdiction in which that person seeks to possess and use the body
armor. The chief of police or sheriff may reduce or eliminate the
prohibition, impose conditions on reduction or elimination of the
prohibition, or otherwise grant relief from the prohibition as the
chief of police or sheriff deems appropriate, based on the following:
(1) A finding that the petitioner is likely to use body armor in a
safe and lawful manner.
(2) A finding that the petitioner has a reasonable need for this
type of protection under the circumstances.
In making its decision, the chief of police or sheriff shall
consider the petitioner's continued employment, the interests of
justice, any relevant evidence, and the totality of the
circumstances. It is the intent of the Legislature that law
enforcement officials exercise broad discretion in fashioning
appropriate relief under this paragraph in cases in which relief is
warranted. However, this paragraph may not be construed to require
law enforcement officials to grant relief to any particular
petitioner. Relief from this prohibition does not relieve any other
person or entity from any liability that might otherwise be imposed.
(c) The chief of police or sheriff shall require, as a condition
of granting an exception under subdivision (b), that the petitioner
agree to maintain on the petitioner's person a certified copy of the
law enforcement official's permission to possess and use body armor,
including any conditions or limitations.
(d) Law enforcement officials who enforce the prohibition
specified in subdivision (a) against a person who has been granted
relief pursuant to subdivision (b), shall be immune from any
liability for false arrest arising from the enforcement of this
subdivision unless the person has in possession a certified copy of
the permission granting the person relief from the prohibition, as
required by subdivision (c). This immunity from liability does not
relieve any person or entity from any other liability that might
otherwise be imposed.