Nightclub Bouncers Face Strict New Law

Nightclubs and bars can no longer hand someone a shirt that reads “security” on the back and call the person a bouncer.

The California Assembly passed a new law requiring bouncers earn a license before working.

The law comes as the summer tourism brings some new problems to the Southern California desert.

On Saturday morning, a man was shot dead near a nightclub in Beaumont.

Space 120, a Palm Springs nightclub, has also earned a reputation as being a rowdy establishment.

State leaders said they hope the new law will change that.

“It’s a state-mandated law that anyone that works in the security business must have a California guard card,” said Steve Serna of Serna and Associates Security.

The “Guard Card” was the first California state license for security guards, but many complained its rules and regulations were generic.

For those who applied, background checks were done by the U.S. Department of Justice and FBI.

It required eight hours of training on the powers to arrest and weapons of mass destruction.

The new law requires guards to train for 16 hours.

“That will educate the guard as to what he or she can or cannot do to limit liability,” said Serna.

His business in Palm Desert has trained dozens for that license, but not yet for the new license called the Proprietary Private Security Officer card.

Under the new regulations, anyone hired to do work as an in-house guard must obtain a new PSO license, which cannot be substituted by a Guard Card.

Following criticism by the city council for being unsafe, Space 120 in Palm Springs recently closed down for renovation and time to create and implement a new security plan under the bar’s new name The City Lounge.

Zelda’s Nightclub management said they require their bouncers to walk people through metal detectors.

In Palm Desert, The Hood Bar and Pizza restaurant just moved into its new location, where guards cannot work without a PSO.

“People kind of get rowdy when they’re over-intoxicated,” said co-owner Colin Hood. “People try to come in over-intoxicated, and (bouncers are) able to identify these situations and diffuse them.”

Guards who are not licensed can be fined up to $5,000.