Web page as Word document || PDF File
ATTACHMENT A
BRIDGE REGULATIONS AND PROCEDURES
Non-traditional use of bridges is inherently dangerous. The following regulations are in place to help ensure safety. Permittees, their employees and contractors, etc. are solely responsible for the safety on and around county bridges during production. In order to streamline the permit process, the Placer-Lake Tahoe Film Office is the initial point of contact and will initially coordinate with the various agencies involved. There is no charge for the county film permit or the use of the bridge however there may be charges from the various local, county, state, and federal agencies involved with the filming activity. Please plan for weather contingencies when filling out the permit application. Permit applications for bridge locations should be filled out as early as possible for planning purposes. Submission of the signed application indicates that you have read, understood and will abide by all General County Film Permit regulations: http://www.placer.ca.gov/Departments/CEO/EconDev/PlacerLTFilmOfc/~/media/ceo/filmofc/documents/permit%20regs%20pdf.ashx and those here in Attachment A - Bridge Regulations.
BRIDGE REGULATIONS AND PROCEDURES:
1) Use of county bridges for commercial filming is allowed on a case-by-case basis.
2) PERMIT: County Film Permit is required and FREE. For permit application go to: http://www.placer.ca.gov/Departments/CEO/EconDev/PlacerLTFilmOfc/~/media/ceo/filmofc/documents/FillPermitApplication2010_distributed.ashx
3) SCOUTING: The production company should plan on scouting the Auburn-Foresthill Bridge (AKA the Foresthill Bridge) well in advance of filling out the permit application. Generally the Placer-Lake Tahoe Film Office will set up a meeting with representatives from the relevant agencies for initial planning purposes during this visit.
4) DESCRIPTION: Permittee shall provide a detailed, written description of how the bridge is to be used as part of the permit application. For productions involving multiple agencies it would be wise to provide a preliminary description or proposal before applying. Feel free to discuss this with the FILM Office. A final detailed description is required on the application. This description is required in order to determine special needs and approvals for film permitting: road closures, stunts, swift water rescue, use of aircraft, etc.
Be very specific about what is planned (i.e. number of and placement of cameras, type of activity: BASE jump, bungee jump, climbing girders, etc. – and how many stunt professionals, and from what position, etc.). Additional details may be required from the production company depending on the nature of the proposed production activity (special equipment, engineering specs, etc.) The more description you can provide up front, the easier it is to make sure you can get what you want. Asking the day of the shoot to add new activity may result in denial of activity or prolonged delays.
5) RESUMES / QUALIFICATIONS: Permittee shall provide to the Film Office resume(s) listing the experience and qualifications - the legitimacy - of stunt person(s) and stunt coordinator/technical advisor for jumping, climbing, parachuting, parasailing, hang gliding, bungee, BASE jumping, flight or other non-traditional usage on or around county bridges. USPJA #s are required on the resume for jumpers. These will be checked. Film Permits will not be approved without resumes.
6) SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES: All production personnel and technical and safety equipment used for filming, jumping, climbing, parachuting, parasailing, hang gliding, bungee, BASE jumping, flight or other non-traditional use on or around any county bridge shall be provided by and be the responsibility of the permittee/production company, their contractors, employees, etc..
7) USAGE: Footage shot is to be used only for the purposes listed on the approved permit. It may not be used for stock footage.
TURN-AROUND TIME: VARIES depending on production activity and review by county
CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE: REQUIRED (County won’t start the application process without the correct insurance information in hand)
The Foresthill-Auburn Bridge - with some exceptions the insurance requirements are as follows:
1) The County of Placer requires a Certificate of Insurance in a minimum amount of $5,000,000 in Excess Liability AND at least $1,000,000 in General Liability, naming Placer County as additionally insured with the following text: "the County of Placer, its officers, agents, employees, and volunteers are to be covered as additionally insured for all liability arising out of the operations by or on behalf of the named insured in the performance of this agreement”; and
2) the County of Placer requires a copy of the Endorsement Page listing “the County of Placer, its officers…(same verbiage as above)…) be sent from the production’s Insurance Company via FAX (530.889.4095), e-mail or hard copy to the Placer – Lake Tahoe Film Office.
Other county bridges may not require the same coverages. Call the Film Office for more information. If other non-bridge locations also are being used, the $5,000,000 Certificate of Insurance will be sufficient for all locations on the same permit.
ROAD CONTROL:
If any production activity on the bridge is visibly seen by drivers using the bridge, or otherwise impedes the regular traffic flow, road control is required. For these conditions, roads must be posted 48 hours in advance of location production (not including weekends and holidays). COSTS: County costs associated with posting the roads and other support may be passed on to the production company. For road closures and intermittent traffic control (ITC), California Highway Patrol officers are retained at the production company’s expense. Flagging and additional signage may also be required by CHP or the County. Flagging and signage services are generally provided by private companies at the production company’s expense.
AUBURN- FORESTHILL BRIDGE (AKA the Foresthill Bridge. Other county bridges may vary from these procedures):
The following requirements are imposed by the Placer County Department of Public Works when filming on the Foresthill Bridge. Please note that due to weather and periodic construction these requirements are subject to change.
1. One lane traffic control is in effect whenever filming prep, shooting and/or wrap blocks one span of the bridge, leaving only one span open to traffic. Minimum requirements: signage to be posted as per CalTrans Standard Plan T13 with flaggers and CHP.
2. No traffic delays are allowed between 7:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., and after 4:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday (or after 2:00 PM on Fridays). For nighttime filming, additional requirements may be imposed. No shooting is allowed on weekends.
3. All traffic may be stopped for a maximum of 10 minutes during the actual filming of a sequence with an additional 5 minutes to clear the traffic, for a total of 15 minutes. At all other times at least one lane will remain open with one or two-way traffic control, as necessary.
4) The county must post information signs at least 48 hours in advance (not including weekends and county holidays) of any activities requiring traffic controls. Please note: posting of signs will not be done until an approved permit has been issued. Signs shall state the time and days that traffic control will be in effect, and state the maximum expected delays.
5) All traffic control signs and devices must conform to CalTrans guidelines for construction zone traffic control.
OTHER AGENCIES that may be involved:
CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS:
Bridge activity that affects the property around and below several county bridges requires a State Parks permit. The Film Office can help you determine if this is so. The Production Company must check directly with State Parks personnel for regulations regarding this use. There is a two step process to secure State parks permits: 1) Contact Jay Galloway, Supervising Ranger, Auburn State Recreation Area (530) 885-4527 for local state parks permit forms, regulations, and approval. 2) Contact the California Film Commission (323) 860-2960 to initiate the State Parks process. They will provide a copy of the Photography/Motion Picture Permit Application Form 245A a/o 245B to the Production Company. They will check to see if the Production Company has on file a current, valid insurance policy with State Parks.
In addition, Auburn State Recreation Area may require the production company to retain the services of a qualified swift-water rescue team and/or an ambulance/paramedic service. These are private companies and are retained at the expense of the production company. This determination is made by the Ranger for the local State Parks District.
CAL-FIRE (formerly the California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention):
This agency may require a film safety officer(s) or other representative be on site if pyrotechnics or proposed stunts require their presence. These services will be paid for by the production company. Initial contact with the CDF will made by the Placer Lake Tahoe-Film Office.
In rare cases production activity may require that any of the following agencies be put into play: Placer County Sheriff, California Department of Fish & Game, and/or US Fish and Wildlife.