Posted on 06/03/2004 7:49:35 PM PDT by wagglebee
Adult entertainers in Houston will have to abide by a city ordinance that requires them to display their city licenses while performing, a federal appeals court has ruled.
"With this opinion in hand, we will start enforcing that requirement," said Don Cheatham, an assistant city attorney.
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans last week reversed its earlier ruling and upheld the city's requirement that dancers "wear and conspicuously display a city-issued identification card while performing."
The city has argued that the license display will allow police officers to determine more easily whether a performer is complying with city regulations.
The industry contends that its businesses are singled out for such treatment and that requiring dancers to display their real names could endanger their safety. Most perform under stage names.
"I do not know where the city gets the right to say that a person has to have that form of identification on them. In no other business does the city dictate that," said Nelson Hensley, a lawyer representing several of the clubs and businesses.
In 1997, the City Council unanimously approved tougher regulations of sexually oriented businesses, including the license display requirement.
In upholding the display requirement, a 5th Circuit panel also turned down the adult businesses' request that the entire court hear the case.
Hensley said he now will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to consider it.
Fortunately, Heart Breakers is in League City!
THIS SIDE UP
Is he with the law firm of Dewey Cheatham & Howe, Attorneys at Large?
I think a stripper has to pass a test to get the license. I understand that the would be strippers do a lap dance for the local officials, and these potentates score the suppliants on their performance, from 1 to 10. Strippers who score less than a normalized 5 are not granted a license. Of course the license fees are paid to the local officials for their time and expertise.
"I don't think much of stripping as a profession"
More honorable than lawyering for a living!
I can think of higher aspirations than lawyer...like used car salesman.
My name is Tiffani.
I carry a badge.
PING to the newly-created REPUBLICAN PARTY REPTILE ping list, named after our spiritual founder, P.J. O'Rourke. What is the Republican Party Reptile? It is a creature of the eighties. Its neoconservatism with its pants down around its ankles, the Rehnquist Supreme Court on drugs, a disco Hobbes living without shame or federally mandated safety regulations. The Republican Party Reptile supports a strong defense policy, but sees no reason to conduct it while sober. The RPR believes in minimum government interference in private affairsunless the government brings over extra girls and some ice. In short, the RPR is the new label that our political spectrum has been crying out forthe conservative with a sense of humor and a healthy dose of depravity.
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How long before a muslim stripper claims that it is against her religion to be photographed for an ID?
When the law was enacted requiring all strippers to register at city hall as "Sex Workers" and get ID cards, they had to stop working at strip clubs.
Many were forced to go to work for escort services because they don't have to be registered.
That's the first thing I thought of when I read this.
Another thing that makes this ridiculous is that the entertainers must also have two photographic cards, an on-site permit and a personal permit(card)..so the police need only check with the manager for all people working at that time...
Houston city Code Section 28-256.....
Mayor is here for your comments:
http://www.ci.houston.tx.us/mayoroffice/
Sometimes my curiosity gets the better of me.
Good find!
This may also come to other cities if the state decides to add a sin tax to lap dances and topless bar cover charges.
Eh, thanks but it was on another thread. It's just old dried up Madonna.
DAMN! You beat me to it... LOL
I would like to see a permit and its actual size and how far away say a police officer could read it (in the dark lol) Wouldn't it be easier for an officer to go to the manager and say..I want to see that entertainers permit..and he could examine it closely under a light then question the entertainer if need be...Do undercover police display their id's? Yes there is a difference, but displaying either seems to interfere with both jobs to me...Does a doctor have to have his license visible to all patients, or can it just be available for inspection in his office? IMO nothing but harassment...
http://www.ci.houston.tx.us/codes/codes28-8.pdf
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