Hinesville, Georgia – from www.coastalcourier.com – The Hinesville City Council on Thursday approved a proposed ordinance that clarifies the city’s intent regarding the regulation and enforcement of adult entertainment businesses.

Under the revised ordinance, businesses that sell adult novelties, or sex toys, are now subject to the regulations. The approval makes the change effective immediately.

The council’s move comes not long after the owners of Sunset Novelties, an adult novelty shop with stores in Savannah and Hinesville, filed a lawsuit against Hinesville city leaders.

The lawsuit states employees of the Hinesville store were threatened with arrest and prosecution for displaying sex toys, and it also said the Georgia law the city was attempting to enforce has since been ruled unconstitutional.

The store shuttered its doors Aug. 28, and at the time of its closing, city leaders noted Hinesville has its own ordinance regulating such businesses, but would not comment further because of the pending litigation.