LOUISVILLE, KY from www.fox41.com – The crackdown on Louisville’s adult entertainment businesses is underway.
After years of legal battles, an ordinance has finally gone into effect. The ordinance targets adult businesses. It puts a number of new restrictions on what they can and can’t do. Still, those businesses claim there are still ways to get around it.
Patrons of Louisville strip clubs will now be seeing a lot less skin. The city’s adult entertainment ordinance is now being enforced after the Kentucky Supreme Court upheld it late last year. That means no more nudity, lap dances, or alcohol. Clubs will also have to close at one a-m.
“In a nutshell, this is a very conservative ordinance in terms of the adult entertainment business,” said Jim Mims.
As director of the city’s department of codes and regulations, Mims will see to it that adult businesses follow the law. He says his employees will spend the next week posing as paying customers and frequenting area clubs They will then inform owners of any violations they find.
“We’re going to be in the clubs, undercover, investigating, just seeing what’s going on,” said Mims.
The adult industry does have a reputation for being creative, and the lawyer who represents many of the establishments says his clients will be doing just that in order to avoid this ordinance.
“I wish it had not come to this. I think it is bad for business in the city of Louisville,” said attorney Mike Hatzell.
While it’s advice not usually recommended in this line of work, he wants his clients to make sure dancers are now wearing more clothing. That way, he says the ordinance won’t apply, and clubs will be allowed to operate like any other bar.
“We intend to abide by the letter of the law, and abide by the terms and conditions of the ordinance as it’s written. And that’s the way it’s written,” said Hatzell.
He admits it will be tough for his clients to avoid losing business, but says as long as they find a way to keep customers coming back, they aren’t going anywhere.
“My clients are going to stay in business. They will have a few more articles of clothing, and continue with business as usual. I think they will survive this,” said Hatzell.
The ordinance does not only apply to strip clubs. Adult book stores and other adult businesses must also abide by it.