Missouri- With unusual swiftness, the Jackson County Legislature on Tuesday passed an ordinance that puts immediate new restrictions on adult entertainment businesses.
The 38-page set of regulations applies to any business in unincorporated Jackson County but is aimed at Erotic City, 8401 E. Truman Road, which has 26 booths for viewing pornographic videos and nude dancing at a nonalcoholic bar.
Erotic City has existed for many years, but the recent federal felony conviction of a man for having unlawful sex with a 14-year-old girl there got the county’s attention. In addition, a 16-year-old boy told authorities he was sexually assaulted last week outside Erotic City.
“The sooner we regulate this industry, the better off we all are going to be,” said County Executive Mike Sanders, who strongly advised the Legislature to pass the ordinance Tuesday — just eight days after he proposed it.
Sanders said Erotic City or other businesses could be prosecuted immediately if they violate some parts of the new ordinance — such as a ban on sex in video booths and a requirement that nude dancers have no physical contact with patrons.
Sanders said that 60-90 days will be allowed to comply with other sections of the ordinance. Those include a ban on locked doors on video booths, the sealing of holes between booths and a requirement that all employees get background checks and be licensed.
Owners and managers have repeatedly refused to comment on the operation of Erotic City, referring questions to lawyer Berry F. Laws III, who has been out of town. Erotic City is in Blue Summit, just east of the Kansas City limits.
Last week the county sheriff’s office said that deputies responded to the Erotic City address 115 times since 2004 on calls that included assaults, car thefts, harassment and property damage. Erotic City was not charged with any offenses.
“Erotic City is a high-crime area, and we want it stopped,” said Danny DePung, who lives in the area and testified at a public hearing before the Legislature voted.
Sanders said the ordinance was patterned after legislation in nine other local governments, notably Kansas City.
While there is some concern that the county will be sued over the ordinance, an authority on regulation of adult businesses told the Legislature Tuesday that many such laws withstood court challenges.
Lawyer Scott Bergthold of Chattanooga, Tenn., a consultant to the county, said local governments can show that adult businesses reduce property values, cause blight, create property and personal crime and generate illegal drugs and lewd behavior.