LOS ANGELES – Opponents of a city ordinance banning lap dancing at strip clubs, bikini bars and adult bookstores have a chance to take their gripe to the ballot box.
The city clerk certified on Monday that activists have collected enough signatures to force a referendum before the “no-touch” rule can go into effect.

The City Council must now decide whether to rescind it, place a referendum on the next citywide ballot in 2005 or add a question to the Democratic presidential primary in March. They have 20 days to decide what to do.

Council members voted unanimously in September to require dancers remain at least six feet from customers and put in place restrictions that also would outlaw “VIP rooms” where nude dancers perform privately.

Supporters of the law have argued that adult entertainment places contribute to prostitution and drug use.

Club owners say the rules infringed on First Amendment rights and would force many out of business. They spent $400,000 to gather more than the required 56,941 signatures to force a vote.