PROVIDENCE, R.I. - from www.kdvr.com - The state of Rhode Island has no laws on the books to stop teenagers as young as 16 years old to work as strippers and even "indoor hookers."
At the same time, state law prevents 16 year olds from working in jobs where they operate a power saw, work on ladders, or even pump gasoline. The state also has rules about how many hours and the times of day minors can work.
But a loophole in the law does allow a minor with a work permit to take off all of her clothes at a strip club, even those where adult patrons can touch the strippers.
The Providence Journal revealed the loophole in a story this week that allows minors to work as strippers as long as they are home by 11:30 p.m.
The problem was discovered during the spring when police were investigating a 16-year-old runaway who had been working at a strip club in Providence. Authorities found they could not prosecute because there were no local or state laws to stop teens from working in the adult entertainment business.
Rhode Island Lt. Governor Elizabeth Roberts called the lack of such laws in her state "mind-boggling."
Most places around the country have a minimum age requirement that prohibits minors from entering strip clubs. You have to be 18 to go inside a strip club in Colorado.
