You know, I'm SO glad that our city can spend millions defending rules in court for such important things as stripper ID cards. God knows that we all need protection from the menace of topless dancers. On a slightly more serious note, who else thinks that this is a horrible idea. I've only been to 5 strip clubs in my entire life (all on the same night years ago), but even I get the idea that revealing your name and personal information to total strangers as you dance for them naked is a BAD idea. Hell, most women are too nervous to give men their first name in a public place when they are fully clothed! Court rules strippers must at least wear ID cards City can now cite adult entertainers By KRISTEN MACK Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle Adult entertainers in Houston will have to abide by a city ordinance that requires them to display their city licenses while performing, a federal appeals court has ruled. "With this opinion in hand, we will start enforcing that requirement," said Don Cheatham, an assistant city attorney. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans last week reversed its earlier ruling and upheld the city's requirement that dancers "wear and conspicuously display a city-issued identification card while performing." The city has argued that the license display will allow police officers to determine more easily whether a performer is complying with city regulations. The industry contends that its businesses are singled out for such treatment and that requiring dancers to display their real names could endanger their safety. Most perform under stage names. "I do not know where the city gets the right to say that a person has to have that form of identification on them. In no other business does the city dictate that," said Nelson Hensley, a lawyer representing several of the clubs and businesses. In 1997, the City Council unanimously approved tougher regulations of sexually oriented businesses, including the license display requirement. In upholding the display requirement, a 5th Circuit panel also turned down the adult businesses' request that the entire court hear the case. Hensley said he now will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to consider it.
So how does a stripper "comlpy with city regulations"? Are there certain rules, and what difference would the name of the stripper be? Isn't there more important stuff to worry about?
Aha! Now I can more readily call her bluff when she tells me her name is Destiny. I knew it wasn't possible for that many women to have that name! BUSTED
The ruling was part of the ordinance that included the "three-foot rule" in strip clubs where the dancers cannot give lap dances and must wear ID cards (licensed by the city) stating their real name, where they work, their ID #, etc. The city was trying to find ways to crack down on strip clubs and this was one of them.
Makes sense I guess. I guess this will dispell the "I'm doing this to pay for college" myth (Chris Rock will be pleased).
I have two problems with the ordinance and I don't even go to strip clubs. 1. I can't think of another business that isn't directly related to health and safety that requires EMPLOYEES to be licensed with the city. Clearly, this is designed to single out dancers because of the idea that the job is unsavory. 2. This is dangerous for dancers. Requiring them to reveal their full name on an id card for patrons to see is opening up dancers to potential privacy invasions by customers. With the way the internet is, you can find voter registration, drivers license information, property tax evaluations, etc. for little or no money. The potential danger to dancers from stalkers is likely increased due to the intimate nature of the job.
I'm guessing the ID wasn't the only thing "upheld"... I'm not sure what that actually means, but it sounded funny
I don't think this is a good idea. What are they going to do next? Have a website where you can see how many strippers live in your area like they do the sex offenders? These are strippers for crying out loud. Most of them probably always worry if someone is following them home after thier shift is over.
Between this and my attempted "Ladies Night" joke, you and I are like the Abbott and Costello of the BBS.
Adult entertainers in Houston will have to abide by a city ordinance that requires them to display their city licenses while performing I'm guessing that's not all they were displaying.
I hope not. I've got an 80 year old widow next door on one side and a nearly 80 year old woman with a disabled husband on the other side!
This not only is absurd, but it is offensive. this measure in no way is meant to help city officials as much as it is a thinly veiled attempt to start running these businesses to the ground. If it is dangerous for strippers to show their names, then there will be fewer strippers I guess is the logic. I say this, by the way, having never been to a strip club.
I've been and those ID cards are good for only one thing. They are of a firm and rigid plastic material and work excellently at dicing up lines of coke. They work better than driver's licences or credit cards. I think they actually made them out of a harder polymer because of their propensity to be used in making lines of coke.
Is there any possible use for these things other than making strippers uncomfortable (and potentially putting them in harms way)....aside from the afforementioned chopping up lines of coke?
No. This appears to be its only conceivable purpose. Why does Houston want to eviscerate one of its most profitable industries and primary tourist attractions? And where is our resident strip club manager on this ?(roc paint, right?)
I remember from somewhere that in certain states dancers have to be licensed because the cops/govt/whatever wants to make sure they haven't been convicted of prostitution (or other sex crimes) in the past. Obviously, the thought being if they've done it in the past, they are likely to do it again and there's no need to make it easier for them to access clients. Not saying I agree with it...quite frankly I couldn't care less if prostitution was legal or not, but that is how the rationale was once explained to me.
But that goal could be accomplished without the absurdity of forcing them to wear the licenses around, Hester Prynne-style.
