Tighter Rules for Strip Clubs in Tulare County | ABC30 Fresno

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By ABC30

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Visalia, CA /*Sugar Daddy's*/ and a strip club in Lindsay are the two places the county says will be affected. The new rules would require the county to look at a dancer's criminal background before they're allowed to go to work.

Next month, if dancers take to these poles they may have to undergo a tougher background check. On Tuesday Tulare County Supervisors introduced new rules to adult oriented business license requirements that would call for exotic dancers to go through a background check first.

Tulare Co. Supervisors Spokesman Eric Coyne said, "They'll be fingerprinted and photographed and their licenses must be displayed at the business."

If their license is denied, Coyne says they wouldn't be able to reapply for another year. The owner of "/*Saints and Sinners*/" club just outside of Lindsay says the extra security measures are a good idea.

Giovanni Lopez said, "It's good because we don't want people who are into drugs or stuff like that."

"If a performer has multiple past convictions for prostitution he or she may not get their license," said Coyne.

The county is also trying to require the adult businesses put two security guards in place as a safety requirement.

"I think that's a great idea I think that's one of the greatest ideas they ever thought about because it protects the company and the violence that can go down here," said Lopez.

Tulare County already requires strip clubs and it's performers to obtain a special license. According to the ordinance no full nudity is allowed.

Sugar Daddy's believes the proposed new restrictions don't apply to them because their club has been operating before the ordinance existed. The owners are currently in the middle of litigation with the county.

County officials say the new rules are in the best interests of not only the performers and customers but the businesses themselves.

Coyne said, "We don't want to be reacting and developing an ordinance when there's a problem the best time to do these things is before you have a problem."

All adult businesses would also be subject to an in depth inspection before they're given a license.

Supervisors are expected to vote on the new rules on August 11th.