Protecting Communities From

Sexually Oriented Businesses

(Second Edition)

 

 

 

Foreward by Attorney General Edwin Meese III


Protecting Communities From Sexually Oriented Businesses

 

This Book is a Project of Community Defense Counsel

Protecting Children and Their Neighborhoods

http://www.communitydefense.org

Email: cdc@communitydefense.org

 

 

First Printing, May 1996

Scottsdale, Arizona

Southwest Legal Press, Inc.

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 96-068628

ISBN 0-9625464-1-0

©  1996 National Family Legal Foundation later known as Community Defense Counsel

No copyright claimed as to original government works.

Printed in the USA.

 

 

Second Edition, November 2002

Scottsdale, Arizona

© 2002 Alliance Defense Fund, Inc.

All Rights Reserved.

No copyright claimed as to original government works.

 

 

 

 

 

Community Defense Counsel is a Legal Resource of

The Alliance Defense Fund, Inc.

15333 N. Pima Road, Suite 165

Scottsdale, AZ 85260

Phone: 480-444-0020; FAX 480-444-0025

http://www.alliancedefensefund.org

Email: asears@alliancedefensefund.org


Summary Table of Contents

Summary Table of Contents........................................................................................................... i

Detailed Table of Contents............................................................................................................ ii

Preface to the Second Edition....................................................................................................... vi

Forward........................................................................................................................................ viii

Introduction.................................................................................................................................... xi

Chapter 1: The Problem of Sexually Oriented Businesses.......................................................... 1

Chapter 2: Basic Constitutional Considerations......................................................................... 16

Chapter 3: Making the Legislative Record................................................................................ 25

Chapter 4: Defining An "Adult" Use.......................................................................................... 41

Chapter 5: Time Regulation - Hours of Operation..................................................................... 51

Chapter 6: Place Regulation - Zoning......................................................................................... 58

Chapter 7: Manner Regulation - Licensing................................................................................ 75

Chapter 8: The Problem of Nude Dancing.................................................................................. 90

Chapter 9: Public Nuisances and Other Issues.......................................................................... 99

Appendix A: Community Defense Counsel Sample Comprehensive SOB Ordinance........... 108

Appendix B: Community Defense Counsel Memorandum of Law Supporting Sample

Comprehensive SOB Ordinance................................................................................................ 130

Appendix C: A Summary Review of the Law Governing Regulation of Pornography........... 137

Appendix D: Summaries of Secondary Effects Reports.......................................................... 149

Appendix E: Sample Public Indecency Statute......................................................................... 178

Appendix F: Report of the Minnesota Attorney General’s Working Group on the

Regulation of Sexually Oriented Businesses (June 6, 1989)................................................... 180

Appendix G: Non Profit Organizations Specializing in Legal Issues and Resources On

Pornography and Regulation of Sex Businesses...................................................................... 213

Table of Cases............................................................................................................................ 215

 


Detailed Table of Contents

Summary Table of Contents........................................................................................................... i

Detailed Table of Contents............................................................................................................ ii

Preface to the Second Edition....................................................................................................... vi

Forward........................................................................................................................................ viii

Introduction.................................................................................................................................... xi

Chapter 1: The Problem of Sexually Oriented Businesses.......................................................... 1

Quick Guide to Chapter 1:............................................................................................................. 1

1.1 - Recognizing the Problem....................................................................................................... 2

1.2 - Defining the Terms................................................................................................................ 3

1.3 - A Peek Inside SOBs – Health Dangers................................................................................. 4

1.4 - A Peek Outside SOBs - Impact on Neighborhoods............................................................. 11

1.5 - A Peek Behind SOBs – Organized Crime........................................................................... 12

1.6 - Scope of the Problem......................................................................................................... 13

1.7 - Conclusion.......................................................................................................................... 14

Chapter 2: Basic Constitutional Considerations......................................................................... 16

Quick Guide to Chapter 2:........................................................................................................... 16

2.1 - Content Neutral v. Content Based; Connection to Obscenity Laws...................................... 17

2.2 - Content Neutrality in Young and Renton.............................................................................. 18

2.3 - Content Neutrality Since Renton......................................................................................... 20

2.4 - Analyzing Content-Neutral Regulations................................................................................ 22

2.5 - Vagueness and Overbreadth............................................................................................... 24

2.6 - Conclusion.......................................................................................................................... 24

Chapter 3: Making the Legislative Record................................................................................ 25

Quick Guide to Chapter 3:........................................................................................................... 25

3.1 – Establishing Content Neutrality............................................................................................ 26

3.2 – Evidence of Negative Secondary Effects............................................................................. 29

3.3 – Using a Preamble to Show Legislative Purpose and Intent................................................... 34

3.4 – Defending the Reasonableness of the Ordinance in Court..................................................... 37

Chapter 4: Defining An "Adult" Use.......................................................................................... 41

Quick Guide to Chapter 4:........................................................................................................... 41

4.1 – No Secondary Effects From “Single Use”........................................................................... 43

4.2 - How Much “Adult” Materials is Enough?............................................................................. 44

4.3 - Percentages........................................................................................................................ 46

4.4 - Definitional “Trouble Spots”................................................................................................ 47

Chapter 5: Time Regulation - Hours of Operation..................................................................... 51

Quick Guide to Chapter 5:........................................................................................................... 51

5.1 – Content Neutral.................................................................................................................. 53

5.2 - Adequate Factual Basis....................................................................................................... 53

5.3 - Narrowly Tailored.............................................................................................................. 54

5.4 – Reasonable Alternative Avenues of Communication............................................................. 54

5.5 – Other Cases....................................................................................................................... 55

5.6 – California Caution............................................................................................................... 56

5.7 Conclusion............................................................................................................................ 57

Chapter 6: Place Regulation - Zoning......................................................................................... 58

Quick Guide to Chapter 6........................................................................................................... 58

6.1 – Young and Renton............................................................................................................. 61

6.2 – Threshold Issues................................................................................................................. 63

6.3 – The Magic Number – How Much Available Land is Enough?.............................................. 65

6.4 – Amortization Clauses.......................................................................................................... 70

6.5 - Moratoriums....................................................................................................................... 73

Chapter 7: Manner Regulation - Licensing................................................................................ 75

Quick Guide to Chapter 7:........................................................................................................... 75

7.1-  Interior Configuration.......................................................................................................... 76

7.2 - Licensing............................................................................................................................ 81

Chapter 8: The Problem of Nude Dancing.................................................................................. 90

Quick Guide to Chapter 8:........................................................................................................... 90

8.1 – Basis for Prohibiting Public Nudity...................................................................................... 91

8.2 – Regulation of Nude Dancing and Prohibition of Public Nudity.............................................. 93

8.3 - Post Erie Cases.................................................................................................................. 95

8.4 – Regulation of Establishments That Serve Alcohol................................................................. 96

8.5 - Conclusion.......................................................................................................................... 98

Chapter 9: Public Nuisances and Other Issues.......................................................................... 99

Quick Guide to Chapter 9:........................................................................................................... 99

9.1 – Closing SOBs As Public Nuisances.................................................................................. 100

9.2 – State Constitutional Issues Independent State Grounds...................................................... 102

9.3 – Damages Against Cities and Elected Officials.................................................................... 104

9.4 – Prohibiting More Than One “Adult” Use In A Single Building............................................ 105

9.5 – Other Types of “Adult” Uses............................................................................................ 105

9.6 – Regulation of Outside Advertising for SOBs...................................................................... 106

Appendix A: Community Defense Counsel Sample Comprehensive SOB Ordinance........... 108

Appendix B: Community Defense Counsel Memorandum of Law Supporting Sample

Comprehensive SOB Ordinance................................................................................................ 130

Appendix C: A Summary Review of the Law Governing Regulation of Pornography........... 137

I.      General Principles.............................................................................................................. 137

II.     Governmental Justifications for Pornography-Related Laws................................................ 140

III.   Content-Neutral Restrictions: Regulation of SOB’s............................................................. 142

IV.       Additional Developments............................................................................................... 147

Appendix D: Summaries of Secondary Effects Reports.......................................................... 149

Arizona, Phoenix: May 25, 1979............................................................................................... 149

Arizona, Tucson: May 1, 1990.................................................................................................. 150

California, Garden Grove: September 12, 1991......................................................................... 150

California, Los Angeles: June, 1977........................................................................................... 151

California, Whittier: January 9, 1978.......................................................................................... 152

Colorado, Adams County: April, 1998...................................................................................... 153

Colorado, Denver: January, 1998.............................................................................................. 154

Environmental Research Group to the American Center for Law & Justice: March 31, 1996....... 154

Florida, Manatee County: June, 1987........................................................................................ 155

Indiana, Indianapolis: February, 1984........................................................................................ 156

Kansas, Kansas City: March, 1998........................................................................................... 156

Minnesota, Minneapolis: October, 1980.................................................................................... 158

Minnesota, Saint Paul: April, 1988 (Supplemental to 1987 study)............................................... 158

Nevada, Las Vegas: March 15, 1978........................................................................................ 160

New York, Ellicottville: January 1998........................................................................................ 161

New York, Islip: September 23, 1980....................................................................................... 162

New York, New York City: November, 1994........................................................................... 163

New York, Syracuse: November 1, 1999.................................................................................. 163

New York, Times Square: April, 1994...................................................................................... 164

North Carolina, New Hanover: July, 1989................................................................................. 165

Ohio, Cleveland: August 24, 1977............................................................................................. 166

Oklahoma, Oklahoma City:  March 3, 1986.............................................................................. 166

Texas, Amarillo: September 12, 1977........................................................................................ 167

Texas, Austin: May 19, 1986..................................................................................................... 167

Texas, Beaumont: September 14, 1982..................................................................................... 168

Texas, Cleburne: Octover 27, 1997........................................................................................... 168

Texas, Dallas: April 29, 1997.................................................................................................... 169

Texas, El Paso: September 26, 1986......................................................................................... 170

Texas, Forth Worth: October, 1986.......................................................................................... 171

Texas, Houston: November 3, 1983.......................................................................................... 172

Texas, Houston: January 7, 1997............................................................................................... 172

Virginia, Newport News: March, 1996...................................................................................... 173

Washington, Bellevue, February 1988........................................................................................ 174

Washington, Des Moines: August, 1984..................................................................................... 175

Washington, Seattle: March 24, 1989........................................................................................ 176

Wisconsin, Saint Croix County: September, 1993...................................................................... 176

Appendix E: Sample Public Indecency Statute......................................................................... 178

Appendix F: Report of the Minnesota Attorney General’s Working Group on the

Regulation of Sexually Oriented Businesses (June 6, 1989)................................................... 180

Introduction............................................................................................................................... 180

Summary................................................................................................................................... 182

Impacts of Sexually Oriented Businesses.................................................................................... 183

Concentration of Sexually Oriented Businesses........................................................................... 186

Prosecutorial and Regulatory Alternatives................................................................................... 194

II. Other Legal Remedies........................................................................................................... 197

IV. Licensing and Other Regulations.......................................................................................... 209

Appendix G: Non Profit Organizations Specializing in Legal Issues and Resources On

Pornography and Regulation of Sex Businesses...................................................................... 213

Table of Cases............................................................................................................................ 215