Council Revises Lomita Ordinance on Fortunetelling
The City Council voted unanimously this week to remove restrictive provisions from the city’s fortunetelling ordinance to conform with a recent state Supreme Court decision.
The court decision said cities cannot prohibit fortunetelling.
The changes, which the council approved Monday, remove a $10,000 bond requirement and lower the business license fee for fortunetellers from $500 to $50. The council will determine application fees later. City Administrator Walker Ritter said he will recommend a $65 fee.
Ritter said a number of other provisions remain unchanged:
- Applicants for a fortunetelling license must submit to a background investigation to determine if they have been convicted of crimes involving fraud or moral turpitude within six months before applying.
- Fortunetellers are required to post fees and allow clients to make written notes or tape recordings of sessions.
- Fortunetellers must provide clients with receipts for any money received.
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