GARDEN GROVE : Peepshows Must Open Doors Today

Five peep show businesses in Garden Grove have until noon today to remove the doors from their video viewing booths, under a preliminary injunction issued by Superior Court Judge John C. Woolley.

At the request of the city, Woolley granted the injunction Dec. 28 to enforce the city’s peep show regulation ordinance on the Adult Bookstore, the Bijou, A-Z Bookstore, Garden of Eden Bookstore and Hip Pocket Bookstore, all located along Garden Grove Boulevard.

“The result of this action helps the city of Garden Grove in its efforts to remove the blight along Garden Grove Boulevard,” said City Atty. Stuart B. Scudder.

Roger Diamond, attorney for the businesses, said the city’s efforts would hurt the community and questioned whether the judge’s ruling was a victory for the city.

“This is costing the taxpayers of Garden Grove and Orange County a lot of money, not only in the legal costs, but in the taxes lost from these businesses,” he said.

The ruling, he said, is “a victory in the sense that the judge did not grant the city’s request to shut down the businesses immediately. It’s a defeat in the sense that we’d rather leave the doors on the booths.”

Customers view snippets of X-rated films for 25 cents in the booths.

Scudder said the city had never sought “immediate abatement” of the peep shows.

A trial date of April 9 has been set for other issues involved in the city’s legal action, including hours of operation.

The judge’s actions partially enforces a city ordinance which was first approved in 1983, then rewritten in 1988 to better comply with constitutional standards. The ordinance requires special operating permits for peep shows and places restrictions on the businesses. Of the seven peep shows involved, only one was issued a permit upon removal of the booth doors.

If the peep shows don’t comply, “we’ll go back to Superior Court and seek contempt fines,” Scudder said. If the doors are removed, the peep shows will be allowed to operate until the issues raised in the April trial are decided.

“We are hopeful that we’ll be able to reach an understanding before April 9 on how these businesses can meet the requirements for a permit,” Scudder said.

Most of the adult book stores and peep shows are located along Garden Grove Boulevard between Beach Boulevard and Magnolia Street, an area with a crime rate twice as high as the rest of Garden Grove, police say.

Police Chief John Robertson said combatting crime associated with adult businesses, such as lewd conduct, was one of his top priorities when he assumed the job in late 1988.