ANAHEIM : Sex-Oriented Business Regulations Clarified

A measure designed to clarify Anaheim’s law regarding sex-oriented businesses received final approval this week by unanimous vote of the City Council.

The purpose of the code revision, City Atty. Jack L. White said, is to make it clear that violating the law is more serious than just jeopardizing city-issued business permits that allow nude juice bars and other adult establishments.

Code violations, White said, could result in misdemeanor charges against the entertainers, owners, operators and managers at such businesses.

“I would call it a ‘cleanup ordinance’ to clean up the possible ambiguities in our current ordinance,” White said of the legal revisions.

In addition to specifying that both civil and criminal punishments could be imposed, the amended law also details prohibited forms of physical contact between entertainers and patrons.

The way the law was previously written, entertainers could make no physical contact with patrons, White said, “which technically means you couldn’t shake hands or a magician couldn’t pull a quarter out of your ear.”

The revised law specifically prohibits contact of a sexual nature, White said, including the touching of genital areas or female breasts.

Persons convicted of violating Anaheim’s sex-oriented business law could face up to a $1,000 fine and a six-month jail sentence.