City OKs Ordinance Regulating Display of Adult Magazines

A parent’s complaint about adult magazines in a local convenience store has prompted the drafting of the city’s first ordinance regulating their display.

Shubi Steininger was shopping in a local convenience store last month when her 11-year-old son Jeffrey noticed the sexually explicit covers of several adult magazines.

“I was shopping, and he got a candy bar. He said, ‘Mom, did you see those magazines by the candy bar rack?’ ” Steininger said.

“I turned to the clerk and said, ‘Do you think these magazines should be displayed right here?’ And he said, ‘Well, the children shouldn’t be looking at it.’ He was very nasty with me.”

Steininger brought her complaint to City Hall, only to learn that the city has no regulations governing the display of sexually explicit materials inside private businesses.

City Manager Terry Matz said there is a law governing the display of adult material on news racks, but the city has always worked with businesses on a case-by-case basis.

“It’s time to place something on the books to regulate this, so we don’t have any more problems,” Matz said. “The city attorney is going to draft an ordinance for the council’s review that will address this issue.”

Matz said a proposed ordinance will probably require store owners to mask the covers of adult magazines and place them in an area that is not accessible to minors.