Garden Grove’s Cyber Cafe Laws Get Appeals Court OK

Garden Grove’s attempt to crack down on gangs and violence through strict regulation of cyber cafes is legal, a state appellate court has ruled.

Mayor Bruce Broadwater said he was pleased with the ruling because it reaffirms the city’s authority to pass restrictions that aim to “prevent serious acts of violence.”

One plaintiff, Diane Vo, 49, who owns the Vietnam Internet Center in Little Saigon, said she implored the city not to pass the restrictions. It is financially impossible to abide by the rules and run a successful business, she said. The laws have not yet been enforced, pending the outcome of the appeal.

“Cracking down on crime is good on their part,” Vo said. “But cracking down on cyber cafes only hurts the owners.” The city tried to tighten rules after a series of attacks at or near the city’s roughly 30 cyber cafes.

The first fatality occurred Dec. 30, 2001, when Phong Ly, 20, was stabbed to death with a screwdriver while waiting outside the now-defunct PC Cafe on Garden Grove Boulevard.

The killing prompted city officials to pass an ordinance requiring cyber cafes to log customers, have an adult and security guard present, limit business hours and videotape their premises.

The court handed business owners a minor victory, striking down the requirement that each cafe have a conditional-use permit, which meant going through the city’s planning process.