Chapter 5.49 TEENAGE DANCES AND SPECIAL EVENT DANCES

(2) “Teenage dance” means a dance or musical event to which a person under 21 years is admitted, with or without payment of a monetary fee or other form of admission charge; provided, that attendance is restricted to persons who are at least 13 years of age but not more than 20 years of age (except with approval of the sponsor) or who are currently enrolled in an accredited secondary school.

(3) “Special event dance” means any dance, festival or event where dancing is permitted involving the community as a whole without limitation as to age. A special event dance may include any or all age groups or persons of any combination thereof, as set forth in the permit to conduct such dance. (Ord. 2501 § 1, 1992; Ord. 1708 § 1, 1974).

5.49.020 Permit required.

No person, firm, corporation, club, organization or association shall conduct, hold or sponsor any teenage dance or special event dance without a permit therefor first being issued by the chief of police and approved by the city manager, and after payment of the permit fee as hereinafter provided. (Ord. 1708 § 1, 1974).

5.49.030 Sponsor required.

No permit to conduct, hold or sponsor any teenage dance or special event dance shall be issued except to a sponsor or sponsoring group. (Ord. 1708 § 1, 1974).

5.49.040 Duties of sponsor or sponsoring group.

Any sponsor or sponsoring group to whom a permit has been issued to conduct, hold or sponsor a teenage dance or special event dance shall assume and be responsible for the following:

(1) The orderly conduct of the persons attending such dance;

(2) The admission to such dance of only those persons within the age group for which the permit is issued;

(3) The removal from such dance of persons who are disorderly and who create disturbances;

(4) The enforcement of the provisions of LMC 5.49.140 through 5.49.200;

(5) The accounting for and payment of all admission taxes;

(6) The payment of all amounts to police officers and other personnel employed in the conduct of such dance; provided, that no member or employee of any sponsor or sponsoring group shall be permitted to realize personal profit from the proceeds of any such dance. (Ord. 1708 § 1, 1974).

5.49.050 Permit fee – Exemptions.

Permit fees for the permits required under LMC 5.49.060 shall be paid to the finance officer of the city as follows:

(1) For any single permit, $10.00;

(2) For any annual permit, $100.00.

No fee shall be required for any permit for a dance conducted, held or sponsored by any public, parochial or private (nonprofit) school to which dance no admission charge is made to those attending. (Ord. 1708 § 1, 1974).

5.49.060 Separate permits – Annual permits.

A separate permit shall be required for each teenage dance and special event dance; provided, that an annual permit may be issued to a sponsor or sponsoring group to conduct teenage dances or special event dances in regularly established facilities of such sponsor or sponsoring group; provided further, that the holder of such annual permit shall furnish to the Longview police department information on application forms as provided showing the date, the time and place where such dances are to be held. If such information is unavailable at the time the sponsor or sponsoring group makes application for its permit, such information shall be provided at least seven days prior to the date upon which any dance is to be held. (Ord. 1708 § 1, 1974).

5.49.070 Permit – Application – Contents.

The application for a permit under this chapter shall be filed with the city clerk who shall forward such application to the Longview chief of police. All applications shall be made in writing and signed by the sponsor or a member of the sponsoring group who is at least 21 years of age. Such applications shall be made on forms provided by the city clerk. Such applications shall be filed at least 10 days prior to the date upon which a proposed dance is to be held and shall set forth therein the following:

(1) Names and addresses of applicant’s officers;

(2) Time and date upon which such dance or dances are to be held;

(3) Address of the place where such dances are to be held;

(4) Approximate attendance expected at each such dance;

(5) Certification that the place or premises conforms with safety regulations of the Longview building and fire codes;

(6) Application shall designate whether a teenage dance or a special event dance is to be held;

(7) Such other information as may be requested by the Longview chief of police to allow his office to determine compliance with this chapter. (Ord. 1708 § 1, 1974).

5.49.080 Permit – Application – Investigation – Approval or disapproval.

After the filing of each application hereunder, the Longview chief of police shall conduct an investigation and make a written recommendation for approval or disapproval to the city manager. The city manager shall either approve or disapprove the application in writing. If such application is disapproved, he shall set forth in writing the reasons for such disapproval and attach such written statement to the application and forward one copy to the applicant and one copy to the chief of police, notifying him of his action. If disapproval of the application is recommended by the city manager, applicant may appeal such disapproval to the city council at their next regular meeting. (Ord. 1708 § 1, 1974).

5.49.090 Permit – Revocation.

The chief of police may revoke or suspend such permit after it has been issued if he finds any of the following:

(1) The applicant for a permit or the permit holder has knowingly made a false and material statement in the application for a permit or in any notice or statement required hereunder;

(2) The applicant for a permit or the permit holder has committed the violation of any of the provisions or regulations of this chapter or has been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude;

(3) The holder of the permit is not conducting the dance in such a manner as to be consistent with the public peace, health, welfare or safety of the community. (Ord. 1708 § 1, 1974).

5.49.100 Appeal from revocation of permit.

Any permit holder aggrieved by the decision of the chief of police revoking or suspending such permit may appeal such decision to the city manager. (Ord. 1708 § 1, 1974).

5.49.110 Police officer – Attendance required.

The chief of police may assign a special deputy police officer or officers to each teenage dance or special event dance, who shall be and remain in continual attendance thereat and until such time thereafter as the persons attending have dispersed, and who shall enforce the provisions of this chapter with the assistance of the regular on-duty police officers, if necessary, of the city. (Ord. 1708 § 1, 1974).

5.49.120 Police officers – Permit holder to pay costs.

All applicants for permits shall, at the time such permit is granted, pay an amount sufficient to cover the cost of any special deputy or deputy police officers. The chief of police, with the approval of the city manager, shall fix the amount thereof. (Ord. 1708 § 1, 1974).

5.49.130 Authority of chief of police to make rules and regulations.

The chief of police shall have authority to make all proper and necessary rules and regulations, not inconsistent with this chapter, for the purpose of effectively carrying out the provision and intent of this chapter. (Ord. 1708 § 1, 1974).

5.49.140 Alcoholic beverages or narcotic drugs prohibited – Persons under the influence prohibited.

No alcoholic beverages or narcotics or dangerous drugs shall be sold, consumed or be available on or about the premises where any teenage dance or special event dance is held. Admission to any such dance shall be denied to any person showing evidence of having consumed or being under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or narcotic or dangerous drug or who has any alcoholic beverage or narcotic or dangerous drugs on his person. (Ord. 1708 § 1, 1974).

5.49.150 Dancing and dress standards.

All dancing and the dress of the participants shall be of a socially acceptable standard. (Ord. 1708 § 1, 1974).

5.49.160 Hours during which dancing allowed.

(1) No dancing at any teenage dance shall be continued after the hour of 1:00 a.m.

(2) No dancing at any special event dance shall be continued after the hour of 1:00 a.m., except as otherwise provided in the permit. (Ord. 2501 § 2, 1992; Ord. 1708 § 1, 1974).

5.49.170 Re-entry to dances.

No person admitted to a teenage dance, and no person under the age of 18 years admitted to a special event dance, shall be permitted to leave and thereafter re-enter the dancing premises during the course of such dance, and no “pass-out” checks shall be issued to such person. (Ord. 1708 § 1, 1974).

5.49.180 Age limitation for teenage dances – Enrollment in high school or junior high school/middle school required.

(1) No person over the age of 20 years shall attend any teenage dance as a participant unless such person is currently enrolled in an accredited high school or junior high school/middle school, and has proof of such enrollment.

(2) No person shall be admitted or permitted to remain at any such teenage dance who fails or refuses to display such proof of enrollment upon proper demand thereof.

(3) This section does not prohibit the attendance of chaperones, supervisors or members of the sponsor or sponsoring group. (Ord. 2501 § 3, 1992; Ord. 1708 § 1, 1974).

5.49.190 Lighting.

(1) During hours of darkness, the premises where any teenage dance or special event dance is held, before any person is admitted thereto and before any dancing is commenced therein, shall be adequately lighted.

(2) Such lighting shall be maintained throughout the entire time such premises are open or dancing is in progress therein, and during any recess or other intermission, without diminution or interruption until such premises are cleared and closed. (Ord. 1708 § 1, 1974).

5.49.200 Loitering by persons ineligible to attend dance prohibited.

It is unlawful for any person who is ineligible for attendance to any teenage dance or special event dance, or who has no other lawful business thereat, to loiter on, around, about, within or nearby the premises at which a teenage dance or special event dance is being conducted after being instructed to move on; provided, prior to the arrest of any such person under this section, he shall be given an opportunity to explain his presence and conduct. (Ord. 1708 § 1, 1974).

5.49.210 Admissions tax.

The sponsor or sponsoring group shall be responsible for collecting the admission tax imposed under Chapter 3.04 LMC unless specifically exempted therein, and for the payment of the same to the city clerk. No certificate of registration, as provided by Chapter 3.04 LMC, shall be required in order to hold any teenage dance or special event dance. (Ord. 1708 § 1, 1974).

5.49.220 Accounting.

Within 10 days after any teenage dance or special event dance, the permit holder shall submit to the finance director on forms provided by such finance director an itemized statement of the receipts and expenditures for such dance and such statement shall also show the use made of any profits from such dance; provided, that annual permit holders shall submit such statements bimonthly on or before the tenth day of each bimonthly period. (Ord. 1708 § 1, 1974).