Chapter 5.56
DANCES AND DANCE HALLS
Sections:
5.56.020 Public dance – Right of entry.
5.56.030 Condition of premises – Lighting.
5.56.050 Employees, attendants and patrons.
5.56.060 Conduct, inspection and police supervision.
5.56.080 Teenage dance – Permit required.
5.56.090 Teenage dance – Permit application – Decision.
5.56.100 Revocation or suspension – Grounds and procedure.
5.56.010 Definitions.
“Public dance,” as used in this chapter, means any dance or ball to which admission can be had by payment of fee or by the purchase, possession or presentation of any ticket or token, or at which a charge is made for caring for clothing or other property, or any dance to which the public generally may gain admission with or without payment of a fee or other charge; provided that this chapter shall not apply to incorporated clubs, fraternal orders or other societies occupying their own premises and who limit their dances to members of their own organization.
“Dance hall,” as used in this chapter, means any room, place or space in which a public dance shall be held. (Ord. 1714 § 1, 1974).
5.56.020 Public dance – Right of entry.
All police officers and probation officers of the city shall at all times have free access to all places in the city where any public dance is being conducted, for the purpose of preserving and enforcing the provisions of this chapter or any other ordinances of the city and laws of the state. (Ord. 1714 § 2, 1974).
5.56.030 Condition of premises – Lighting.
Every public dance hall shall at all times be kept in a clean, healthful and sanitary condition, and all stairways, halls, passages and rooms connected with such a dance hall shall be kept open and well lighted. During hours of darkness every dance hall shall be lighted in such a manner and to such an extent as is usual or customary for lighting of halls or rooms of like dimensions during the hours of darkness for public assemblies before any person is admitted thereto and before any dancing is commenced therein. Such lighting and illumination shall be maintained thereafter throughout the entire time while such dance hall is open or dancing is in progress therein and during any recess or other intermission, without diminution and without interruption until such activity is concluded and until such hall is cleared or closed. (Ord. 1714 § 3, 1974).
5.56.040 Hours and fees.
All public dances shall be discontinued and all public dance halls shall be closed before 2:00 a.m. and the dance halls shall remain closed until 8:00 a.m. the following day; provided that upon the application of a bona fide and reputable organization or society and for good cause shown the chief of police may grant permission to such organization or society to hold or continue a dance after 2:00 a.m. if he finds the same may be conducted without undue annoyance to any considerable number of people; and provided further that, except where permission has been granted as aforesaid, all public dance halls shall be closed on Sunday after the hour of 2:00 a.m. The license fee for a public dance shall be the sum of $25.00. (Ord. 1714 § 4, 1974).
5.56.050 Employees, attendants and patrons.
No person of immoral character or person afflicted with any infectious disease shall be employed in or knowingly be permitted to take part in any place where public dancing is carried on, and no person under the age of 18 years shall be employed in such an establishment or allowed on the premises unless accompanied by his or her legal guardian, except that such age prohibition shall not apply to any person employed as an entertainer or musician at such dance. (Ord. 1714 § 5, 1974).
5.56.060 Conduct, inspection and police supervision.
No person, firm or corporation maintaining, conducting or carrying on any public dance hall or having charge or control thereof nor any person employed in and about such a place shall allow or permit any person under the influence of intoxicating liquor, or any prostitute or disorderly person, to enter, be or remain in or to dance in any such public dance hall. No person shall be permitted to conduct himself or herself in a gross or vulgar manner in such a place. Inspectors detailed by the chief of police, and paid by the person or organization conducting the dance, shall be upon the premises at all times that a public dance is in progress. (Ord. 1714 § 6, 1974).
5.56.070 Use of intoxicants.
No person, firm, society, association or corporation conducting a public dance hall, nor any person having charge or control thereof at any time when dancing is being carried on or conducted therein, shall permit any person to bring into the dance hall or into any room or rooms in connection therewith, or upon the premises upon which such dance hall is situated, any intoxicating liquor, nor permit intoxicating liquor to be drunk in the dance hall or in any of the rooms or upon the premises. No person during any time any public dance hall is open and being operated shall take or carry into said room or rooms or upon the premises or drink therein, or thereon, any intoxicating liquor. (Ord. 1714 § 7, 1974).
5.56.080 Teenage dance – Permit required.
It is unlawful to conduct or sponsor any teenage dance, except school dances of the public schools, in the city without first having obtained a written permit from the chief of police and except in full compliance with all of the conditions and provisions herein provided for, except no license fee shall be required for a teenage dance. (Ord. 1714 § 8, 1974).
5.56.090 Teenage dance – Permit application – Decision.
A. The application for a permit shall be accompanied by adequate proof that the place or premises where the dance is to be held has a valid public dance hall license, or is not required to have such license but conforms with all safety regulations established by law, and must be filed with the chief of police at least 10 days prior to any dance.
B. The application for permit shall set forth therein the following minimum information:
1. The name and address of the applicant and applicant’s officers;
2. The date upon which the dance is to be held;
3. The address of the place where the dance is to be held;
4. The approximate attendance expected;
5. The minimum number of adult supervisors who will be in attendance at all times during the holding of the dance, and the names and addresses of such adults.
C. Upon the filing of each application for a teenage dance, the chief of police shall cause to be made such investigation as he deems proper, and shall either deny or approve the same. If the application is approved, the permit for such dance shall then be issued by the chief of police. If the application for such permit is denied by the chief of police, the applicant shall have and is given a right of appeal from the denial to the city council. (Ord. 1714 § 8, 1974).
5.56.100 Revocation or suspension – Grounds and procedure.
Any permit issued under this chapter may be revoked or suspended by the chief of police if any of the following conditions exist or occur:
A. The applicant for the permit or the holder of any permit, as the case may be, has knowingly made any material misstatement in the application for the permit;
B. The holder of the permit has violated any of the provisions of this chapter;
C. In the event such permit is revoked or suspended as above provided, the holder of such permit shall have and is given the right of appeal from such revocation or suspension to the city council;
D. The dance orchestra performs in an immoral manner. (Ord. 1714 § 9, 1974).
5.56.110 Regulations.
A. No minor admitted to a teenage dance shall be permitted to leave and thereafter re-enter the dancing premises during the course of the event, and no pass-out checks shall be issued save and except in emergencies and when authorized specifically by the person in charge of the dance.
B. No alcoholic beverages shall be sold, consumed or available on the premises in or about which any teenage dance is held. Admission to a teenage dance shall be denied to any person showing evidence of drinking any alcoholic beverage or who has any alcoholic beverage on his person.
C. Sufficient adult supervision shall be provided by the sponsor at all teenage dances to insure that accepted standards of social conduct are followed; two adults, one of whom is female, for each 100 persons attending, or for any fraction over 100.
D. No dancing at any teenage dance shall be permitted after the hour of 1:00 a.m.
E. No person of the age of 21 years or more and no person under the age of 15 years shall attend any teenage dance as a participant. This does not prohibit the attendance of chaperons and parents or other sponsors who do not participate in the dancing, nor does it prohibit persons employed as entertainers or musicians at such dances.
F. It is unlawful and constitutes a violation of this chapter for any person who is not eligible for admittance to a teenage dance to loiter around or about the premises at which such dance is being held.
G. The provisions and conditions contained in PTMC 5.56.030, 5.56.050, 5.56.060 and 5.56.070, and as they may be amended, shall likewise apply to teenage dances when such provisions are applicable and not in conflict with the provisions herein contained. Teenage dances shall in no way be construed as public dances. (Ord. 1714 § 10, 1974).
5.56.120 Licensed premises.
Nothing herein shall be deemed in conflict with dance license provisions for premises licensed by the state for sale of intoxicants, as may be provided in other ordinances. (Ord. 1714 § 10, 1974).