Dallas police have begun enforcing the City’s ordinance limiting the operating hours of sexually oriented businesses like strip clubs and adult stores.
In January 2022, the Dallas City Council unanimously passed an ordinance requiring “sexually oriented” businesses to close from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m.
The Dallas Police Department officially began enforcing the ordinance on November 30, giving letters to each licensed sexually oriented business in the city detailing the new regulations, as covered by The Dallas Express. Operators who violate the regulations could face one year in jail and a fine of up to $4,000, according to the ordinance.
Spokesperson Kristin Lowman said the DPD is “providing education” to businesses about the enforcement of the ordinance. Furthermore, Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia said in an email that violators could face losing their license, per The Dallas Morning News.
The ordinance was passed in an effort to reduce violent crimes in Dallas. Police said they have responded to a disproportionate number of emergency calls to places like strip clubs after 2:00 a.m.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, many of Dallas’ strip clubs are located within Council Member Omar Narvaez’s District 6. The council district logs many violent incidents as well as the overwhelming majority of prostitution-related offenses.
While the measure was passed nearly two years ago, the enforcement of the ordinance has been delayed after it became embroiled in a legal battle. Attorneys representing five sexually oriented businesses filed a complaint arguing the ordinance violated the First Amendment.
A lower court initially sided with the businesses and halted the ordinance. However, in October, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the lower court’s ruling and issued an opinion siding with the City.
The court said the ordinance is most likely constitutional because the City provided evidence that “reasonably showed a link between [sexually-oriented businesses] late-night operations and an increase in ‘noxious side effects,’ such as crime.”
