[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township
of North Versailles as indicated in article histories. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 12-17-1979 by Ord. No. 769 (Ch. 13, Part 4, of the
1987 Code of Ordinances)]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Having knowledge of the contents and character of the patently
offensive sexual conduct or other content which appears in a motion-picture
film, publication, or live theater production, or knowledge of the
acts of obscenity, assignation, or prostitution which occur in any
place.
Any dramatic musical or comedic production performed in the
presence of a live audience.
Any method of treating the superficial soft parts of the
human body, for remedial, hygienic or other purposes, consisting of
rubbing, stroking, kneading, or any similar treatment, accomplished
by hand or by the use of any instrument.
Any building or structure or portion thereof, located within
the Township, which is open to members of the general public, with
or without the payment of a fee, at which massage services are offered.
A motion-picture film, live theater production, publication,
or all three.
Shall mean:
Any place there is conducted the business of furnishing figure
models who pose in the nude for the purpose of being observed or viewed
by any person, or for the purpose of being sketched, painted, drawn,
sculptured, photographed, or otherwise similarly depicted for persons
who pay a fee, or other consideration or compensation, or a gratuity,
for the right or opportunity to so depict the figure model, or for
admission to, or for permission to remain upon, or as a condition
for remaining upon the place; or
Any place where there is conducted the business of furnishing
or providing or procuring, for a fee or other consideration, compensation
or gratuity, figure models who pose in the nude to be observed or
viewed by any person or to be sketched, painted, drawn, sculptured,
photographed or otherwise similarly depicted.
Exception. The words "model studio" do not include:
Any studio which is operated by any state college or junior
college, public or private school, or any governmental agency wherein
the person, firm, association, partnership, or corporation so operating
has met the requirements established by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
for the issuance or conferring of, and is in fact authorized thereunder
to issue and confer, a diploma, degree or honorary diploma; or
Any place where there is conducted the business of furnishing, providing or procuring figure models solely for any studio described in Subsection B(1) of this subsection, defined immediately hereinabove.
Any:
Film or plate negative;
Film or plate positive;
Film designed to be projected on a screen for exhibition;
Films, glass slides or transparencies, either in negative or
positive form, designed for exhibition by a project on a screen; or
Videotape or any other medium used to electronically reproduce
images on a screen.
Completely without clothing; or
With the human male or female genitals, public area or buttocks
with less than a full opaque covering, or the showing of the female
breast with less than a fully opaque covering of any portion thereof
below the top of the nipple, or the covered male genitals in a discernibly
turgid state.
Any matter:
Any individual, partnership, firm, association, corporation
or other legal entity.
Any building, structure or space, or any separate part or
portion thereof, whether permanent or not, or unimproved ground.
Any book, magazine, article, pamphlet, writing, printing,
illustration, picture, sound recording, or a motion-picture film which
is displayed in an area open to the public, offered for sale or exhibited
in a coin-operated machine.
A passing of title or right of possession from a seller to
a buyer for valuable consideration, and shall include, but is not
limited to, any lease or rental arrangement or other transaction wherein
or whereby any valuable consideration is received for the use of,
or transfer of possession of, obscene matter.
The Township of North Versailles.
A.
Any and every place in the Township where obscene motion-picture
films or live theater productions are publicly exhibited or possessed
for the purpose of such exhibition; and any and every place in the
Township where obscene publications are publicly disseminated or sold,
or possessed for the purpose of such dissemination, is hereby declared
to be a public nuisance.
B.
Any and every obscene motion-picture film or live theater production
which is publicly exhibited in the Township, and any and every obscene
publication which is publicly displayed, disseminated or sold, or
possessed for such purpose in the Township, is hereby declared to
be a public nuisance, per se.
C.
From and after service on the place, or its manager, or acting manager,
or person then in charge of such place, of a true and correct copy
of this article and a true and correct copy of the summons and complaint
to abate a nuisance, all moneys paid thereafter as admission price
to such exhibitions or productions, or purchase price of such publications,
are also declared to be a public nuisance, as personal property used
in conducting and maintaining a declared public nuisance.
A.
Every massage parlor or model studio, which, as a regular course
of business, is used for the purposes of obscenity, assignation, or
prostitution, and every such massage parlor or model studio in or
upon which acts of obscenity, assignation, or prostitution, are held
or occur, is declared to be a public nuisance which shall be enjoined,
abated, and prevented.
B.
From and after service on the place, or its manager, or acting manager,
or person then in charge of such place, of a true and correct copy
of this article and a true and correct copy of the summons and complaint
to abate a nuisance, all moneys or other valuable consideration paid
for services rendered to customers are also declared to be a public
nuisance, as personal property used in conducting and maintaining
a declared public nuisance.
A.
Upon and after receiving notice through service of a true and correct copy of this article and a true and correct copy of the summons and complaint to abate a nuisance or notice by the Township Secretary of the character of the obscene film, production, publication, or place, any and every person who shall own, legally or equitably, lease, maintain, manage, conduct or operate a place in the Township which is declared to be a public nuisance, as set forth and stated in § 75-2 or 75-3 of this article, is deemed to be a person who has knowledge of such nuisance for the purpose of this article, and may, thereafter, be responsible for its maintenance, and liable therefor.
A.
The Township Secretary of the Township Board of Commissioners for
the Township of North Versailles, or any citizen of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania residing within the Township, may maintain an action
of an equitable nature in the name of the Township, in the latter
case upon the relation of such citizen, to abate a nuisance.
B.
No bond shall be required of the Township. If such action is instituted
by a private citizen, a bond may be required in the amount of not
less than $500, to secure to the defendants the proximate damages
which may be sustained, including attorney's fees in the discretion
of the Court, if it is found that there were no reasonable grounds
for said action.
C.
Immunity from liability is hereby granted all officials of the Township
of North Versailles who may initiate or vote to institute and prosecute
under this article.
[Amended 11-16-1987 by Ord. No. 857; 8-15-1988 by Ord. No. 867]
A.
Civil.
(1)
Money damages may be recovered:
(a)
For compensation for loss or harm suffered in person or property
by the Township or private citizen flowing from such nuisance; and
(b)
As exemplary or punitive damages for the purpose of providing
an example or to punish the offender, where it is shown that the offender
has been guilty of malice. "Malice" means an intent to do a wrongful
act, that is, an intent to maintain, permit, or allow a nuisance to
exist.
(2)
Preliminary and permanent injunctions may be issued to prevent the
further maintenance of a nuisance and to prevent the further sale
or exhibition of obscene motion-picture films, live theater productions
and publications. The procedures for obtaining such injunctions shall
be governed by the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure, preserving
the right of trial by jury upon the application for permanent injunction.
Upon the trial on the merits of the permanent injunction, if the court
and/or jury finds a place to be a nuisance, the court may issue an
order closing the place to all uses and purposes for the period of
one year. If the offenders of persons owning, in control or in charge
of such place certify that the nuisance has been abated and that the
films, productions, or publications found to be obscene shall not
be exhibited, sold or otherwise disseminated and, at the discretion
of the court, post a bond in an amount not to exceed the value of
the personal property possessed or contained at such place for the
maintenance of the nuisance, the court may release such person or
persons from the closure order. The release shall remain in effect
for one year or until the nuisance is found to exist at the place
before the expiration of one year. The bond shall be deposited with
the court prior to the release of any closure order and shall be returned
to the person posting said bond, without interest, at the expiration
of one year, provided that the nuisance is not maintained or reestablished
within that year. Prior notice of at least 30 days must be given the
Township of the filing of a petition to return any bonds.
B.
Penalties. Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any
provision of this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced
to pay a fine of not more than $600, and/or to imprisonment for a
term not to exceed 30 days. Every day that a violation of this article
continues shall constitute a separate offense.
C.
The remedies provided herein shall be cumulative. There may be criminal
and civil prosecution for the same violations of this article, and
neither shall be a bar to the other.
A.
If the existence of the nuisance is established at trial, a judgment
shall be entered which shall permanently enjoin the defendants, and
any other person with notice or knowledge of the action and judgment,
from maintaining the nuisance at said place and the defendants from
maintaining such nuisance elsewhere, and the entire expenses of such
abatement action shall be recovered by the plaintiff as costs.
B.
The cost of abatement shall include the following: investigative
costs; court costs; reasonable attorney's fees arising out of
the preparation for, and trial of the case, and appeals therefrom,
and other costs allowed on appeal; printing costs of trial and appellate
briefs, and all other papers filed in such proceeding. Such cost of
abatement may be made a special assessment against the place or the
parcel of land upon which such place is located. Upon its determination
by the Court, an in rem lien may be entered against such property
and a personal obligation against any person, and shall be collected
at the same time and in the same manner as ordinary municipal taxes
are collected, and shall be subject to the same penalties and the
same procedure and sale in the case of delinquency as provided for
ordinary municipal taxes. All laws applicable to the levy, collection
and enforcement of municipal taxes shall be applicable to such special
assessment.
C.
Upon judgment for the plaintiff in legal proceedings brought pursuant to this article, an accounting shall be made by such defendant or defendants of all moneys or valuable consideration received by them which have been declared to be a public nuisance under § 75-2 or 75-3 of this article. Such moneys or their equivalent and any valuable consideration received shall be forfeited to the general fund of the Township or to the Township as property of the Township if any valuable consideration received be not money.
[Adopted 11-18-1996 by Ord. No. 949 (Ch. 13, Part 8, of the
1987 Code of Ordinances)]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Any business wherein employees, agents or independent contractors
perform dance routines or adult-oriented dancing entertainment as
characterized by an emphasis on the exposure of specific anatomical
areas. This definition shall include any establishment, whether or
not it is licensed by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to serve
alcoholic beverages.
A.
An adult
establishment shall observe the following requirements:
(1)
Any
dancing which exposes to view by patrons or spectators on the premises
at any time the bare female breast below a horizontal line across
the top of the areola at its highest point, which shall include the
entire lower portion of the human female breast, but shall not include
any portion of the cleavage of the human female breast exhibited by
a dress, blouse, shirt, leotard, bathing suit or other wearing apparel
provided the areola is not exposed in whole or in part, is prohibited.
(2)
Any
dancing which exposes to view by patrons or spectators on the premises
at any time the human genitals, pubic region or cleavage of the human
buttocks is prohibited.
(3)
Any
dancing known as straddle dancing, lap dancing, face dancing or any
similar type of dancing known by any other name in which an employee,
agent or independent contractor, whether fully clothed or not, uses
any part of his or her body, whether directly or through a medium,
to massage, rub, stroke, knead, caress or fondle the genitals or pubic
area of a patron while on the premises, or the placing of the genitals
or pubic area of an employee, agent or independent contractor in contact
with, or in approximate contact with, the face or any other area of
the body of a patron while on the premises is prohibited.
(4)
Any
person engaged in displaying or exposing anatomical areas while dancing
is prohibited from simulating sexual activity with any patron, spectator,
employee, independent contractor or other person on the premises of
an adult dancing establishment.
(5)
No person
in an adult dancing establishment shall engage in the display or exhibition
of specific adult-oriented anatomical areas while performing or dancing,
except while said person is positioned in or occupying an entertainment
area consisting of a platform or other structure raised not less than
18 inches nor more than 36 inches above the immediately surrounding
main floor area and encompassing an area of at least 100 square feet
and while the person so displaying or exhibiting is positioned not
less than three feet from any patron or spectator.
(6)
No spectator
or patron shall be present in the entertainment area described above
during the course of any performance or dancing involving the display
or exhibition of specific adult-oriented areas.
(7)
No person
maintaining, managing, owning or operating an adult dancing establishment
shall allow or permit the construction, maintenance or use of areas
partitioned or screened from public view that are designed to be occupied
or are commonly occupied, alone or together, by any person or persons
on the premises of such establishments for performances, private or
otherwise, involving the display of or exhibition of specific adult-oriented
anatomical areas while performing or dancing, or to permit any employee
or patron to violate any provision of this article.
B.
Nothing
in this article pertaining to adult dancing establishments shall be
construed to permit or authorize any act or activity that is prohibited
by state law, and these sections are meant to be in addition to any
acts or activities that are so prohibited.
A.
Every person who engages in operating an adult dancing establishment,
as defined herein, shall obtain a license to operate such establishment
and pay to the Township of North Versailles a license fee in the annual
amount of $500. Such license must be renewed annually by application
of the person to whom the license was originally granted. Said license
fee shall be used by the Township of North Versailles to offset its
expenses in exercising its police and regulatory powers involving
adult dancing establishments.
B.
Each application for an adult dancing establishment license shall
be accompanied by a photograph or drawing of the signs to be displayed
on the exterior of the establishment with an indication as to the
dimensions of the same.
Every person or entity engaged in or having any interest in
the operation of an adult dancing establishment before being issued
a license shall be required to meet the following specifications:
A.
Applicant must be free of convictions for the following: any felony;
any conviction relating to prostitution; any conviction involving
the presentation, exhibition and/or performance of an obscene production;
and any conviction involving the maintenance of a nuisance with the
same or similar business within the last two years. Applicant shall
not have had any adult entertainment establishment license revoked
for cause within the last two years.
B.
Applicant must submit to fingerprinting by the Township Police Department
or its designated representative.
C.
Applicant and any person or entity having any connection to the establishment
cannot owe any fees or taxes of any kind or nature to the Township
of North Versailles.
D.
Applicant's premises must meet all established health, zoning,
fire, building, plumbing and BOCA codes and cannot provide direct
interior access to residential living quarters. Applicant shall file
a floor plan which clearly exhibits all entrances, exits, stairways
and all rooms in the building and their intended uses.
E.
In the event applicant does not own the premises to be licensed,
a copy of the lease agreement between the applicant and the property
owner shall be submitted along with the application to the Township.
Adult dancing establishments shall be permitted to operate between
the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. the following morning on Monday
through Saturday. Such establishments are prohibited from operating
on Sundays with the exception of 12:01 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.
Adult dancing establishments may be located within the Township
of North Versailles in the specially created zone permitting such
use as and known as Zone B-1 within the North Versailles Zoning Ordinance.[1] Such establishments are prohibited from being located
or operated in any other zone within the Township of North Versailles.
License suspension or revocation can occur upon:
A.
Conviction by the licensee, his employees, agents or independent
contractors for any offense occurring on the licensed premises involving
or related to:
(1)
The production, presentation, exhibition or performance of any entertainment
that is deemed obscene.
(2)
Disorderly conduct.
(3)
Maintenance of a nuisance in connection with the same or similar
business.
(4)
Prostitution, solicitation for the purpose of prostitution or loitering
for the purpose of prostitution.
(5)
The sale, transfer, possession or use of any controlled substance.
(6)
The display or exhibition by an employee, agent or independent contractor
in the establishment of less than completely and opaquely covered
human genitals or pubic region, the cleavage of the human buttocks
or any portion of the human female breast below a horizontal line
across the top of areola at its highest point, any part of the entire
lower portion of the human female breast, excluding cleavage.
(7)
Any violation of any other section of this Code.
B.
Noncompliance with any health, zoning, fire, building and/or plumbing
codes adopted by the Township of North Versailles.
C.
The filing of a false application.
D.
A conviction for permitting the on-premises sale or consumption of
alcoholic beverages in any adult dancing establishment not licensed
to sell alcoholic beverages.
E.
Any illegal on-premises conduct by patrons that results in a criminal
conviction of a patron.
F.
A violation by any licensee or his agents, servants or employees
for any action occurring in, on or at the premises covered by the
license, in violation of any provision of this article or any other
ordinance of the Township of North Versailles, or of any criminal
or penal statute of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania against gambling,
disorderly conduct or any other criminal or penal offense; a judgment
of conviction in any court of competent jurisdiction shall be conclusive
evidence of such violation.
G.
The occurrence in, on or at the premises covered by the license of
any condition which is a nuisance or obnoxious to the morals and general
welfare of the public.
When North Versailles officials have reasonable cause to believe
that a license should be revoked or suspended for any of the reason
assigned herein, such official shall enumerate the same and notify
the licensee in writing of the hearing date and time and alleged charges.
The notice to the licensee shall be mailed to the address shown on
the license. At the hearing, the evidence shall be transcribed. Following
the hearing, North Versailles Commissioners shall make a decision
which will be reduced to writing and forwarded to the licensee. Upon
a decision by the Commissioners to revoke or suspend a license issued
under this article, all business activity at that location shall cease
immediately for the period of suspension or revocation.
A.
Dressing rooms shall be provided for all dancers and performers.
B.
A barrier including, but not limited to, a handrail, half-wall or
other similar device must be constructed that separates the performing
area from the patrons.
C.
Employees shall not be permitted to loiter in an open doorway or
entrance of the licensed premises.
D.
All doors to the licensed premises must be closed, except for the
limited time necessary to allow for ingress and egress during the
hours of operation.
E.
No one under the age of 21 shall be permitted as a patron or employee
during the hours the premises are open for business.
F.
No person who has been convicted of any prostitution-related offense
within the last two years shall be employed.
G.
Adult dancing entertainment activities or photographs of the same
shall not be displayed within any licensed premises in such a manner
as to be open to the general public view from outside the licensed
premises.
Any person or entity convicted of a violation of this article
shall, upon conviction thereof before a competent authority, be sentenced
to pay a fine of not more than $1,000 for each offense plus costs
and, in default of payment of such fine and costs, be imprisoned for
a period not exceeding 30 days.
