`DANCE HALL ORDINANCE' GOING INTO EFFECT TODAY

Late-Night Clubs Required To Hold Permit In Order To Stay Open Past 2:30 A.M.

Charlotte's long-debated ordinance restricting late-night dance clubs takes
effect today, but no businesses hold the new license required to remain
open after 2:30a.m.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police, responsible for issuing the permits, said two
clubs have applied for the license. They had expected to issue more than 20.

"We are sending out letters to clubs that we know are required to have
licenses, but there has not been a very good response," said Detective
Ginger Faulkenberry.

The so-called "dance hall ordinance" is designed to control drug use and
related crimes at clubs, and to shield young people from illegal activities
associated with some nightclubs. It is believed to be the first of its kind
in the state. Failure to secure a permit could result in fines up to $500 a
day. Enforcement could begin as early as this weekend.

The ordinance requires any club not regulated by the state or county
Alcohol Beverage Control Board to have a one-year, city-issued permit to
operate. Clubs that already have ABC permits and cater to 18-and-over
patrons also must obtain a permit to stay open after 2:30a.m.

Clubs that cater to teens may operate between Sunday and Thursday until
11p.m. and until midnight on weekends. The police-issued license can be
suspended or revoked if operators knowingly allow illegal drug use inside,
violate ABC laws or a breach of peace occurs on the property.

Police Chief Darrel Stephens said he expects full compliance.

"I don't think people are going to ignore the rules," he said. "But, if we
discover that the ordinance is being ignored, then we'll certainly enforce it."

Since the debate over the ordinance began more than a year ago, many of the
locations police say have been havens for crime - including Midnite 'til
Six and at least two warehouse raves near uptown - have closed.

A contingent of club owners and operators opposed the ordinance - calling
it an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy that doesn't address illegal drug use.

When police initially proposed the new regulations to City Council, they
targeted raves - all-night dance parties that are often held in unlicensed
warehouses and attract young people and the use of designer drugs. Club
owners argued that the final version targets businesses that are already
licensed and cater to adults.

Alan Presley, part-owner of Coyote Joe's, said the club no longer stays
open after 2:30a.m., so he won't be applying for a permit. He says
all-night events will be held, even if none of the established clubs plan
them, and that may result in more of the crimes police are trying to prevent.

"I fear it will lead to unsupervised things," Presley said.