Sexually explicit businesses, including strip clubs, book stores and video stores, now face strict licensing requirements, thanks to a vote by the Troy City Council. Troy is a suburb of Detroit.
According to the city's Web site, owners of these businesses must pass a criminal background check, provide a list of their employees, refrain from serving alcohol and install tip boxes.
The restrictions are meant as a deterrent, since Troy does not have any sexually oriented adult establishments.
Daniel Weiss, senior analyst for media and sexuality at Focus on the Family Action, said Troy is right in taking pre-emptive action.
"Even if no sexually oriented business exists in a town, it is crucial to set up these ordinances as soon as possible," he said. "We've seen these sex businesses intentionally locate in communities with no regulations in place. Once they're there, it's very hard to get rid of them. It's much better to proactively protect your community."
TAKE ACTION
Scott Bergthold, one of the nation's foremost experts in obscenity laws, can help your town draft an ordinance to regulate sexually oriented businesses.
(NOTE: Referral to Web sites not produced by Focus on the Family is for informational purposes only and does not necessarily constitute an endorsement of the sites' content.)
