Hunter
05/05/24
Governor Kim Reynolds has signed a bill into law that allows cities and counties to have more powers to restrict strip clubs that present a public safety threat.
The Gazette reports the previous law only covered establishments with liquor licenses, allowing those clubs that allow patrons to BYOB and do not actually serve alcohol to avoid the additional restrictions.
The new law allows cities or counties to ask a court to restrict the hours of an adult entertainment establishment and prohibit the consumption of alcohol on the property altogether if it becomes a public nuisance.
Grounds for categorizing an establishment as a public nuisance include a place where a person fired a gun, a person assaulted another person with a dangerous weapon and injured that person, and at least three instances of a riot taking place.
Davenport Police Chief Jeff Bladel said the city has dealt with large parties in the parking lots of strip clubs, which can turn violent and lead to police calls. One club, Déjà vu Showgirls, had two shootings in the last three years, one of which killed a 35-year-old man.