Prince George’s County Police say they are “open for business” when it comes to handing out applications and issuing licenses to the county’s adult entertainment establishments as well as managers and dancers employed at those businesses — even if the challenges to the law are still working their way through federal court.
“We don’t want anybody to fall through the cracks,” said Capt. Henry Stawinski, commander of policy research, management and accreditation. “We’ve been very methodical in our attempts.”
Police have handed out 75 applications and issued one license to a manager. Stawinski said a federal judge in Baltimore has given businesses through Jan. 3, 2007, to comply with the existing law. Police cannot issue licenses to the four clubs suing the county on grounds the law violates the First Amendment and other rights.
Both cases have been heard before a federal district judge in Baltimore, but rulings have yet to be issued.
Even when the issue is settled, the court might decide to fine a lawyer in the second case $70,000 for a posting he made on a Web site that rates strip clubs. Upper Marlboro attorney Jimmy Bell, who represents a Camp Springs club, wrote a message disparaging the county law and signed it using the name of an opposing Prince George’s County attorney. Bell told the courts he wanted to show anyone could post a message on the site anonymously; David Whitacre, the county attorney whose name Bell used and who is defending the law, called the message libelous.
The county also battled underground strip clubs this year with a law that allowed county officials to shutter businesses for a wider range of permit offenses.
Stawinski said county police have contacted businesses in both categories, sending letters to any establishments that might need licensing should that portion of the law survive.
