Blythe Municipal Code Ch. 5.60 Public Dances

For the purposes of this chapter:

"Public dance" means a dance which is or may be participated in by any of the members of a group or gathering of persons who are assembled or present at a place to which the public is admitted, with or without charge, for the principal or incidental purpose of dancing; provided, however, that the following designated dances are excepted from the provisions of this chapter:

1. Any dance conducted by the city as part of its recreation program;

2. Any dance conducted by any public school or private school which is permanently located within the city as a part of the recreation program of the school for the exclusive entertainment of its duly registered pupils.

"Public dancehall" means any room, place or premises, whether enclosed or unenclosed, where a public dance is being conducted or permitted.

(Ord. 260 §§ 2, 3, 1958)

No person shall conduct a public dance or operate a public dancehall without first having secured a permit from the chief of police, and having paid the license tax required by the city.

(Ord. 260 § 4, 1958)

The chief of police may make rules governing the conduct of public dances and the operation of public dancehalls, and any license issued for any public dancehall is subject to revocation if the proprietor or person in charge violates or permits or condones any violation of the said rules governing the conduct of any public dancehall or permit, any intoxicated, boisterous or disorderly person to enter, be or remain in any public dancehall.

(Ord. 260 § 5 (part), 1958)

A. All applications for permits shall be accompanied by a filing fee which shall be set by resolution of the city council. A separate fee shall be set for a one-day dance permit, and an annual dance permit to allow any number of dances at a single location in the calendar year. Annual permits shall be renewable on January 2nd of each year.

B. All applications for permits shall be in writing and shall be filed with the chief of police and shall contain such information as will enable the chief, by reasonable investigation, to determine whether the allowing or permitting of dancing or the offering of entertainment in the place for which such permit is sought will be inimical to the public health, welfare or safety of the community.

(Ord. 629 § 9, 1986: Ord. 260 § 13, 1958)

If the chief of police finds that the issuing of the permit will not be inimical to the public health, welfare or safety of the community, he may issue a permit subject to such rules and regulations as he may make governing the operation of the public dance.

(Ord. 260 § 16, 1958)

A. It shall be within the discretion of the city manager based upon a recommendation of the chief of police, whether or not to require, after having first been given at least ten days' written notice prior to approving an application for one or more police officers of the City and/or to require one or more private security personnel to aid in regulating any dance. Such security personnel shall be licensed as required by the state of California and the city. Security personnel may be either armed or unarmed as required by the chief of police. Such application shall be filed with the chief of police.

B. Should the applicant be required to have one or more police officers of the city in attendance at a dance, then the applicant shall pay in advance for such officers a fee as set by resolution of the city council.

(Ord. 713 § 1, 1995; Ord. 629 § 10, 1986: Ord. 465 § 1, 1975: Ord. 410 § 1, 1971: Ord. 260 § 14, 1958)

The presence of any policeman at any public dancehall shall not relieve the proprietor thereof, or any of his employees, from the responsibility of the provisions of this chapter or for violation of any law or ordinance or lawful rule of the chief of police or from responsibility for maintaining decency and order in said public dancehall.

(Ord. 260 § 12, 1958)

No person carrying on a public dancehall, or having charge or control thereof, nor any person employed in or about the same, shall carry on such public dancehall after sunset of any day, unless the room or hall in which dancing takes place, including any loge, booth or alcove, is lighted or illuminated in such manner and to such extent as is usual or customary for lighting or illuminating halls or rooms or like dimensions in the nighttime for public assemblies, before any person is admitted thereto and before any dancing is commenced therein. Such lighting or illumination shall be maintained thereafter throughout the entire time which such dancing is in progress without diminution and without interruption until such dancing is concluded and until all dancers leave the premises.

(Ord. 260 § 6, l958)

A. No person operating a public dancehall, or having charge or control thereof, shall employ or permit any female person under the age of twenty-one years to give instruction in dancing therein or thereat to persons, nor shall any such operator permit any person to dance for hire with a person therein or thereat, nor shall any person, male or female, give instruction in dancing in any public dancehall to a person or persons except when such instructors are specifically authorized by the chief of police in writing to give dancing instruction. Any such authorization shall at once be revoked if it becomes evident that such person is dancing for hire and is not a bona fide dancing instructor.

B. No person carrying on a public dancehall, or having charge or control thereof, shall permit any instructor to give instructions in dancing in any private room or booth in such public dancehall. For the purpose of this section, "private room or booth" includes any room, booth, alcove or enclosure, every part of which is not clearly visible at all times from the main dance floor.

C. Nothing contained in this section shall be deemed or construed as applying to any place wherein or whereat classic dancing is the principal subject taught.

(Ord. 752 § 8, 1998; Ord. 260 § 11, 1958)

No employee of any applicant and no employee of any public dancehall shall dance at any public dance.

(Ord. 260 § 15, 1958)

No person shall carry on any so called marathon dancing contest, exhibition or race, or any contest or exhibition of endurance in dancing, or any walkathon or any contest of a similar nature, continuing for more than twenty-four hours within the city.

(Ord. 260 § 9, 1958)

No person shall participate in any so called marathon dancing contest, exhibition or race, or in any contest or exhibition of endurance in dancing or any walkathon, or any contest of a similar nature within the city.

(Ord. 260 § 10, 1958)

No person shall enter, be in, or dance in any public dancehall on any day between the hours of two a.m. and six a.m.

(Ord. 260 § 7, 1958)

No person in an intoxicated condition shall enter, or remain in any public dancehall.

(Ord. 260 § 5 (part), l958)

No person shall conduct himself in a boisterous or disorderly manner in a public dancehall.

(Ord. 260 § 5 (part), 1958)

Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter, whether acting for himself, or as the agent or servant of any person, firm or corporation, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than three hundred dollars or by imprisonment of not more than ninety days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Each day that any act continues in violation of any provision of this chapter and each day that anything forbidden by the terms of this chapter continue to exist shall constitute a separate offense.

(Ord. 260 § 19, 1958)