Chino Municipal Code Ch. 5.16 Dances and Dancehalls

For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:

A. "Disturbing the peace" has the same meaning as defined and set forth in Section 415 of the Penal Code of the state.

B. "Public dance" or "dance hall" means any public place open to the public wherein or whereat the public may engage in dancing. Dances under the supervision and control of school authorities or Chino Recreation Association shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter and shall not be considered public dances.

(Prior code § 8-1.)

It is unlawful for any person or association of persons to operate, conduct, or carry on a public dance or dancehall within the city without first obtaining a license to do so.

(Prior code § 8-2.)

An application for such license shall be made to the chief of police in writing and shall state the name and address of the applicant and the place where the public dance or dancehall is to be conducted. Upon receipt of such an application, together with the license fee, the chief of police shall thoroughly investigate the application and may deny the same if:

A. The applicant is not of good moral character;

B. The premises in respect to which the license is to be issued do not comply with the provisions of any law or are injurious to the public health or safety; or the premises have had a past record of disturbances of the peace or other law enforcement problems;

C. The applicant has had a license forfeited, suspended, or revoked pursuant to the provisions of this chapter or any similar law.

(Prior code § 8-3.)

Upon approval of such license by the chief of police, the license collector shall issue a license to the applicant. Such license shall set forth the name of the applicant and the place where the public dance or dancehall is to be conducted.

(Prior code § 8-4.)

A. The license fee for operating, conducting and carrying on a public dance or dancehall shall be a sum as shown in the comprehensive fee schedule resolution. Such license fee shall be payable in advance and shall be paid to the license collector upon the issuance of such license.

B. The fees imposed by this section relate to the regulation of dances and dancehalls and are imposed for regulatory purposes only.

(Ord. 78-13 § 3, 1978: prior code § 8-15; prior code § 8-5.)

Each such license shall be nontransferable and shall be posted in a conspicuous place in or on the premises in respect to which it is issued and shall be exhibited to any police officer upon demand.

(Prior code § 8-6.)

Each such license issued shall be separate and distinct, and no person shall seek to exercise the privileges granted thereunder except the person or association of persons to whom it was issued and at the specific place for which it was issued.

(Prior code § 8-7.)

The council may, upon its own motion, and shall, upon the verified complaint in writing of any person, investigate the conduct of any public dance or dancehall and shall have the power to temporarily suspend, permanently revoke, or conditionally issue a license for any of the following reasons:

A. The misrepresentation of a material fact by the applicant in obtaining a license;

B. The violation of any of the provisions of this chapter;

C. The commission of any act which would be sufficient grounds for denial of an application for a license pursuant to the provisions of this chapter;

D. The disturbance of the peace in, upon, or about the premises for which the license was issued or permitting the peace to be disturbed upon or about the premises;

E. A written protest against the operation and conducting of any public dance or public dancehall, signed by a majority of the persons residing within one thousand feet of any such dance or dancehall;

F. Upon an oral statement made by the chief of police at a regular meeting of the council, that such public dance or dancehall is being conducted in a manner detrimental to public morals.

(Prior code § 8-8.)

A. Upon the occurrence of any act for the suspension or revocation of a permit, the council may temporarily suspend or permanently revoke any license issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, or may issue a license upon such terms and conditions as the council may deem necessary.

B. Notice of such action by the council temporarily suspending or revoking such license shall be served upon the licensee either by personal service or by registered mail to the last-known address of such licensee.

C. The licensee thereafter may, within ten days after the service or receipt of such notice, demand a hearing before the council as to why such license should not be continued in force and effect.

D. At the time set for such hearing, the council shall hear the holder of the license, who may present any facts to show why such license should not be revoked, and shall hear statements from any other persons who may attend the hearing and present reasons why the license should or should not be revoked. The council may close the hearing when it is convinced that no public good will result from its continuance.

E. At the close of the hearing, or at any time within thirty days thereafter, the council shall determine from the facts produced at the hearing and from other facts in its possession whether or not the license should be revoked, suspended, or issued conditionally and shall make its order accordingly.

F. A notice of the action of the council after the hearing shall be served upon the licensee in the same manner provided for the suspension or revocation of the license.

(Prior code § 8-9.)

It is unlawful for any person or association of persons to operate, conduct, or carry on a public dance or a public dancehall, or for any person to dance at any public dance or in any public dancehall, between the hours of two a.m. and eleven a.m.

(Prior code § 8-10.)

It is unlawful for any person or association of persons to operate, conduct, or carry on a public dance or a public dancehall in such a manner as to be detrimental to public morals or a disturbance of the peace.

(Prior code § 8-13.)

Except in places where intoxicating liquors are legally sold and consumed, no person shall have, possess, or consume intoxicating liquor at any public dance.

(Prior code § 8-14.)

It is unlawful for any person or association of persons to employ female persons at a salary, on a commission or for anything of value, directly or indirectly, whose duty or business it shall be to dance with or act as dancing partners at any public dance or in any public dancehall, or for any female person to engage in such employment.

(Prior code § 8-12.)

It shall be the duty of every person conducting a public dance or public dancehall to maintain at his own expense at every dance duly deputized police officers if, in the opinion of the chief of police, the same is necessary. Such deputized police officers shall be approved by the chief of police. Any police officer of the city shall have the right to enter all public dances or dancehalls and if, in his judgment, any dance or other proceedings are improper, such police officer shall have the right, and it shall be his duty, to stop the same.

(Prior code § 8-11.)