Chapter 4.16
DANCEHALLS AND TEENAGE DANCES
Sections:
4.16.020 Creation of a teenage dance board.
4.16.060 Revocation or suspension.
4.16.010 Definitions.
In the sections pertaining to teenage dances, the following words and phrases are defined and shall be construed as hereinafter set out unless it shall be apparent from the context that they have different meaning:
(a) Sponsor or sponsoring group. The term “sponsor or sponsoring group” means any one or more of the following:
1. Duly accredited public and parochial schools;
2. Governmental agencies, entities or political subdivisions;
3. Bona fide clubs, dance halls, fraternal orders, societies, organizations or groups of persons organized and existing for or devoted primarily to the purposes of promoting and carrying on youth activities and recreational and dancing facilities; provided, that such club, dance hall, order, society, group or organization has been regularly and duly organized, active and in existence for at least one year prior to the time of any application for a permit for a teenage dance;
4. Established business firms of the city satisfactory to the supervisor.
(b) Supervisor. The term “supervisor” means the council of the city of Sumas, or its authorized representative.
(c) Teenage dance. The term “teenage dance” shall mean a special dance held under a permit authorized by the supervising officer and conducted in compliance with the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 630 § 2, 1964)
4.16.020 Creation of a teenage dance board.
There is hereby created and established a board to be known as the teenage dance board, which board shall consist of three members appointed by the mayor of the town of Sumas. Each member shall serve for a term of one year, commencing with the effective date of this chapter, to meet monthly for the purpose of submitting their written recommendations to the council of the town of Sumas, after reviewing existing regulations, as to the adequacy and effectiveness of the regulations, with suggestions for modification or revision thereof. Each member shall be entitled to free admission to any place or building where any teenage dance is being conducted to assist in their advisory duties, with proper identification to be supplied by the council of the town of Sumas, to assist the board in determining if the provisions herein contained, particularly Section 4.16.070, are effective and sufficient. (Ord. 630 § 3, 1964)
4.16.030 Permit required.
It shall be unlawful to conduct or sponsor any teenage dance in the town of Sumas, without having first obtained a written permit to do so, authorized by the council of the town of Sumas, and except in full compliance with all of the conditions and provisions provided in this chapter. (Ord. 630 § 1, 1964)
4.16.040 Permit—Issuance.
No permit for a teenage dance shall ever be issued except to a duly sponsored or sponsoring group. Such permit shall be issued by the supervising officer or his delegate. A permit is required for each location and each teenage dance, provided the supervising officer may issue a permit granting to an approved sponsor or sponsoring group for a period of one year the right to conduct teenage dances in any of such sponsor’s regular established facilities. (Ord. 630 § 4, 1964)
4.16.050 Permit—Application.
The application or permit shall set forth therein the following minimum information:
(a) The name and address of the applicant’s officers.
(b) The date upon which the dance is to be held.
(c) The address of the place where the dance is to be held.
(d) The approximate attendance expected.
(e) The minimum number of adult supervisors who will be in attendance at all times during the holding of said dance, and the names and addresses of such adults.
(f) The names of three persons, one at the door and two circulating on the dance floor, shall be declared on the permit application.
Upon the filing of each application for a teenage dance, the supervising officer shall cause to be made such investigation as he deems proper, and shall either deny or approve the same. If the application is approved, the permit for such dance shall then be issued by the council of the town of Sumas, or by such person or persons as it may designate. A copy of the permit so issued shall forthwith be filed with the council of the town of Sumas. (Ord. 630 § 5, 1964)
4.16.060 Revocation or suspension.
Any permit issued hereunder may be revoked or suspended by the supervising officer if any of the following conditions exist or occur:
(a) The applicant for the permit or the holder of any permit, as the case may be, has knowingly made any material misstatement in the application for the permit.
(b) The holder of the permit has violated any of the provisions of this section.
(c) The holding of such teenage dance pursuant to the permit issued will not be in accordance with the public peace or welfare. (Ord. 630 § 6, 1964)
4.16.070 Minors-regulations.
No minor admitted to a teenage dance shall be permitted to leave and thereafter reenter the dancing premises during the course of the event, and no pass out checks shall be issued save and except emergencies and when authorized specifically by the person in charge of said dance.
No alcoholic beverages shall be sold, consumed or be available on the premises in or about which any teenage dance is held. Admission to a teenage dance shall be denied to any person showing evidence of drinking any alcoholic beverage or who has any alcoholic beverage on his person.
Sufficient adult supervision shall be provided by the sponsor at all teenage dances to insure that accepted standards of social conduct are followed.
No dancing at any teenage dance shall be permitted after the hour of twelve midnight unless the permit issued for that dance specifically authorizes the continuance for a later hour. Authorization to continue dancing after the hour of twelve midnight may be approved within the discretion of the council of the town of Sumas.
No person over the age of twenty years and no person under the age of sixteen years, unless in the company of their parents, shall attend any teenage dance as a participant; provided however that any person having satisfactory evidence of their current senior high school attendance, shall be eligible to attend such dance as a participant. This does not prohibit the attendance of chaperones and parents or other sponsors who do participate in the dancing; nor does it prohibit persons employed as entertainers or musicians at such dances.
It is unlawful and shall constitute a violation of this chapter for any person who is not eligible for admittance to a teenage dance to loiter around or about the premises at which such dance is being held.
The lighting of the premises shall be such as is conducive to adequate control by the supervisors.
All floor shows and their dialogue shall be of good moral entertainment and subject to review by the supervising officer or his delegate, and the sponsor or the chaperones shall have the right and duty to regulate the conduct of the dances and stop any practice, including obscene or off-color conduct of participants. (Ord. 630 § 7, 1964)