Strippers Arrested In Vice Crackdown
Officers Warn Men's Clubs To Follow Law
POSTED: Thursday, January 29, 2004
UPDATED: 10:45 pm CST January 29,
2004
HOUSTON -- Houston vice squad officers cracked down Thursday on strippers breaking the "3-feet" rule and took some to jail, the News2Houston Investigators reported.
All of the men's clubs were warned that laws would be strictly enforced, but it did not stop some exotic dancers from going too far and getting too close, officials said. City law states that dancers cannot touch customers or come within 3 feet of a customer while topless.
Three strippers were arrested at The Men's Club, 3303 Sage Road, Thursday night.
"(The) specific violation was actually touching, physically touching the customer while entertaining. It's against the law," HPD Lt. David Klinger said. "A lot of girls from out of town who don't know the law are not used to the regulations and the fact that we enforce them here."
Klinger said Thursday's arrests are a little unexpected since vice officers gave all of the topless clubs a courtesy warning before Super Bowl week started.
"It does kind of surprise me. We did give everybody warnings. They should know, respect management to enforce the law, or at least make sure the girls don't break it in front of them," Klinger said.
Klinger said even though Thursday's arrests seem small, it's only the beginning.
"I think tonight was the start of it. I'm sure they'll warm up and Friday night, we'll be very busy," he said.
Undercover vice-officers are also cracking down on prostitution. Three alleged prostitutes were arrested at the bar in the new downtown Houston Hilton.
Although Houston's vice squad won't discuss specifics, it will have extra undercover officers working Super Bowl parties at strip clubs.
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