L.O.V.E. PARTY in Vegas RAIDED by Counyt!

[GeeNow]

Las Vegas Clark County Raids Swinger's Parties. L.O.V.E. PARTY!



Here's another news story about the Clark County Search Warrants shutting down swinger's parties in Las Vegas. I would not be caught dead at a party in Vegas right now unless it was in a commercial club. Read this!!

http://www.kvbc.com/Global/story.asp?s=5098011

[BiloxiCouple]

I hope someone who may know the legalities of this issue chime in here.

This is what I see:

1. They are probably operating a business out of their house. Probably without the proper permits. They are charging "door fees" or whatever you may want to call it. Again a business.

2. Parking problems if they don't own enough land to keep it off city streets.

3. Commercial clubs have permits to operate an establishment. And normally a BYOB affair to stay away from their local alcohol laws.

Any other comments?

[BiloxiCouple]

Here is the article:

Reported July 3, 2006, Las Vegas, NV

The crackdown continues on swingers clubs across the county following an exclusive News 3 hidden camera investigation. Darcy Spears tells us how the county is putting a second sex club out of business since her story first aired.

Our expose last month shined a spotlight on swingers clubs operating in residential neighborhoods. As a result, the county has taken quick action. On Thursday, enforcement officials raided a place called L.O.V.E.

The valet stand is still out, but the partygoers won't be coming this weekend to Lites of Vegas Estate or L.O.V.E. on Jones near Cheyenne. The quiet northwest house normally gets wild on the weekend.

For $60 per couple at the door, you get hot food, cold drinks and group sex.

The scene at L.O.V.E. was much like another one several weeks ago at Glitter Nights, which was operating out of a home on Sunrise Mountain. The county served an administrative search warrant and is preparing to post a notice of chronic nuisance to officially shut the L.O.V.E. parties down.

Bobbi and Larry (deleted) host the parties at (deleted). When Darcy reached Larry on the phone to ask him for comment, he hung up on her.

There are about six other swingers clubs operating in homes around the valley. From Red Rock Mansion to the Red Rooster, the county is looking into all of them.

The deleted sections removed personal information.

[Kitty59]

Putting a swing club in a residential neighborhood is not only a bad idea but is one of the quickest ways for local authorities to shut such an operation down.

Serving alocohol for a donation is also illegal and is a felony in our State. Besides being a felony it is never a good idea to supply liquor to patrons, another liablitity.

It doesn't surprise us that there have been raids and closures. We always recommend finding out the local laws, ordinances, zoning laws and finding those commercial areas where you can operate a clean operation.

[DGrey]

If it's operating out of someone's house, it's not a swing club. By doing what they were doing was trying to operate a business illegally out of a private residence. As someone already stated, permits are needed for that.

The house parties we attend are always payment in advance, no cash changes hands at the door and BYOB. In the eyes of the law here in NJ, it's just a private owner having a party. No permit needed. The hosts will never take cash at the door.

It's just like people going to a normal party that anyone would have.

E

[BiloxiCouple]

Originally Posted by DGrey

The hosts will never take cash at the door.

I would also be concerned and have questions about taking cash somewhere else also. Even though the transactions didn't take place at the door, the money is still required for entrance.

Just a thought.

[djjwp]

Not chiming in on the laws, they are what they are.

What comes to mind for me is the tolerant religious folks attack again through the media. It’s their way or the highway. Funny too how the rights of the media get protected but ours get trashed. You know, the right to pursue happiness.

[GeeNow]

Anyone have a guess as to how long this party will last?

[JnCC]

Originally Posted by BiloxiCouple

I would also be concerned and have questions about taking cash somewhere else also. Even though the transactions didn't take place at the door, the money is still required for entrance.

You would probably know the answer to this...

What are the implications of placing a basket and some blank envelopes somewhere in the public area...say, in the dining room? I know that wouldn't work for every private party, but it's what one of the couples who hosted parties in our area used to do. Our "voluntary contribution" was always in cash, and about what we'd have paid for an equally sumptuous dinner and drinks at a club. You could write your name on the envelope, or leave it blank.

One of my neighbors (a co-worker, in fact), has large monthly gatherings at his home. The streets are full of cars for a half-block in either direction. He's too straight for it to be a swingers party...I figure it has to be either the church or Amway. (I know...they're pretty much the same, but with different bumper stickers)

The next time he throws one, I think I'll call the cops and see who comes running out of his house. If they're carrying paper plates with hot dogs and potato salad, I'll know it's church. If they're carrying bags that contain one box of soap and 17,000 brochures and pamphlets, I'll know it's Amway.

[DGrey]

The parties we've attended have been PayPal in advance. Taking cash at the door implies that you're running an illegal club and will make it a snap for a judge to order a search warrant. Having a private party in your home where an entrance fee/donation or whatever you want to call it happens beforehand makes it near to impossible to get a search warrant without probable cause that something illegal is going on, eg the cops come knocking and smelling pot or having visibly intoxicated people wandering around the front lawn.

Here in NJ, police cannot enter a private home to search and/or arrest without a proper warrant. Hosting a party in your home is not illegal. Charging an entrance fee at the door allows for a judge to be quick to sign a warrant.

E

[jandg]

In unincorporated Clark County sex clubs are a per se public nusiance and are prohibited by county ordinance.

here's the definition right from the county code

Sex Club “Sex Club,” including but not limited to any club, party, group, center, establishment, business or parlor for swingers, adult encounters, adult social sexual encounters, partner-swapping, wife-swapping, or similar alternative lifestyle, means an establishment or business operated or maintained for the purpose of providing patrons the opportunity to voluntarily engage in and/or view live consensual sexual activity in exchange for money or any item of value that allows the patron to enter and remain on the premises or which collects remuneration of any kind, including entrance fees, facility use fees, gratuities, fees for goods provided far in excess of their value, and/or donations. A sex club is a public nuisance per se. This definition shall not be construed as applying to licensed and regulated erotic dance establishments, including but not limited to adult cabarets, or to the non-obscene presentation, showing, or performance of any play, drama, ballet, concert, or similar performance in any theater, concert hall, fine arts academy, school, institution of higher education, or similar establishment as a form of expression of opinion or communication of ideas or information, as differentiated from the promotion or exploitation of sex for the purpose of advancing the economic welfare of a commercial or business enterprise (See 30.08, “Adult Use - Specified Sexual Activities”)

The L.O.V.E. and Sunrise Manor / Glitter Nights clubs were both in private residences, in residential neighboorhoods, and took money at the door. That's essentially what got them shut down.

The Red Rooster apparently is not in a residential zone, and has withstood at least four attempts by the County to shut it down over the past couple of decades. All of the new homes in the area include a disclaimer in the sales agreement stating that the Red Rooster is there, and will remain there.

More info is available in the Red Rooster Forum

The Green Door is located in a Commercial Center, and is licensed to serve food and non-alcoholic beverages. I believe it's also in the incorporated city of Las Vegas and not subject to the county code.

[WesternSwing]

Originally Posted by JnCC

One of my neighbors (a co-worker, in fact), has large monthly gatherings at his home. The streets are full of cars for a half-block in either direction. He's too straight for it to be a swingers party...I figure it has to be either the church or Amway. (I know...they're pretty much the same, but with different bumper stickers)

It's funny how the law can be twisted to apply differently to different situations. Running one kind of business out of your home without a license is not the same as another.

That said, these people were in blatant violation of the law and I don't feel sorry for them, but rather are pissed-off at them for bringing so much attention to a lifestyle that doesn't need this kind of bad publicity. Not only do they look bad, but we all look bad with them.

Mr. WS