State officials have proposed new legislation requiring exotic dancers to register for a license to entertain in the state of New York.
New York Assemblyman Felix Ortiz (D-Brooklyn), proposed the legislation on Monday as part of a "Dance Performer Registration Act" which would impose fines on dancers working without a permit.
The proposed law would create a database of exotic dancers in New York State. Dancers would have to register with the state's Labor Department every three years, with strip clubs required to obtain a certificate to employ licensed dancers. Any dancer caught working without a permit would be fined $20 for the first offense and $50 for every offense thereafter, and clubs employing unlicensed dancers would be fined $1,000 or more.
"This is an example of big government trying to put their hands in the dancers' G-strings," Lonnie Hanover, spokesman for the Scores chain of strip clubs, told Fox News. "And everyone knows there's no touching — that's not allowed. Full-time dancers at scores earn six-figure incomes," Hanover continued. "Most of our performers are paying their way through college and there's a waiting list of women who want to become dancers at Scores."
"It is good that it will [prevent] underage girls from dancing," Molly, a 28-year-old who has danced on and off for a decade, told Fox News. "You don't want anybody too young to be wrapped up into that industry, but I can guarantee you, most girls won't be too happy about it."
If passed, the Dance Performer Registration Act would go into effect Jan. 1, 2008.
