Cities and counties in Arizona can now enforce a state law requiring adult-oriented businesses to close by 1 a.m., following a federal court ruling on Sept. 30.
That means adult movie theaters, nude dancing clubs, adult bookstores, adult modeling studios, escort services, and other such businesses fall under the law.
It took nearly a year for the federal ruling, following a judge's lifting of a temporary hold on the law which state lawmakers passed in 1998.
In Phoenix, the City Council was expected to approve closing adult businesses at 1 a.m. seven days a week, with other cities and counties expected to follow suit.
Arizona newspapers say several adult business don't expect the new law to cost them very much money. But Arizona Escort owner John Lemonis in Scottsdale says the court ruling is "a Gestapo ruling," saying it will force him to close his licensed operation (he does most business after 1 a.m., he says) and could lead to more crime, according to the Arizona Republic.
