A private investigator hunting porn and other adult material in Howard County found it almost wherever he went - numerous video stores, a major mall, convenience stores. And his report has become evidence in a case that could decide whether the Pack Shack - an adult video and bookstore - could stay open.
The Baltimore Sun says the case could have broader implications for Howard County's bid to regulate adult businesses. And just like other localities, Howard County is wrestling with the question of just what is an adult entertainment business.
The Sun says representatives for many stores mentioned in the report say their proportion of adult material is small compared to the rest of their stock, but one independent video store owner said he'd be out of business without X-rated movies.
Two years ago, Howard County passed a law limiting adult businesses to commercially zoned districts, keeping them 500 feet or more from homes, churches, or schools and libraries, and no less than 2,500 away from other adult businesses. But the Sun says the law never made clear what constitutes an adult business, failing to define "a significant or substantial portion of the stock…characterized by an emphasis on…sexual activities."
Pack Shack attorney Howard J. Schulman says the law could have a chilling effect if every convenience store in Howard County could be defined as an adult store and have to be 2,500 feet away from each other.
