It has been six months since the City Commission passed an ordinance making it unlawful for any business to display obscene, vulgar, or sexually-oriented merchandise. The merchandise must be confined to an area of the business establishment that cannot be viewed outside the business.
For the first six months, Code Compliance Officers warned local establishments, using the time as an educational period. That period has now ended, and businesses face penalties.
The ordinance reads as follows:
Open display or sale to children is unlawful. It shall be unlawful for any business operator to display obscene, vulgar, or sexually-oriented merchandise unless such merchandise is confined to an area of the business establishment that cannot be viewed from outside the business establishment.
It shall be unlawful for a business operator to knowingly sell obscene, vulgar, or sexually oriented merchandise to a child or to permit a child to enter the area where sexually oriented merchandise is displayed unless the child is accompanied by an adult parent or legal guardian.
Signage is required. Any business owner who displays obscene, vulgar, or sexually-oriented merchandise shall prominently display a clearly legible sign or signs as necessary to notify anyone entering an area where such merchandise is displayed that obscene, vulgar, or sexually-oriented merchandise is displayed and that no one under the age of 18 may enter the area unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.