The Seattle City Council approved legislation Tuesday regulating after-hours clubs that officials say have proliferated around the city and have become centers of crime and gun violence.
“Over the past decade, there have been dozens of shootings and homicides that have occurred in connection with these venues,” a statement from council president Sara Nelson said.
The legislation passed unanimously Tuesday creates new requirements that include restricting venues to 21+ age limits, no service of alcohol between 2 AM and 5 AM, requiring at least two trained security personnel, running a security checks for weapons upon entry, providing video surveillance of exits, and what backers say will be “unimpeded police access while operating.”
The goal is to bring regulation to what officials say is a boom of clubs including bars and hookah lounges operating illegally in the city after hours.
A Rainier Beach-area club was the scene of a double homicide in March. Its ownership is reportedly shutting down the venue.
The Seattle City Attorney supported the bill.
A new regulatory license part of the plan will have a $250 application fee that “can be denied or revoked if the establishment has a single shooting incident, or two or more serious public safety incidents within the past year.” Penalties for operating without a new regulatory license would be $1,000 for the first offense, and $5,000 for a second. “Businesses may contest a citation before a hearing examiner,” the City Attorney’s presentation (PDF) on the bill says. The City Attorney will also be able to “seek legal and equitable relief from establishments that remain out of compliance.”
With busy nightlife areas, Capitol Hill has seen a few “speakeasies” and ilegal clubs pop up over the years though it is unclear how many businesses currently operating in the area would be subject to the new rules that apply to “any business that allows gathering for socializing, smoking, or dancing” after last call between the hours of 2 AM and 5 AM. Some venues have extended hours that keep their doors open deep into the morning but with the sale of alcohol cut off at 2 AM.
The passed legislation directs city departments to now come up with a plan for implementing the new regulations.
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I hope this doesn’t affect the Mercury!
They’ll comply with the law 100% and continue to be an example of how a late night after hours place can exist — for many years! — without spawning violence or other bad behavior.
And banning guns right? What a joke.
If you mean “It’s a joke that you aren’t also banning guns”, now’s a good time to tell you that they are already banned in alcohol establishments in WA state. How would more banning change things? That’s why Sara Nelson is moving to require trained security and police access to enforce the existing law. Read before snarking.
Guns keep causing gun-related deaths, so lets re-examine venue laws and alcohol sales..
Lol you guys ok? You might wanna check if you’re running short on band-aids cause this policy is a huuuuuuge one
You too. Not sure what’s so bandaid about requiring enforcement of existing law?
How does removing the (already very limited) access to nightlife available to people under 21 prevent gun violence?
The enemies of most underground/afterhours events are expensive regulations and intrusive cops, not gun violence. Guns never enter most of those spaces. Gun violence is used as a bogeyman to regulate vice at a time when ICE is smashing car windows to deport citizens. You think cops are going to make any of us feel safe? You think they’re going to make trans and gay people feel safe?