Dallas passes SOB ordinance
Omar Narvaez Sexually-oriented businesses will be required to close from 2-6 a.m. in the city DAVID TAFFET | Senior Staff Writertaffet@dallasvoice.com Bringing Dallas’ sexually-oriented business ordinance into compliance with state law has opened the discussion at Dallas City Hall over the entire ordinance, and councilmembers voted Wednesday, Jan.
26, to limit what hours such businesses can stay open. Employees of sexually-oriented businesses — mostly straight strip clubs and bookstores — must be 21 years old under Texas state law.
But Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia has been pushing to have these businesses close between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. That’s when most crime takes place at these businesses, Garcia said, and these businesses account for a large portion of police calls during those hours.
Fort Worth, Grand Prairie and Plano all restrict the hours of SOBs in their jurisdictions. Plano is the most restrictive, forcing sexually-oriented businesses to close from 2 a.m.
