Posted on 02/23/2007 4:18:57 AM PST by ShadowDancer
Social Dancing Banned In New York
Appeals Court Rules Ban Is Constitutional
POSTED: 9:22 pm EST February 22, 2007
NEW YORK -- Should you find yourself in a bar in New York City, and the music playing makes you want to get up and dance, please resist the urge.
A state court on Thursday upheld the city's Prohibition-era law that bans social dancing in bars, restaurants and certain clubs.
Those who like to get up and boogie sued, arguing the law illegally infringes on their right of free expression. The city's Cabaret Law, which was enacted 80 years ago, bans social dancing in all but specially licensed venues.
The Gotham West Coast Swing Club and several people filed a lawsuit complaining that because the Cabaret Law barred them from dancing with other people, it illegally infringed on their right of free expression.
The appeals court disagreed, saying recreational dancing is not a form of expression protected by the federal or state constitutions.
Plaintiffs lawyer Norman Siegel said he was "very disappointed" by the decision and is considering an appeal.
Stupid law but also stupid to use the courts rather than the legislature to change it.
Sounds like the court can't pull their respected head out of their collective A$$es.
NY need a new law.
What a stupid opinion.
This has little if no impact on me.
Fortunately (or unfortunately), my movements to music on a have rarely been described as "dancing". :o)
ping
Some "Social Dancing" should be banned everywhere.
Question: Why are New Yorkers barred from having sex while standing up?
Answer: Because it might lead to dancing.
This fight has been going on for years. The big dance clubs like the law. The little bars hate it.
Sweet Fancy Moses!!
This is the type of law that needs to be eradicated from the books. America still has old, stupid, and outdated laws on its books that go back over a hundred years that, at the time might have made sense but, today are just stupid.
I have said this before that, if all the laws in America were actively and equally enforced, we would be the least free and most oppressed and repressed people on the planet.
"Lawmakers" have run amok and its time for them to adjourn until a major crisis actually arises that needs their help.
Dancing is prohibited in my house.
Unless it involves a pole.
Elaine is easy.
Giuliani resurrected the prohibition era Cabaret Laws. Look it up.
hasn't NYC been pretty much taken over by muslims since 9/11?
It was part of the "quality of life" campaign to crack down on noise etc.
And yet Cagey is still one of his staunchest supporters.
Does that happen before or after the airing of grievances?
While they are at that, perhaps they could do away with some of the brand-spanking new stupid and useless laws as well...
So dancing naked in strip clubs for dollar tips is legally protected free speech in NY but two people in a bar wanting to dance to the juke box are committing a crime?
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