Mayor Richard Daley pushed through the council an ordinance that will send building owners and managers to jail if they intentionally let a property be used for raves at which controlled substances are used, distributed, stored or made. Violators could face jail terms of 2 weeks to 6 months. Meanwhile, the Illinois House Executive Committee approved a bill that would make it a crime to promote raves loaded with illegal activity. Passage of the city ordinance, which took effect immediately, prompted Daley to lash out at the people who produce the huge rogue dance parties where Ecstasy and other designer drugs are widely used. Parents should be outraged by this.
Raves are an international sensation.
They are often invitation-only or attended by people who learn about the location by checking an Internet site or calling a telephone number listed on clandestinely distributed fliers. Despite the widespread popularity, the raves can be dangerous and even deadly. They were linked to three deaths in the Chicago area last year. Promoters convicted in the worst cases also could be subject to civil penalties and could be sued by parents whose children attend. Backers of the legislation acknowledge that it needs fine-tuning to make it both effective and able to withstand a court challenge.