Opinion ID: 1193937
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Red Light Abatement Law

Text: (11) As an alternative theory of relief, plaintiffs allege that defendants' exhibition of obscene magazines and films constitutes a nuisance subject to abatement under the provisions of the Red Light Abatement Law (Pen. Code, § 11225 et seq.). We have previously noted that these provisions prescribe certain specific forms of relief not available under the general nuisance statutes, including temporary injunctions, removal and sale of fixtures, and closure of the premises for one year. (Pen. Code, §§ 11227, 11230.) The Red Light Abatement Law defines as a nuisance [e]very building or place used for the purpose of illegal gambling as defined by state law or local ordinance, lewdness, assignation, or prostitution.... (Italics added.) Defendants maintain that the term lewdness does not include the exhibition of obscene magazines or films in bookstores or theaters. We agree. The law was passed in 1913 and, as its name indicates, its primary purpose was to regulate ... houses of ill fame, ... and other like places, where acts of lewdness and prostitution are habitually practiced and carried on as a business. ( People v. Barbiere (1917) 33 Cal. App. 770, 775 [166 P. 812].) It has been held that the terms lewdness, assignation, or prostitution were obviously intended to refer to illicit sexual acts or conduct amounting to or involving lewdness. ( People v. Arcega (1920) 49 Cal. App. 239, 242 [193 P. 264].) The term lewdness is not synonymous with prostitution and has a broader significance, including all other immoral or degenerate conduct or conversation between persons of opposite sexes, ... including the solicitation of sexual acts to be performed elsewhere. ( People v. Bayside Land Co. (1920) 48 Cal. App. 257, 260 [191 P. 994].) The consensus of more recent cases is that the term lewdness is broad enough to include live lewd entertainment, such as stage shows or other exhibitions featuring obscene performances. ( People ex rel. Hicks v. Sarong Gals (1972) 27 Cal. App.3d 46, 50 [103 Cal. Rptr. 414], subsequent opn., supra, 42 Cal. App.3d 556, 559; Harmer v. Tonylyn Productions, Inc., supra, 23 Cal. App.3d 941, 944; Maita v. Whitmore (N.D.Cal. 1973) 365 F. Supp. 1331.) Yet no California case has yet held that the Red Light Abatement Law was intended to apply to the exhibition of obscene magazines or films. As stated in Harmer : If the Legislature had desired or intended by section 11225 of the Penal Code to regulate the showing of pornographic films, pictures or drawings, such subject matter could have been included in section 11225 when it was recently amended in 1969, as it did when it chose to enumerate `illegal gambling as defined by state law or local ordinance' in that section of the Penal Code. (23 Cal. App.3d at p. 944.) On the other hand, it has been forcefully contended that it borders upon the absurd to apply the law to live stage shows and exhibitions that are lewd and to deny its application to motion pictures that are patently lewd and obscene. ( Id., at p. 952 [dis. opn.]; see also People ex rel. Hicks v. Sarong Gals, supra, 27 Cal. App.3d at p. 50.) The courts of other states have generally agreed that red light laws do not apply to the exhibition of obscene books or films. ( People v. Goldman (1972) 7 Ill. App.3d 253 [287 N.E.2d 177]; Gulf States Theatres of La., Inc. v. Richardson, supra, 287 So.2d 480; Southland Theatres, Inc. v. State ex rel. Tucker (1973) 254 Ark. 192 [492 S.W.2d 421]; State v. Morley, supra, 317 P.2d 317, 318-320; State ex rel. Cahalan v. Diversified Theat. (1975) 59 Mich. App. 223 [229 N.W.2d 389].) Although the question is not free from doubt, in view of the history of the Red Light Abatement Law and the uniform interpretation given it by the courts of this state, we conclude that the act's provisions were not intended to apply, and do not apply, to the exhibition of obscene magazines or films. The judgment is reversed and the cause remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.