Opinion ID: 569110
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: the dance hall act and its administration

Text: 24 The Dance Hall Act, Pa.Stat.Ann. tit. 53, §§ 4731-4742 (Purdon 1972), requires dance halls to obtain an annually renewable license. The mayor is charged with the duty of investigating all applications for licenses to determine whether or not the dance hall ... sought to be licensed, complies with the rules, regulations, ordinances, and laws applicable thereto, and, in making such investigation, he shall, when desired, have the assistance of any department of the government of the city. Id. § 4735. The statute continues: 25 No license for a public dance hall ... shall be issued until it shall be ascertained that the place for which it is issued complies with and conforms to all laws, ordinances, health and fire regulations, applicable thereto, and is a safe and proper place for the purpose for which it shall be used, properly ventilated, and supplied with sufficient toilet conveniences. 26 Id. § 4736 (emphasis added). 27 The mayor may revoke the license of the dance hall for disorderly or immoral conduct on the premises or upon proof that the dance hall is frequented by disorderly or immoral persons, or for any violation of the rules, regulations, ordinances, and laws applicable to dance halls. Id. § 4737. Police may inspect dance halls at any reasonable time and may vacate the premises whenever any provision of any law or ordinance with regard to public dances ... is being violated. Id. § 4739. 28 According to L & I's Chief of License Issuance, L & I had several unwritten policies governing dance hall licenses. In 1988, it would not accept a dance hall license application until the applicant had a certificate of occupancy. L & I referred applications to other City departments for a fire inspection, a tax confirmation, and police department approval. The police department checked to determine whether the operator had a criminal record, performed a survey to determine whether neighborhood opposition existed in the surrounding community, and made a recommendation to L & I whether to grant the dance hall license. According to the Chief of License Issuance, L & I had a 30-year old policy to adopt the recommendation of the police department upon completion of its investigation.