As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
DIRECTOR
The Director of the Office of Licensing, who is also referred to as the Consumer Protection Officer in Article
IIIA of the Charter, and shall include the designee of the Director, unless otherwise provided.
[Amended 7-18-1996 by L.L. No. 5-1996]
PUBLIC DANCE HALL
Any room, place or space in which a public dance shall be
held or a hall or academy in which classes in dancing are held and
instruction in dancing is given for hire.
PUBLIC DANCE OR PUBLIC BALL
Any dance or ball to which admission can be had by payment
of a fee or presentation of a ticket or token or in which a charge
is made for caring for clothing or other property or any other dance
to which the public generally may gain admission with or without the
payment of a fee.
[Amended 7-18-1996 by L.L. No. 5-1996]
No license for a public dance hall shall be issued or reissued
until it shall be found that such hall complies with and conforms
to all the ordinances, health and fire regulations of the City and
with the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code
and that it is properly ventilated and supplied with sufficient toilet
conveniences and is a safe and proper place for the purpose for which
it is to be used. The applicant shall pay a fee of $100 per floor
to the Department of Housing and Buildings at the time of each application
for inspection or reinspection.
[Amended 7-18-1996 by L.L. No. 5-1996]
All public dance halls shall be kept at all times in a clean,
healthful and sanitary condition, and all stairways and other passages
and all rooms connected with a dance hall shall be kept open and well-lighted.
The Director of the Department of Housing and Buildings, the Police
Commissioner, the Fire Commissioner or any inspector or uniformed
patrolman or fireman of their departments shall have the power, and
upon complaint made to the Director it shall be their duty, to cause
the place, hall or room where any dance or ball is held or given to
be vacated whenever any provision of any ordinance is being violated
or whenever any indecent act shall be committed or whenever any disorder
of a gross, violent or vulgar character shall take place therein.
All public dances shall be discontinued and all public dance
halls shall be closed on or before the hour of 2:30 a.m.; provided,
however, that upon the application of a bona fide and responsible
organization or society, the Mayor may grant such organization or
society a permit to continue a dance after 2:30 a.m.
It shall be unlawful after 9:00 p.m. to permit any person to
attend or take part in any public dance who has not reached the age
of 16 years, unless such person is accompanied by a parent or guardian.
It shall be unlawful for any person to represent himself or herself
to have reached the age of 16 years of age, and it shall also be unlawful
for any person to represent himself or herself to be a parent or guardian
of any person, in order that such person may obtain admission to a
public dance hall or shall be permitted therein when the party making
the representation is not in fact either a parent or natural guardian
of the other person.