The Board of Commissioners of Ridley Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania,
finds that massage establishments used for the purposes of prostitution are
detrimental to the health, safety, morals and general welfare of Ridley Township.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meaning
indicated, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:
ACCREDITED SCHOOL
Any school wherein the method, profession, and work of massage is
taught, which furnishes a statement of courses offered, including anatomy
and physiology, is accredited by a state unit of educational accreditation,
or by the American Massage and Therapy Association, and furnishes a certificate
or diploma of successful completion of such course of study or learning.
APPLICANT
Any person applying for a license to render massage service, or to
operate massage establishment, and in addition thereto shall include and mean
all partners in a partnership and all stockholders or members of a corporation
or limited liability company where the controlling interest of the entity
is held by five or fewer persons or legal entities.
EMPLOYEE
Any person over 18 years of age, other than a massagist, who renders
any service in connection with the operation of a massage establishment and
receives compensation from the operator of the massage establishment or patrons.
MASSAGE
The manipulation of body muscle or tissue by rubbing, stroking, kneading,
or tapping, by hand, mechanical device, or other means.
MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENTS
Any business establishment which provides the services of massage,
unless such business establishment is operated by a licensed medical practitioner,
chiropractor or professional physical therapist licensed by the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania in connection with a professional practice.
MASSAGIST
Any person trained at an accredited school, who, for any consideration
whatsoever, engages in the practice of massage as defined herein (also a "masseur"
and "masseuse").
PATRON
Any person over 18 years of age who receives a massage under such
circumstances that it is reasonably expected that he or she will pay money
or give other consideration therefor.
PERSON
Any individual, partnership, firm, association, joint-stock company,
corporation, limited liability company, or combination of individuals of whatever
form or character.
PROSTITUTION
Engaging in sexual activity for consideration, including:
A.
The fondling or other erotic touching of human genitals, pubic region,
buttocks or female breast.
B.
Acts of human masturbation, sexual intercourse, or sodomy; or
C.
Homosexual and other deviate sexual relations.
SEXUAL OR GENITAL AREA
Genitals, pubic area, buttocks, anus or perineum of any person, or
the vulva or breasts of a female.
No person shall engage in, carry out or provide or perform the business
of massage except in a massage establishment duly licensed under the provisions
of this subchapter. Existing massage establishments shall submit applications
for a massage license hereunder within 60 days of enactment of this chapter.
The Township Health Officer shall issue a license for a massage establishment
after approval by the Board of Commissioners, but only after all requirements
for a massage establishment have been met.
The Township shall act to approve or deny an application for a license
hereunder within a reasonable period of time and in no event shall the Township
act to approve or deny the license later than 90 days from the date said application
is accepted by the Township. Every license issued under this chapter shall
expire one year from the date of issuance, unless sooner suspended or revoked.
Every license granted hereunder shall be conspicuously posted at or
near the interior entrance to the massage establishment.
The licensee or person designated by the licensee of a massage establishment
shall maintain a written register of all persons employed at any time at the
massage establishment, including but not limited to all massagists. Such register
shall be available for Inspection at the massage establishment during regular
business hours.
Any license issued for a massage establishment may be revoked or suspended
by the Board of Commissioners after notice and a hearing, for good cause,
or in any case where any of the provisions of this chapter are violated or
where any employee of the licensee, including any massagist, is engaged in
any conduct which violates any state or local laws or ordinances.
All employees, including massagists, shall wear clean nontransparent
outer garments, covering all sexual or genital areas. Name tags for employees
and all massagists shall be worn and visible at all times.
No person under the age of 18 shall be permitted in or on the premises
of a massage establishment, unless on lawful business.
No massage establishments shall operate between the hours of 10:00 p.m.
and 8:00 a.m.
The Township or its authorized representative may from time to time
make inspection of each massage establishment for the purpose of determining
compliance with this chapter.
Upon sale, transfer or relocation of a massage establishment, the license therefor shall be null and void, except as approved as provided in §
180-5. No license granted under this chapter shall be transferable.
For each and every violation of this chapter, the violator, upon conviction
by the District Justice, shall be guilty of a summary offense and subject
to a fine of not more than $1,000; and/or imprisonment for a term not to exceed
90 days.