$5 'pole tax' unconstitutional
2008-04-07 16:34
Texas - A $5-per-customer fee on strip club patrons dubbed the "pole tax" has been declared unconstitutional.
A state district judge ruled on Friday that clubs cannot collect the fee. The charge went into effect in January and was expected to raise about $44m for sexual assault prevention programmes and health care for the uninsured.
Judge Scott Jenkins wrote that the fee, "while furthering laudable goals, violates the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and is therefore invalid".
The Texas Entertainment Association Inc, which is a group of topless clubs, and Karpod Inc, the owner of an Amarillo club, sued Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott and Comptroller Susan Combs over the fee.
- AP