JANESVILLE, WI — Consumers in the city of Janesville who hope to pick up a boob shaped mouse pad, bottle of hemp oil wild strawberry massage lotion, 4-piece Lil’ Bo Peep costume or AA battery drive Climax Rabbit may have to do so behind a barrier, if the Janesville City Council decides that those items are “harmful” today.Along with less salacious subjects, the council will address whether to pass an ordinance ordering businesses carrying “harmful” sexual products to hide them away from the innocent eyes of minors.
Support for the ordinance comes from council member Russ Steeber, who brought the matter of vibrating dolphins and barely there lingerie to the attention of the city manager’s office. A display of novelties and other saucy goods in the Janeseville Mall Spencer’s Gifts shop caught Steeber’s eye — which apparently caused him to worry that they might attract the eyes of others, much younger than himself.
Although Steeber would like to change things, the shop is not currently in violation of any laws. Businesses that carry less than 10-percent of erotic materials in their stock are exempt from adult-oriented business regulations.
That will change if Steeber’s proposal earns a favorable response from the council when it meets tonight at 7:00 pm in City Hall to discuss the matter.
According to the The Janesville Gazette, the proposed ordinance is modeled after on currently being used in Milwaukee and would levy a fine of no less than $100 but no more than $500 per day for any business found in violation. If passed, businesses will be required to either create a separate adults-only room or shield erotic materials from view of minors by covering them so their “harmful portions” are obscured. Each shop would be responsible for monitoring minors while on premises.
A memo from assistant operations director Peter Riggs indicates that a non-adult business displaying “harmful” adult materials where minors can view or access them may, however, violate state statues.
