Pubdate: Mon, 25 Jun 2001
Source: U.S. News and World Report (US)
Copyright: 2001 U.S. News & World Report
Contact:  http://www.usnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/464
Author:  Miki Meek

THE FEDS GO AFTER RAVES

Officials Use An Old Law For A New Purpose

Law enforcement officials and parents have been wrestling with ways to 
control raves, trendy all-night dance parties where drugs--most notably 
ecstasy, aka the "hug drug"--are often part of the scene. Now it looks as 
if they may have a new--if controversial--weapon: a 1986 federal law 
designed to shut down crack houses by barring companies from "maintaining" 
buildings where drugs are used and distributed.

Barbecue of New Orleans Inc. last week pleaded guilty to maintaining the 
State Palace Theater in downtown New Orleans, where drugs were used, 
particularly ecstasy. It agreed to pay a $100,000 fine and to ban 
rave-related items like pacifiers, glow sticks, and dust masks at its 
Palace parties.

Federal prosecutor Al Winters says that the move will dramatically curtail 
the use of ecstasy at the club by removing products that are associated 
with its use. Undercover agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration 
bought some 13 grams of ecstasy, between 70 and 100 pills, at Palace raves 
last year. Since the federal probe began, the club has tightened security. 
Guards now carefully check IDs and search customers' bags and pockets at 
the door--and often again inside. They turn away anyone who is under 18 
years old.

But not everyone's a fan of this first-time use of the law cracking down on 
crack houses.

"These are just symbols of the rave culture," says Joe Cook, the executive 
director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana. "If they can 
get away with this, what's next? Tie-dyed shirts and dreadlocks?

"The government ought to stick to legitimate enforcement of laws and not 
try to become culture cops."
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