Washington, DC, USA

Monday, 02 April 2007

Compromise Ends Nightclub Standoff

The Prince George's County nightclub standoff appears to be over.

The padlocks and chains are off and the doors are open again at the troubled clubs after the county and the club owners came to a compromise allowing eight of the nine clubs to remain open.

The "Classics" nightclub remains in talks with the county regarding an unrelated previous issue.

County officials locked the doors of nine clubs last week, saying they were responsible for a large number of police calls for violent crimes, but a circuit court ruled that the county was not specific enough in its order to close the clubs and did not tell the club owners what they could do to become safe.

In return for the county dropping its case, the clubs have agreed to hold higher standards for security such ad hiring more security personnel, installing more outdoor lighting, and searching customers entering the clubs.

However, county officials made it clear that if the club owners don't make good on their plan to come up with a security plan with police, they will shut them down again.