WEST SALEM TOWNSHIP, PA. Strip club center stage in a battle of the bottle

Just how the voter referendum affects the club may be an issue decided in court.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
GREENVILLE, Pa. -- Today is the day when the Headliners Gentlemen's Club, a bring-your-own-bottle club featuring nude female dancers, is supposed to stop allowing alcohol on its premises.
At least that's the opinion of those behind a May voter-approved referendum banning the operation of bottle clubs in West Salem Township, where Headliners is located on Pa. Route 18.
They contend the referendum applies to Headliners, even though it's been there for years.
Pennsylvania law bans totally nude dancing at places where alcohol is sold. Bottle clubs get around that rule by not selling alcohol but allowing people to bring it into their establishments.
The referendum can't stop Headliners from operating -- only the alcohol, said the Rev. James Chapin, pastor of Living Word Christian Center and one of those who pushed for passage of the referendum.
About the referendum
The law that created the referendum on bottle clubs is part of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code. It says that 30 days after the certification of the referendum vote, a bottle club "shall not operate" in the municipality in which the referendum was held.
It passed 424-206 in the May 20 primary and the election results were certified June 26 -- 30 days ago.
Whether Headliners will change its method of operation as a result is unknown.
The attorney representing the club offered only a "no comment" on the issue, and efforts to reach the owner by telephone were unsuccessful.
Mercer County District Attorney James Epstein said it will be up to his office to prosecute the club or its officials if a complaint is filed but added that the club issue won't be a priority.
"We're not doing anything proactive," Epstein said.
That means if someone believes they have witnessed an illegal event at the club, they can file a complaint with the Greenville-West Salem police, who will investigate and make a report to the district attorney's office, which will then decide if some prosecution is warranted.
Epstein said violation of the referendum law is a third-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of $1,000.
Constitutional issues
However, challenging Headliners, should it continue to allow alcohol on the premises, could lead to a much bigger court battle.
Epstein said he hasn't researched how the new law affects an existing club and will do so only if a complaint arises.
If a constitutional issue arises out of any effort to prosecute, "We will deal with that," Epstein said.