Taxing lap dances is looking for money in all wrong places

The Island Now

After a long hard day at work, Al Bundy should be able to enjoy a brew and an adult dancer at his favorite jiggly joint.

Was it meant to be an April Fools joke that our state Appellate court ruled in favor of collecting back sales taxes on lap dances and admission fees to customers frequenting adult entertainment clubs?

Justice John Egan Jr. of the Appellate Division Third Department authored this insane ruling. He needs to loosen up and get a lap dance or two of his own at a local neighborhood adult club.

Will the state Department of Taxation conduct visits to insure taxes are being collected for each lap dance?

Ditto, for the state Department of Consumer Affairs sending inspectors to examine the breasts of topless dancers to insure they are real and not silicone. I would love to sign up for this hands-on job and protect my fellow citizens from consumer fraud, but my wife would object.

Will the police at taxpayers expense spend time undercover visiting bars to document so-called immoral behavior by the dancers?

Adult entertainment clubs already provide legitimate employment to thousands of bartenders, waitresses, dancers and bouncers along with those who supply and deliver food and beverages.

All pay taxes along with club owners whose establishments provide services on a voluntary consensual basis for satisfied customers who return on a frequent basis.

Our funds would be better used if the Departments of Taxation, Consumer Affairs, police and judges spend more time prosecuting those who commit real crimes against individuals or property.

Citizens have more to fear from murder, arson, rape, muggings, robberies, auto and personal ID theft or home break-ins than adult entertainers.

What consenting adults consume, inhale, perform, read or view in the privacy of their own home , private social club or adult entertainment establishment isn’t the concern of government. Individual economic and civil liberties prosper best when government stays out of both the bedroom and marketplace.

Larry Penner

Great Neck

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