§45-17-20. Rules and regulations; violations.

(a) The Legislature finds that the authority of the Legislature to enact local laws regulating the liquor traffic is preserved in Section 104 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, and pursuant to this authority the Legislature enacts this local law.

(b) Each local governmental entity in Colbert County, whether it be a municipal governing body or the county commission, may promulgate and implement rules and regulations for controlling the liquor traffic within the jurisdiction of the local governmental entity by allowing or prohibiting nudity, topless dancing, or any other type of similar live entertainment on the premises of a business which serves or sells alcoholic beverages or allows the public to consume alcoholic beverages on the premises. The rules and regulations shall be adopted by a majority vote of the governing body of the local governmental entity and the action shall be spread upon the minutes of a regular meeting of the governing body. The municipal governing body or the county commission shall not license any establishment under this section that is located within one mile of a church, school, school bus stop, or established playground. The unincorporated areas of the county shall be subject only to the rules and regulations adopted by the county commission.

(c) When a local governmental entity deems that a rule or regulation adopted under this section has been violated, it may suspend or revoke the business license of the violator until the violator is deemed by the governmental entity to be in compliance with the rule or regulation. An alleged violation of a rule or regulation shall be afforded due process at a hearing before the governing body of the appropriate local governmental entity before a license is suspended or revoked. The appropriate governing body shall prescribe procedural rules for the hearing. Any appeal of a suspension or revocation of a license under this section shall lie directly to the circuit court of the county.

(d) If a business continues or attempts to continue to operate after a license of the business has been suspended or revoked under this section or in violation of any rule or regulation of a local governmental entity, the proprietor of the business shall be guilty of a Class C misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as prescribed by law.

(e) When a local governmental entity deems that a rule or regulation adopted by the governing body of the entity has been violated, it may commence a civil action in the name of the local governmental entity in the Circuit Court of Colbert County to enjoin the activity which may be in violation of the rule or regulation. In any civil action brought pursuant to this subsection, the circuit court of the county may assess all costs of enjoining the action, including attorney fees, court costs, and all other expenses of litigation against the proprietor of a business found to be in violation of the rule or regulation.

(Act 2000-337, p. 533, §§1-5.)