Residents Battle Proposed Private Party Ban
POSTED: 6:57 pm EST January 17, 2007
UPDATED: 6:17 am EST January 18, 2007
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. -- Miami Beach residents and city commissioners are going head to head over a proposed amendment that would make it illegal to have private gatherings at home. Residents met at the Miami Beach City Hall Wednesday afternoon to discuss the deep repercussions for the residents if the amendment passes.
The proposed amendment would ban all large private gatherings and would discourage private parties for events such as the Super Bowl or MTV awards in the city of Miami Beach. It may also limit the current status as a city that welcomes events of national prestige.
Such restrictions are unheard of in other world-class cities both in the United States and Europe, and residents said they just couldn't allow this in Miami Beach.
"So the intent of the ordinance we support," Alex Heckler, an attorney representing some homeowners', said. "However, the way it is written, it actually affects everyday homeowner and resident from having their own private events."
If passed, the amendment would make illegal any private gathering of guests in your home where together guests may bring in excess of $100 of food, wine or contribution to cleaning.
This would mean that 15 guests, each bringing a gift or bottle of wine worth more $7 each, would be considered a commercial event, in violation of the law.http://www.nbc6.net/news/10777255/detail.html