Schaumburg village leaders issued a warning to teenagers Tuesday night:
You`ll have to fight for your right to party.
The Village Board approved a 6-month moratorium on commercially sponsored teen dances in order to consider tighter regulation of the gatherings. The moratorium could be lifted earlier if village officials agree on new regulations.
The board stopped short of a complete ban on teen dances held at locations that also hold village liquor licenses, a move urged by Village Manager George Longmeyer and Police Chief Kenneth Alley.
Longmeyer and Alley had recommended the ban after a teen dance at the Schaumburg Marriott last month was promoted throughout the Chicago area and drew so many youths that more than 1,000 of them were unable to get into the event. They milled around outside the hotel until being dispersed by police.
More Top Picks Best Drop Ceiling Tiles
Later that night, a 16-year-old Buffalo Grove boy was shot outside a Denny`s restaurant in Rolling Meadows by members of a gang who allegedly planned a retaliatory ”ambush” at the dance party, police said.
While rejecting a total ban on such events, trustees agreed that enough potential safety problems exist at the dances to warrant tighter controls.
Among the options officials are considering are requiring dance sponsors to sell all tickets in advance, so large crowds without tickets don`t show up the night of the event as occurred at the Marriott. Limits on the number of tickets that could be sold also may be considered, trustees said.
And Trustee Bob Tikwart has suggested that dance promoters be required to obtain a village license. Currently, a license is only required for the location where the dance is held.
Schaumburg began permitting teen dances at clubs that also hold village liquor licenses about two years ago. The business establishment is required to keep its alcoholic beverages locked up during the youth events.
The general manager of a Schaumburg club that has sponsored alcohol-free teen dances on Sunday nights has told village officials that he has already developed plans to address potential problems.
”We have done everything to make it safe,” said Gregg Owen, general manager of Toto`s, 1450 E. Algonquin Rd.
Owen said Toto`s has implemented better controls on vehicle and foot traffic outside the club. Youths also are frisked, purses are searched and gang-related apparel is not allowed inside, he said.
Owen argued that prohibiting the dances would hurt young people between the ages of 17 and 20 who are too old for high school dances and too young for bars and nightclubs.
Village trustee Jim Morenz said after Tuesday night`s meeting that he was glad the board did not approve a total ban on the teen dances. ”If we just banned them outright, the punks win and drive the good kids out of town,” he said.