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Raves may be limited.
Restrictions could include age groups
Tuesday, October 2, 2001
NASHUA - City officials are hoping to tone down all-night dance parties known as raves.
The board of aldermen is considering legislation to prohibit public dancing in the early-morning hours when raves are typically held, and restrict the age groups that could attend.
The proposal would also formalize a procedure requiring a license for such events, giving the police authority to require that the police be assigned at the public places.
Mayor Bernard Streeter proposed the ordinance, saying he wants to curb criminal activity and help neighbors get some sleep.
"Raves in the early-morning hours serve no useful purpose," Streeter said. "The raves in this city have not had a good reputation. They seem to attract the wrong element. "
The ordinance would prohibit public dancing between 2 a.m. and noon. Also, no one younger than 15 could attend an event permitted as a teen dance without a parent or legal guardian. No person older than 20 could attend a teen dance, except as a parent or guardian.
"It's designed to make sure there's a separation. There doesn't seem to be any good reason to have groups of 22-year-olds and 14-year-olds" at these events, said Deputy City Attorney Stephen Bennett.
The proposal is set to be discussed Thursday night by an aldermen's committee.
Detective Lt. Doug Hayes said the police have been seeing a significant increase in arrests on nights that raves are held, at least one of which turned violent.
Rave parties often are advertised on the Internet, drawing a significant crowd from out of the region. Frequently starting after midnight, the nonalcoholic parties draw on the under-21 crowd and are known for booming techno music.
Manchester limits the hours of operation of raves after 2 a.m., only adding to the crowds coming to raves in Nashua, Hayes said.
Raves have become synonymous with the use of Ecstasy and ketamine, both of which are becoming more popular nationally, he said.
Not all promoters are looking to deal drugs at the parties, Hayes added, but the strong ties to the drug culture make it hard to separate the two elements, he said.