The bill lands on Gov. Jeb Bush's desk Monday for his signature. Real estate and first-amendment lawyers see numerous lawsuits ahead, challenging the constitutionality of the proposed law.
"It puts a badge on the coat of every club owner and makes him a policeman," a representative for one of Orlando's largest law firms tells GlobeSt.com on condition of anonymity. "It's too broad" to be enforceable.
Lawyers following the recent arrest of millionaire real estate investor James Veigle, owner of the shuttered Rachel's club in suburban Casselberry, FL, tell GlobeSt.com on condition of anonymity the measure awaiting Gov. Bush's signature is directly aimed at Veigle.
"They probably figured this new law will help them put Veigle down for the count, knowing the charges against him may not stick at all," a lawyer unassociated with Veigle or the drug measure, tells GlobeSt.com.
Veigle is out on $1 million bail bond, awaiting a trial on 13 charges of racketeering, conspiracy, prostitution and money laundering at two of his adult entertainment properties in Orange County.
He denies the charges and tells GlobeSt.com, through a representative that he has never permitted any illegal activity on either his real estate or entertainment properties in the 40 years he has been in business in Orlando. Veigle's representative would not comment on the new anti-drug measure.
The measure incorporates Senate Bill 1932 and House Bill 1529. Proponents of those bills argue the new action is necessary to fight the growing sale and use by teenagers of potentially lethal club drugs such as ecstasy, believed to have surfaced first in The Netherlands.
Representatives for private and corporate apartment building owners now wonder if the measure is aimed at them as well.
"It isn't too far fetched to see how this bill could reach out and grab multifamily proprietors who might be living thousands of miles away from their investments," an aparment complex property manager tells GlobeSt.com on condition of anonymity. "I'm against the sale of these drugs as much as anyone but where do you draw the line on accountability here?"
Tied in with the drug bill is another new measure that gives Orange County Sheriff Kevin Beary authority to seize and intercept suspected drug-loaded packages arriving at Orlando International Airport via couriers such as Federal Express, UPS and the U.S. Postal Service.
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