Reading officials shut down and placarded four illegal or unpermitted after-hours clubs during a six-week enforcement operation this spring, the city announced.
The crackdown followed changes to the city’s disruptive conduct ordinance that strengthened enforcement provisions and created additional consequences for property owners when repeated incidents occur, officials said.
In Reading’s announcement of the initiative, police Chief Javier Ruiz said the operation required coordination among several city departments and state officials.
“Our officers conducted 135 directed patrols during this operation, and we took action at locations where violations were identified,” Ruiz said. “We will continue to work with our city partners to address illegal after-hours activity and pursue enforcement when warranted.”
The operation was conducted during May and June by Reading police working with the city Fire Marshal’s Office and Property and Codes Enforcement and with assistance from Pennsylvania Liquor Control Enforcement.
Under the revised ordinance, after two documented disruptive conduct incidents involving an occupant within a 12-month period, a property owner must begin eviction proceedings against the occupant or file an appeal. Failure to take the required action can begin a process that could lead to suspension of the property’s housing permit.
The four locations shut down and placarded also received public nuisance warning notices. The city Fire Marshal’s Office posted all four buildings as unsafe structures because of illegal changes in use and documented 18 additional fire prevention code violations.
Following the enforcement action, re-inspections found that the illegal uses had ended. Property owners and occupants were given information about legal avenues available to pursue changes in use.
Fire Marshal Jeremy Searfoss said his office emphasizes educating property owners and occupants before resorting to enforcement.
“Our office focuses on education first, followed by enforcement when necessary,” Searfoss said. “Education is key to decreasing injuries during emergencies and helping property owners and occupants understand how to safely use buildings within the built environment.”
Mayor Eddie Morán said the ordinance changes were intended to give the city stronger tools to deal with recurring problems.
“Public safety doesn’t stop at a certain time of day, and it doesn’t stop because a property is being used in a way that wasn’t permitted,” Morán said. “We made changes to the city’s ordinance because we needed stronger tools to address ongoing problems, and now we’re seeing our departments put those tools to work.”
The city said targeted enforcement will continue at locations where illegal and unpermitted after-hours activity has been identified.