LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Nearly a year after Lubbock County’s game room ordinance took effect, county commissioners have approved a series of amendments designed to strengthen oversight and address ongoing criminal activity concerns.
The most immediate change restricts all game room operations to weekdays only, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
“So if you visit a game room, if you work at a game room, you own a game room, you’ll only be able to operate Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5pm,” said Commissioner Mike Dalby, Precinct 1.
Any game room operating outside the approved hours will face automatic permit revocation. County leaders say the tighter schedule is a direct response to criminal activity they believe the establishments enable.
“There’s prostitution, drug trafficking, sex trafficking, that happens in these game rooms. That’s not something we want in West Texas it’s not what I want that not what our citizens want and if I can do something to make it more restrictive I will,” Dalby said.
Commissioners also approved a measure prohibiting game room permits from being transferred or divided between owners. Anyone taking over a game room must now apply for a new permit in person.
The change follows reports of out-of-state applicants attempting to obtain permits to operate locally without going through proper channels.
The county is creating a game room hearing board composed of residents and county officials to handle permit disputes and provide an additional layer of accountability.
Physical requirements were also updated. Game rooms must keep doors and gates open during operating hours and locked when closed.
County Judge Curtis Parrish voiced support for the amendments while making his position on the establishments clear.
“I was supportive of this change. Although I’m not supportive of game rooms. I don’t like them I would like to see everyone of them shutdown,” Parrish said.
Parrish added that legitimate operators should have nothing to fear from the new rules.
“Let’s be clear if your operating legitimately there should not be any problems but what we’re trying to do is put a handle on those that seem to want to squirm around the law and we need to put a handle on that,” Parrish said.
Commissioners say they will continue monitoring the ordinance’s impact on crime and compliance in the months ahead.
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