The Tarot Room – Georgianna

As I posted a few weeks back, the town of Front Royal, Virginia has been considering the repeal of an old law banning ‘fortune-telling’ in its city limits.

The law in question, Code 110-17 states,

A. It shall be unlawful for any company of gypsies or other strolling company or person to receive compensation or reward for pretending to tell fortunes or to practice any so-called “magic art.”

B. Every person violating this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not less than five hundred dollars ($500.) or confined in jail not less than one (1) nor more than six (6) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Last week, after considerable debate, Town Council voted 4-2 in favour of repealing Code 110-17, making ‘fortune-telling’ officially legal in Front Royal.

But there’s still discussion to be had regarding potential license fees and/or other regulations.

Presently, Code 98-42 maintains that fortunetellers, clairvoyants, phrenologists, spirit mediums, astrologists, hypnotists, and palmists must pay a non-transferable $400 license tax to do business in Front Royal.

This Code is under review and a decision regarding license fees and/or other regulations will likely be made by the end of September. I’ll let you know what happens as I hear more.

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In a 4-3 vote last week, the Town Council of Front Royal, Virginia, passed a motion to repeal Code 110-17, a fortune-telling ban that specifically targets ‘gypsies or other strolling company or person….”

The code itself states,

A. It shall be unlawful for any company of gypsies or other strolling company or person to receive compensation or reward for pretending to tell fortunes or to practice any so-called “magic art.”

B. Every person violating this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not less than five hundred dollars ($500.) or confined in jail not less than one (1) nor more than six (6) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Though it might seem that this ordinance would be unacceptable simply for naming a specific ethnic group, let alone the undefined prohibition on ‘pretend fortunes’ and the practice of ‘magic art’, a number of town folk came out to support it.

I won’t go into all the arguments here, but please take a look at NVDaily.com’s reporting (and comment section) to see how the debate shaped up. Most of it revolved around religious attitudes and some of it is quite ugly.

And to make things even more confusing, Front Royal has another Town Code on the books that details the license fee to be paid by ‘fortune-tellers’ et al.

Code 98-42 says,

For every license for a person engaged in business as a fortuneteller, clairvoyant, phrenologist, spirit medium, astrologist, hypnotist or palmist, there shall be paid a license tax of four hundred dollars ($400.) a year. Such license tax shall not be proratable. A license for a fortuneteller, clairvoyant, phrenologist, spirit medium, astrologist, hypnotist or palmist shall not be transferable.

Though the license fee seems a bit high, Code 98-42 makes it clear that once that fee is paid, ‘fortune-telling’ in Front Royal is already legal. If so, the issue surrounding Code 110-17 isn’t so much about ‘fortune-telling’ per se, but rather who’s doing it.

There will be a second hearing on Code 110-17 before any repeal actually takes effect. I’ll let you know how it plays out as I hear more.

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About this time last year, Alderman Shane Cohn of St Louis, Missouri introduced a bill that would repeal St. Louis’ ban on ‘fortune-telling’.

Unfortunately, his bill didn’t pass, but he hasn’t given up.

According to KSDK.com, Cohn reintroduced his repeal bill a couple of weeks ago, and it now sits awaiting decision by the Board of Aldermen.

Hopefully, it will pass this time. And if I hear about it, I’ll certainly let you know.

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It looks like Front Royal, Virginia might be the next city to repeal its ban on fortune telling.

According to nvdaily.com, Tarot reader Maya White Sparks had been reading cards in the back of a shop on Main Street until about a month ago when she was told to stop.

As it turns out, ‘fortunetelling’ and ‘magic art’ are illegal in Front Royal and someone complained.

Tucked between a statute against disturbing religious worship and how to properly discard a refrigerator is Municipal Code 110-17 which states:

A. It shall be unlawful for any company of gypsies or other strolling company or person to receive compensation or reward for pretending to tell fortunes or to practice any so-called “magic art.”

B. Every person violating this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not less than five hundred dollars ($500.) or confined in jail not less than one (1) nor more than six (6) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Claiming that the ordinance is discriminatory and encroaches on her freedom of religion, Sparks brought the issue to Town Manager Steve Burke, and it looks like she’s being heard.

According to Burke, the question of rescinding the code is being examined by the town attorney and will be brought before council for consideration very soon.

I’ll let you know if I hear more.

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Last week, the City Commissioners for Grand Rapids, Michigan did some legislative spring cleaning and removed a few outdated laws from their city statutes.

Included among the newly legal activities are spitting in public, removing bird’s nests from one’s property, being willfully annoying, and ‘fortune-telling’.

It’s a funny list for psychic businesses to be part of, but it’s good news for readers in Grand Rapids.

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It looked like it was going to happen, but now it’s official, ‘fortune-telling’ is legal in Deadwood, South Dakota.

Last week, after a second reading of the repeal proposal, City Council members voted once more to end Deadwood’s two-decade long ban on psychic oriented businesses.

According to rapidcityjournal.com, the mayor of Deadwood, Chuck Turbiville, said that the old law had never been used and that he didn’t think that this change would have a major effect on the town.

The repeal does mean, however, that the Chamber of Commerce, who originally lobbied for the repeal, can now start marketing events like the zombie run and haunted tours, something they had been barred from doing up until now.

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It looks like Marion, Ohio might soon be changing, or maybe even repealing, its ‘fortune-telling’ ordinance.

At the moment, ‘fortune-telling’ is technically legal in Marion, but anyone practicing such work would be expected to pay quite a hefty license fee for the privilege.

According to the Marion Star, the law presently states that,

“No person shall practice astrology, fortunetelling, clairvoyancy, palmistry, phrenology or soothsaying, or intend to profess to tell future events, or predict or prophesy future events or happenings in the municipality, without first procuring from the Safety/Service Director a license to do so, for which he/she shall pay $10 per day while so practicing such profession within the municipality.”

But that may soon change as the Legislation, Codes & Regulations Committee reviews old laws in order to edit or revoke any that might no longer be relevant or useful to the city. ‘Fortune-Telling’ is on their list.

I’ll be watching to see what happens, and I’ll share anything I hear.

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Last month, I wrote that Deadwood, South Dakota was considering the repeal of a ‘fortune-telling’ ban that’s been on their books for the last twenty years.

Well, they did it. According to RapidCityJournal.com, last week, the City Commissioners voted 3-1 to repeal the ordinance.

They decided that the ban was likely a violation of the US First Amendment and didn’t want to be accused of restricting anyone’s freedom of speech or religious practice.

There will be a second reading of the repeal on February 17th. I’ll be watching out to see what happens and will keep you posted.

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For the past twenty years, psychics, card readers, and other mystics have been prohibited from carrying on business in the small town of Deadwood, South Dakota.

That might soon change, however, as the Deadwood City Commission considers repealing what the town’s mayor describes as an ‘antiquated’ law.

As it stands, the present ordinance states,

“A. No person shall advertise or engage in or carry on any business of telling fortunes, carrying on a business advertising or involving a cult or psychics powers, facilities or forces, clairvoyants, spirits, mediumship, seership, prophesy, astrology, palmistry, necromancy, or other craft, science cards, tellsman, charms, potions, magnetism or magnetized articles or substances, oriental mysteries or magic of any kind or nature or numerology, or engage in any of these businesses within the city limits.

B. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to include, prohibit or interfere with the exercise of any religious or spiritual function of any priest, minister, rector or an accredited representative of any bona fide church or religion.” section 5.52.010

The provisions do however, interfere with the Deadwood Chamber & Visitor Bureau’s ability to market ghost tours, psychic fairs, and other mystical events in their historically fascinating little town.

“I think we have a lot of hauntings in Deadwood that people would be interested in”, chamber events coordinator Sarah Anderson is reported as saying by rapidcityjournal.com.

Two hotels in town have already been featured on paranormal television shows and the Bureau would like to be able to encourage more business of that sort.

Some residents, however, are opposed to the idea, and the local ministerial association will be asked to offer their comments at the next public meeting to be held on February 3rd.

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Last week, in a unanimous 9-0 decision, Long Beach, California City Council voted to update their fortune-telling regulations.

Though psychic businesses will still need to get a business license to open shop, proprietors will no longer have to undergo a police background check, or come up with a $250,000 bond.

There have also been changes made to how ‘fortune tellers’ are defined.

Though I can’t seem to find the actual documents, according to Press Telegram News, the old definition included phrases like “gypsy cunning or foresight” and “oriental mysteries.”

The new code has removed this language, which the Council described as “outdated and offensive.”

Council also removed the requirement of a Conditional Use Permit, and will treat psychic businesses as other personal services, allowing them to operate in commercial zones.

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