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.