Strippers Must Have Their ID's On Them!

Adult entertainers in Houston will have to abide by a city ordinance that require them to display their city licenses while performing, a federal appeals court has ruled.

"With this opinion in hand, we will start enforcing that requirement," said Don Cheatham, an assistant city attorney.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans last week reversed its own earlier ruling, and upheld the city's requirement that dancers "wear and conspicuously display a city-issued identification card while performing."

The city has argued that the license display will allow police officers to determine more easily whether a performer is complying with city regulations.  The industry contends that its businesses are singled out for such treatment, and that requiring dancers to display their real names could endanger their safety. Most perform under stage names.

"I do not know where the city gets the right to say that a person has to have that form of identification on them. In no other business does the city dictate that," said Nelson Hensley, a lawyer representing several of the clubs and businesses.