Dallas trying to close crime infested motels

November 16, 2007 - Brad Watson, WFAA-TV

(link to video coverage)

DALLAS — The City of Dallas is trying out some new tactics in the effort to close small motels in the southern sector that neighbors complain are havens for drugs and crime.

Walking to lunch on Bonnie View road off Interstate 45, Mary Range passed by Motel 3, that she says hurts the neighborhood.

"Kids are constantly back and forth through here and if there's really a lot of drugs through here and really a lot of prostitution, that's not a good sight for children," Range said.

Until now, the city and residents who lived near such motels relied on zoning laws to crack down on them.

But with political backing, there's a new approach.

Dallas police just filed a criminal case against a clerk at Motel 3. The prosecution report stated, "for not possessing a sexually oriented business license as he operated the Motel Three as an adult motel by renting rooms for less than a ten hour period."

The law forbids renting a room by the hour to discourage prostitution.

But undercover officers claim the the clerk gave them a room for one hour for $10.

The clerk, Buddie Gene Watson, told News 8 he did not and questioned the purpose of the law.

"They say you are going to stop prostitution," Watson claimed. "How are you going to stop prostitution? You've been going for 2,000 years or three?"

The city can also go after the Motel 3 on taxes.

Records from the city's Special Collections Division show the motel is behind in occupancy taxes, last paid them in May, 2006 and owes more than $3,815.05.

Dallas Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway applauds the city's new effort.

"All of the hotsheet motels, we will continue to make an aggressive approach and move toward getting rid of them," he said.

The city believes the tactics can cut crime and lead to economic development.

link back to all news articles