Task force cracks down on health, fire, zoning violations

At least one night each weekend, the Livable Communities Initiative Task Force visits a list of nightclubs to check for proper certificates and permits needed to operate, as well as inspect the premises for fire, health and other code violations. Where issues can be remedied quickly, the establishment remains open. But, when multiple violations stack up and proper permits are missing, the task force closes the business down.

According to a liaison from the county’s office of community relations, the weekly visits to establishments around the county began in March and are a way to separate the law-abiding businesses from those that flout the rules, sometimes flagrantly.

“The ones who don’t want to follow the law, we’ll get rid of you,” said Sandy Vaughns. “That’s what we’re all about. We’re going to cease this foolishness one way or another.”

Friday night, a motorcade of nine vehicles, including a revamped school bus complete with workstations, left county police headquarters in Landover just before 11 p.m., with a bar and liquor store in Suitland as the first of its three stops.

Patrons inside the Cedar Hill Bar and Grill/Keno Liquor store barely looked up from their card games as the inspectors fanned out inside the Suitland Road establishment. Within minutes, an inspector from the Department of Environmental Resources had an employee pull licensing certificates off the wall for closer inspection. In a back room, a fire prevention supervisor with the county’s fire/EMS department was examining a suspect fire exit that would funnel people into a padlocked exterior enclosure, as well as two red gasoline cans stored on a shelf just inside the building.

“This one is full,” said Kenny Oladeinde, noting the violation. “Even if you have equipment that uses gas, you have to empty it.”

More investigation revealed a bunk room with two beds, which was then stickered by DER inspector Bill Edelen as prohibited for sleeping quarters. Ultimately, employees could not produce a use and occupancy certificate for the businesses. The house lights went up during the middle of the song “Love Train,” by the O’Jays, on the jukebox, and employees and task force members told patrons to go home, the establishment was being closed by the county.

The business could stay shuttered for a couple of hours or a couple of days, according to C.T. Wilson, a community prosecutor from the office of the Prince George’s State’s Attorney, depending on when the owner had the proper paperwork in place and violations remedied. Wilson said task force visits are meant to be comprehensive so owners who violate county rules and regulations know exactly what they need to do on every level to reopen as a legally compliant business.

“We don’t want to close down all of the neighborhood establishments,” Wilson said. “People are here enjoying themselves. We want to make sure they’re safe.”