Racine Wisconsin: Disorderly House Citations

On November 3rd, 2002, police in Racine, Wisconsin raided a non-profit, benefit concert, and cited everyone in the techno room for being an "inmate of a disorderly house with narcotics" — 441 persons recieved the $968 citations. 


On January 16, 2003, the City of Racine agreed to dismiss the citations, and:

• refund all money paid by those who earlier pled “guilty” or “no contest”
• expunge the records of all persons cited
• revise the city's “inmate of a disorderly house” ordinance
• develop guidelines and re-train police about future use of the revised ordinance

ACLU Racine "Rave Raid" webpage

The electronic dance community is deeply indebted to the ACLU of Wisconsin, volunteer attorney Erik Guenther of Hostak, Henzl & Bichler, volunteer attorney James Shellow, and the ACLU Drug Policy Litigation Project for their legal assistance.

Copyright © 2001-2004 Electronic Music Defense and Education Fund - EM:DEF.  All Rights Reserved.
Continued operation of this project made possible by a grant from
the Drug Policy Reform Fund of the Tides Foundation.