Too hot.
That's what a prosecutor in Everett decided last week when two baristas arrested in November for lewd acts at Hillbilly Hotties were charged with misdemeanor lewd conduct and adult-entertainment code violations.
The company also owns a "bikini baristaGÇ¥ stand in Monroe, as well a second location in Everett and one near Snohomish on Highway 9.
Last October, three women at the Everett stand, located on Hoyt Avenue, were arrested for allegedly committing acts of indecent exposure and prostitution.
The investigation was spurred by a large number of letters of complaint to the city, mostly alleging that the workers at the stand were showing private parts for tips.
A couple of months later, the city of Everett sent a letter to the stand's owner notifying her that the stand had been deemed a chronic nuisance.
Everett has an ordinance allowing the city to declare homes or businesses chronic nuisances if there are enough complaints of loud noises, drug dealing, prostitution or other complaints.
The owner of the stand is working with the police, and has agreed not to hire baristas with criminal histories and to fire workers who break the laws. Police also suggested that she put internet-based cameras in the stand to make sure the women aren't violating city codes.
She has said that her policy is to forbid illegal activity.
If police find that illegal activity happens in the stand in the future, the stand's owner could face a hearing examiner over land use law. And criminal charges would also be possible.
In comments on a news story in the Everett Herald, the owner of another bikini barista stand said that women who are willing to break the law can earn $1,000 in a day working in a racy coffee stand.
"StandsGǪshouldn't be given second chances when intentionally breaking the law to increase their bottom line,Gǥ wrote "coffee girl.Gǥ "It creates a standard in the industry for prostitution and makes it hard for other owners to retain employees because we can't compete.Gǥ
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