Citing incidents of citizens being taken advantage of by unscrupulous palm readers, psychics, “fortune tellers,” and others, the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association (PLEA) has requested that the City of Phoenix require all such practitioners to be licensed by the City. “Our request is based on the City of Scottsdale’s law regulating ‘Magic Arts’ establishments,” PLEA President Mark Spencer explained. “Passage of such a requirement by the City would allow us to protect our most vulnerable citizens from those who would take advantage of them.”
In the City of Scottsdale those who practice palmistry, phrenology, astrology, fortune telling, mind reading, clairvoyance, tarot card reading, or other similar practices are required to pay an annual fee of $100 to do business within the City limits. In addition, all employees of such establishments must be fingerprinted, the cost paid for by the business. Application for such a business license is required to be approved at least 30 days prior to the start of a business.
“We are not trying to restrict someone from earning a living,” Detective Toni Brown, author of the licensing/ordinance request said. “What we hope to accomplish is our ability to respond to complaints of those who have gone to someone for help only to be taken advantage of financially and emotionally.”
For more than 30 years PLEA has represented the rank and file members of the Phoenix Police Department and their dependents.