The rush to pass legislation that would shut down Internet cafes in Florida looks as if it not only will sweep away the cafes, but any legitimate amusement arcades with it.
Early Tuesday the Senate Rules and Calendar Committee ignored senior citizens' pleas to strip away the part of the bill that would end nearly 30 years of legal arcade play -- an afterthought added to SB 1030 late in the process to include them.
Seniors and arcade owners, most of whom traveled by bus from South Florida to make the 8 a.m. meeting, packed the committee room.
They argued arcades are unfairly getting lumped in with Internet cafes as the Legislature moves quickly to ban electronic machines that operate like slot machines.
Bill sponsor Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, said Internet cafes and some adult arcades have exploited vague language in Florida law to operate illegal games and those games should be shut down.
But Thrasher insisted his bill would not affect businesses like Chuck E. Cheese, Dave and Busters and others with legitimate arcade games.
The bill doesnt hurt, in my opinion, Dave and Busters, Chuck E. Cheese or similar establishments," Thrasher said. "The bill only is intended to clarify that illegal slot machines are just that, illegal. Legitimate amusement arcade games offered by Dave and Busters and Chuck E. Cheese and bowling alleys and others, in my opinion, will not be affected by this bill.
Gail Fontaine of the Florida Arcade Association scolded lawmakers for targeting arcades, which she said serve more as a social option for seniors who dont have many other entertainment options.
It has nothing to do about the games. Its their clubhouse and I think its a disgrace that we will take care of the childrens community and not take care of the senior community.
All of you are here because of (senior citizens) and none of you understand it. Its sad and I can say I know people sitting on this panel, their mothers and people in their families play in these arcades. So I mean, its hypocritical. You are here to protect the people. These are the people.
Arcade owner Mike Cannon urged lawmakers to slow down on the bill.Dont rush to judgment, because we didnt do anything wrong. We paid our taxes. We do everything by the law and weve never had a problem and now all of a sudden we have a problem because of the Internet? Were not Internet.
Martha Wisniewski who made the trip from Port St. Lucie to support senior arcades said this:I recently lost my daughter in August. She was 47, died suddenly. Honestly, without this arcade that I attend in Port St. Lucie, I dont know what I wouldve done. I wouldve went to my room, crawled in the fetal position and stayed there. All these people encouraged me to keep coming back.
The Senate Rules Committee passed the bill over the objections of seniors in the crowd and sent the measure to the full Senate for debate on Thursday. That, or an assist from the governor, is the seniors' last shot.
Dave Heller is a Tallahassee freelance reporter/videographer. Reach Nancy Smith at nsmith@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
