A bill has been passed through US Congress that some argue could severely affect the dance music scene in America. The bill, (strangely introduced as part of the Amber Alert Act, a bill designed to heighten public awareness of missing children) extends current "crack house" laws to allow prosecutors to slap fines and jail sentences on venue promoters or owners who host raves that can be proved to exist principally "for the purpose of providing an arena for illegal drugs." Some argue that the legislation will scare promoters and venue owners into shying away from anything nearing a 'rave' meaning dance culture will be deprived its infrastructure and either die or go underground.
However Bill McColl, national policy director of the Drug Policy Alliance, which has led the dance/electronic music community's lobbying efforts against the bill, told reporters yesterday that while he "disappointed" that the bill had gone through congress he would advice caution against overreaction. "Is it a threat? Yes. But does it kill the music scene tomorrow? No. We can work through this," he said.