Cracking down on the commercial sex industry

Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn and dozens of other U.S. mayors have called on the operators of the Backpage.com classified-ad web site to require escorts advertising on the site to prove they are at least 18 by providing a photo ID.

The move is the latest attempt to pressure Backpage.com, a leading sex-services ad site, to rein in underage prostitution – and it follows a Democratic-led, bipartisan initiative in the 2012 legislative session that yielded a crack-down bill signed into law by Gov. Gregoire. That measure, Senate Bill 6251, makes it a crime for a site operator or publisher to produce an advertisement for a commercial sex act that includes a photograph of a minor. As a legal defense, the operator or publisher may present proof it required a government-issued ID showing the advertiser was at least 18.

That bill was one of several passed by the 2012 Legislature that target the commercial sex industry, including House Bill 2692, sponsored by Rep. Tina Orwall of Des Moines. To read more about the package, click here.

Johns and pimps better beware or pay-up!

Currently a john only pays a $150 fine the first time he gets caught in the act of buying sex.  And a pimp only pays $300 the first time he’s caught selling sex.

Reps. Tina Orwall, a Democrat from Des Moines and Kevin Parker, a Republican from Spokane, decided that’s just not enough, so they put their political differences aside and worked on a couple of bills that increase the fines.

UnderHouse Bill  2692, instead of $150, johns will pay $1,500 for a first offense, $2,500 for a second offense, and $5,000 for a third or subsequent offense. And under House Bill 1983, instead of $300, pimps will pay $3,000 for a first offense, $6,000 for a second offense, and $10,000 for a third or subsequent offense.

The revenue from these fines will be put to good use to educate offenders about the negative costs of prostitution, and on prevention and rehabilitative services to help victims get out of the sex trade industry.

Both bills passed the House unanimously and are on their way to the Senate.

Read the press release here.

To read this story in Spanish, click here.