A couple of articles.

[I B Hankering]

It seems the leniency in New Orleans is being counter balanced by harsher measures in Baton Rouge.


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By Ashley Rodrigue
Source: WBRZ
Updated: January 19, 2011 10:24 PM

BR Metro Council Prostitution

BATON ROUGE- Since Thanksgiving, Baton Rouge police have picked up about 50 people on prostitution charges. But one Metro Council Member wants to make sure if charges become convictions, that consequences follow and they won't be the typical type.

Tara Wicker is fed-up with "slap on the wrist" justice for people who sell and buy sex in Baton Rouge, so she's proposing an ordinance that requires anyone convicted on prostitution, or solicitation of prostitution charges to serve either 90-days in jail or 240-hours of community service.

But Wicker doesn't plan to stop her attack on the sex business there. She wants a law for pimps, like the ones that sell services on Craigslist. Wicker also wants "Johns" picked up for soliciting to lose their car, and those convicted to go to "John School," to learn the impacts of their so-called "business."

The ordinance goes to the full council next week. But soon, the city will be posting the names and pictures of people who are caught soliciting prostitutes on the City Court website.

http://www.wbrz.com/news/ordinance-e...es-and-johns-/

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By Rachel Frost
Source: WBRZ
Updated: November 24, 2010 6:58 PM

Prostitution in BR

BATON ROUGE - Metro Councilwoman Tara Wicker wants to give more teeth to laws that are meant to keep prostitutes off the streets of Baton Rouge.

"I really believe that the laws we currently have on the books that are related to enforcement of soliciting prostitutes are far too weak," Wicker said, and some business owners agree.

Chet Simpson has been doing business on Florida Boulevard for 10 years, and says prostitution near his store is an ongoing problem.

"When we see that in the neighborhood were constantly running them off or calling the police on them. The police do come and do a good job, but usually they come right back," Simpson said.

Wicker says she wants prostitution and soliciting prostitutes changed from a misdemeanor to a felony. Until that happens, Wicker wants the city to collect money from people who haven't paid their fines.

"Hopefully we'll make sure that they realize that you can not commit crimes and just continue to act like a normal average citizen as if you have never done anything wrong," Wicker said.

Simpson agrees, he wants the law changed, but says he's not going to let prostitutes put him out of business.

"Simpson's has been here 50 years, we're not going anywhere, they're not going to run me off this block, that's for sure," Simpson said.

Out of more than 100-thousand outstanding warrants, about 350 are for prostitution or soliciting prostitutes.

http://www.wbrz.com/news/councilwoma...tion-crackdown

[LilRed]

I heard it on the news this morning. It seems like most of the cities complaints are focused on the SW side of the business. However, it still means that these laws will apply to us as well if they are paseed. I worry that if they are passed, they will be focusing on it for a while to prove a point to the city.

[Outdoorsman]

Sounds like Tara Wickjer needs a good fucking!!! She is venting because of her lack of wild, crazy, and fun sex!! I will offer to do her for the greater good of my fellow ladies and dawgs and the betterment of our lifestyle.

To me prositution is really a non-issue. IMHO a crime must harm someone, who is hamred when a person sells their body for sex. The consumer is purchasing what he or she wants and the lady is a willing participant. No harm - no crime, just my opinion. Most other crimes, not all, are considered illegal because of the harm. Burglary the family home has benn invaded and items more than likely stolen - harm, Robbery a thing has benn taken from the person of another not willingly - harm. Bank fraud, stealing of cash through white collar type of theft - harm. The list can on and on.

I see police reports all the time and a victim must be listed for the crime. The victim always listed for Prostitution is "Society." Can anyone explain how I, a person in "society" is harmed when two willing participants engage in sex for money?

Just letting off a little steam, these harsher laws are f..ing ridiculous, just my opinion.

[DallasRain]

hmmmmmmmmmmmm maybe we need to vote her out!!!

{then Outdoors you can have her to do it to her good...lol}

[I B Hankering]

I wonder if Ms Wicker has thought of some of the other consequences of her plan.

1. She would take a taxpayer off of the street and make him or her a ward of the City/Parish for 90 days. That makes good financial sense.

2. Ms Wicker’s plan might cost the taxpayer his or her job because [a] he or she cannot get to work without his or her seized vehicle (note: the BR public transport system is already reducing routes; this will cost some people their jobs), or [b] the individual is fired by his or her employer because—in light of the prurient media coverage—it is the PC thing to do. Again, this makes that individual a ward of the City/Parish, unless, of course, that individual chooses to relocate to another city of state. Either way, she has eliminated another taxpayer from the city/parish roles. Again, that makes good financial sense.

3. One the one hand, an employed taxpayer will probably be deprived of a profitable job; thus, cease being a contributing taxpayer. On the other hand, the city/parish will be saddled with the additional costs associated with courts, imprisonment and monitoring released “felons.”

4. It just doesn’t make sense. As the second article suggests, prostitution accounts for less than .04% of the crime in EBR Parish; so, in her mind, it makes good financial sense to focus hundreds of LE man-hours and tens of thousands of dollars persecuting providers and hobbyists while allowing the murders, rapists, drug dealers and burglars to run amuck. Yeah, this is the typical politician’s way of solving all of society’s real problems.

If she succeeds in making this “crime” a “felony” offense, individuals so convicted will be deprived of the right to vote (and other Constitutional liberties) and the ability to vote her out. Unfortunately, anyone who does dare to stand up to her immediately becomes suspect in the eyes of the Bible thumpers. It would take a real hero to withstand the additional scrutiny.

[stavinChain]

Obviously I come down on the side of the World's Oldest Profession; but as a business owner, if my neighborhood was infested with a bunch of skanky SW's, I'd be calling my Councilperson also. (Hypocritical as it sounds ...)

[Outdoorsman]

Good point Stavin... that why in nations where prostitution is legal and in Vegas, it is regulated and only allowed in certain distrcits and areas. Prostitution can be a safe and fun industry with all people being satisfied, Belgium has a redlight district as does Denmark. Vegas has brothels which are licensed and require certain health standards for the ladies. All safe and fun for the patron. But here we insist on telling others how to live, not so free of a country is it?