Legislation that would create prostitution-free zones in communities throughout Prince George’s County is moving forward in the county council.
The legislation, introduced this week by Councilwoman Andrea Harrison (D-Dist. 5), would authorize Prince George’s County Police to declare prostitution-free zones that would make it unlawful for two or more people to gather in a public space or property with the intent of engaging in prostitution.
The county’s chief of police would be allowed to create these zones in areas with high numbers of arrests or calls related to prostitution or prostitution-related offenses. Zones will only exist for up to 480 hours, and violators of the law could be fined up to $1,000 and face up to six month in jail.
During the summer, Harrison communities in her district, which includes Bladensburg, Cheverly, Edmonston, Fairmount Heights, Glenarden, Landover, Colmar Manor, Cottage City, and Mitchellville. At the time, Harrison said laws needed to be tightened to discourage repeat offenders.
“The problem seems to be with not being able to keep those individuals in jail. The punishment is not punitive; they’re doing it over and over again,” she said. “We have a problem with people going to jail and not thinking much of it — they turn around and go again.”
A public hearing and final vote is scheduled for Nov. 15.
This is no different than the supposed need to legislate against certain types of cell phone usage in the interest of safer roads. There were already two existing laws (Negligent Driving and Reckless Driving) that do more than enough to give police the power to pull over and ticket someone for using their cell phone in an unsafe manner while driving. What will need to be redundantly legislated next? We already have "Drug Free Zones" as well so in my opinion this is nothing more than a complete waste of time and tax payers dollars that could be better spent by the government solving real problems and not just grandstanding for media coverage.
Also prostitution is a victimless "crime". Look at vegas. Girls sell it all day long and there are no troubles. Its the same as prohibition. And that didn't work did it? Has any law helped to get rid of prostitiution? No. Why does anyone care what someone else does with their body?
Isn't this just a waste of taxpayers money? I thought when they shut down craigslist this would alleviate the situation a little bit, but there is always someone to take it's place like http://www.classivox.com for example. So what's next???