Stupid, wasteful, unfair? Why, yes, of course.

You're making the mistake of assuming that this has anything to do with law enforcement, public safety, the general welfare or the common good. It doesn't.

To figure out what it really has to do with, suggest a closer look at the future aspirations of Nassau County DA Kathleen Rice and the timeline of upcoming elections in Nassau County. I think that the answers may be found there.

Many a female Democratic politician has gone far by aggressively pursuing 'vice' issues. It's a topic that polls perfectly with the key demographics. It's nothing personal, Sonny (and the 103 other poor schmoes caught up in this charade) - it's strictly business.

llater,

llamas

Anyway, whatever happened to "entrapment"? Used to be, it wasn't allowed. Nowadays, seems like it's daily business.

I read about another case the other day, where a guy was arrested for attempting to have sex with a minor. He was in his early 20s, and participating on a chat board. This "15 year old girl" contacted him and came on to him. He told her to get lost She contacted him again, he told her off again. She contacted him a third time, and he stupidly agreed to meet her face-to-face. What he intended is unclear; it's entirely possible he was going to tell her to her face to stop bothering him. We'll never know, because when he showed up for the meeting, he was arrested and forced into a plea bargain.

The best way to understand the motivation of any government agency is to assume that they are out for themselves. The cops want toto justify their budget by making lots of arrests? Where can they get lots of arrests for little effort, without pissing off the general public? Sex and drugs, it's that simple.

The prosecutors are the next step in the chain. Gathering actual evidence and holding actual trials is just so much work. So they pile on the charges, scare the shit out of the victim, and then offer a plea bargain. That gives them great conviction statistics for hardly any work at all.

Finally, we get the prison system, which profits mightily from having all those prisoners to take care of. Who else lobbies so hard for long, mandatory sentences? It's called "job security", and who cares if we have more people in prison than any other Western country?

They got the fire down below!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJNxlG-0ZDk

I am all for legalization. I think prostitution is awful-most of the women in it have no other choice. They aren't smart women who make a conscious decision that they want to make their living that way. I would not want to share my life in any way with someone who utilized a prostitute. But I don't think it's the government's business at any level past the municipality.

I think municipalities should be able to decide what is and is not allowed within their borders. There are places in Austin where the homeowners have to sweep the sidewalk for condoms daily. No one should have to live with that.

"I would not want to share my life in any way with someone who utilized a prostitute. "

Yes, yes, we understand - you hate American servicemen who were stationed overseas.

We're not really enamored of you, either.

And don't forget, if you video tape the sex and they BOTH get paid, then it's perfectly legal!

It's only illegal because it would be too hard to collect taxes. Of course employment would shoot up.

Perhaps the fundamental problem isn't prostitution itself, but the curb crawling that goes along with it.

Police Departments (not just cops) have done this for over a hundred years, mostly at the behest of ambitious prosecutors or "tough-on-crime" politicos (are those the same thing?). Who cares about (taxpayer) cost?

I personally think prostitution should be legal. Get rid of the most abusive pimps, allow for medical insurance... Too, I once read a book by a retired judge who speculated that at least 45% of women in his city (London. 1875-1901) were at the least part-time prostitutes.

Advice for Johns: Assume the "hooker" you are meeting is a female cop wearing a wire. She will not initiate a "sex for money" talk. But she will attempt to get you to initiate the "sex for money" talk. And that's what gets you arrested.

So, don't talk "sex for money". Instead, say to her, "I think you are a cop. Come back to my place to prove that you are not." If she is a cop, she won't go for safety reasons and she doesn't want to get far from her cop buddies who are nearby listening.

But should she go with you, ask her to disrobe from the waist up. Do not mention money, but say you like to see the breasts of beautiful women. No cop will disrobe for anyone because it will expose her wire and she did not go "under cover" for gratuitous nudity.

If she does disrobe, she is not a cop. She is a hooker. NOW you can talk money.

Nick, do you really think hookers are going to agree to go back to your place? Most have much better street smarts than that.

Mom of 4 : The key is: don't talk "sex for money". Be flexible. if she won't go to your place, offer to go to hers where her cop buddies are waiting ( if she is a cop ) But avoid "sex for money" until you know her status as cop or hooker.

Regarding Andrew's, Nick's, and momof4's responses.

momof4 is right Nick, any woman willing to go to your place would have a) muscle,& b) offer that upfront, or c)planning to rob you

Check your local laws

If you dont pay cash its not prostitution, there was a case out here a few years back, a guy got a judge to declare him not guilty by pointing out he paid with a money order, no cash, no crime, no conviction.

Check your local indian reservation's laws

Reservations, technically, are seperate countries, many have hotels

Check your local pornography ordinaces

Show up with a small simple 'preformace for payment' contract and a camcorder. If you film it for a proposed business venture it isnt prostitution.

Always check the wording of any law you intend to break, loophole abound.

For isnstance if you have a small amount of drug on you, eat it rather than dump it. It may be illegal to buy/see/possess drugs, but having them in your body is only illegal under a far norrower set of circumstances

The key is: don't talk "sex for money". -- Nick at June 6, 2013 7:42 PM

The problem with the concept is that the whole room in a hotel can be pre-wired.

If you've ever watched the Cops TV show you can see them arresting both hookers and johns with pre-wired rooms. No wires needed on the woman.

The gratuitous nudity may slow them down, but you never know.

Many a female Democratic politician has gone far by aggressively pursuing 'vice' issues.

Just the female politicians, eh? Eliot Spitzer ain't singing soprano.

"I think prostitution is awful-most of the women in it have no other choice. They aren't smart women who make a conscious decision that they want to make their living that way."

You're right; those women are losers. It's too bad that they haven't brains or jobs skills.

"I would not want to share my life in any way with someone who utilized a prostitute."

I feel the same way about way about women with children.