KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -
A loophole in city law gave officers the right to arrest a prostitute, but not a pimp. That loophole is now closed.
The city council just passed tough new rules when it comes to prostitution. The goal is to not just go after prostitutes and their clients, but the middlemen who set up those meetings.
Prostitution is an age-old problem, one that's especially bad on the city's east side. Until now, the vice squad could arrest the prostitutes and those who pay for their services, but not the so-called pimps who promoted prostitution.
Councilman Scott Wagner said only the sheriff's office or state police had the power to go after the middlemen, so he spearheaded an effort to update city codes to give police the tools they need to crackdown on those who profit the most from prostitution.
"What we find is sometimes when the state or county don't have the ability or the time to go after these then we want to do that at the city level, this allows us to do that," Wagner said.
The changes also increase the fine to $1,000 and add jail time to anyone guilty of promoting prostitution.
Wagner admits it may not be the most pressing criminal activity facing police, but he said it's one that can adversely impact entire neighborhoods.
"Really what we are trying to do is get after the quality of life issues in some of our urban core neighborhoods that have been victimized by this. We're just trying to affect the quality of life," the councilman said.
Wagner is hoping the move by the council will put those who profit from human trafficking on notice.
The city council unanimously passed the resolution Thursday - they must wait ten full days for it to take effect.
Copyright 2012 KCTV (Meredith Corp.) All rights reserved.
