Massage Parlor Reports

[iamioman]

I just thought it interesting as it took three years of fighting to get it dismissed where nothing illegal seemed to have happened, and the folks involved had the time, money and patience to hang in there. I was thinking more of a normal guy who says,"Just here for a achey back massage", and isn't able to fight for three years. It was interesting how the system won't let go until it seems all options were exhausted. It probably isn't 200% relevant but some elements are worth considering as I read about the various thought processes guys think will work to extricate themselves if they get into a jam.

Interesting read for sure. Wonder how much of the 3 years iut took to get the mess cleared up had to do with LE were looking for payback against the journalist. Dragging it out as long as possible doesn't hurt the police but it does hurt the repuatation of the journalist and his wife which might have been the goal once LE relaized they weren't going to get a conviction.

[NY Monger]

I am sure you read the article,. But for anyone who didn't, the story is about police arresting an employee of a spa, not a customer.

And allegedly the arrest was because police confused the woman for the owner of the spa who was their target (the owner's husband is an investigative journalist who had written damning stories about a local police drug task force seems police were trying to get back at him as they had absolutely no evidence any prostitution or solicitation was taking place).

Interesting story sure, but it doesn't seem very relevant to what could happen to average joe getting a massage when the police raid.

I just thought it interesting as it took three years of fighting to get it dismissed where nothing illegal seemed to have happened, and the folks involved had the time, money and patience to hang in there. I was thinking more of a normal guy who says,"Just here for a achey back massage", and isn't able to fight for three years. It was interesting how the system won't let go until it seems all options were exhausted. It probably isn't 200% relevant but some elements are worth considering as I read about the various thought processes guys think will work to extricate themselves if they get into a jam.

[PeterPowers]

What is it about the Asians that mystifies Caucasians?

The last few times driving by FE the lot has been packed. I called ahead for an appointment and was told the girl was booked for the next few hours. I held out and am glad I did. If / when they go out it will be with a bang. I believe the women in there now are the best they have had in a long time. I definitely have had some apprehension about going due to all the attention of late, but I guess it's an odds game. So it seems like many are trying to get in one last visit before the party ends. A lot of out of state plates in the lot. All standard house / tip / cover, except the service was definitely noteworthy. If you are looking for a young looking woman with a tight body can't go wrong with either Victoria or Lee.

-Pete.

[iamioman]

Over the years, lots of folks had made pro / con arguments as to what can happen, what to do, your rights etc etc. But here's an example of how long this stuff can linger in your life. No matter how patient your job, wife, friends are, three years is a long time.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/10/ny...ttom-well&_r=0

I am sure you read the article,. But for anyone who didn't, the story is about police arresting an employee of a spa, not a customer.

And allegedly the arrest was because police confused the woman for the owner of the spa who was their target (the owner's husband is an investigative journalist who had written damning stories about a local police drug task force seems police were trying to get back at him as they had absolutely no evidence any prostitution or solicitation was taking place).

Interesting story sure, but it doesn't seem very relevant to what could happen to average joe getting a massage when the police raid.

[iamioman]

I am not attempting to start a flame war or end up in Thunderdome on this subject, but your assertion that there were no spa raids by LE recently is just plain inaccurate. Cranston, Warwick,

Kingston, and yes, Providence all have been reported on this thread.

Ditto, not trying to have a flame war or argument, just a discussion.

I don't think I ever said there have been no raids of spas at all in RI, just that raids (of the kinds that involve police arresting customers) haven't been part of the latest tactics RI cities have used to close spas.

So yes they've happend and they could always happen at any time (as I've acknowledged several times), just that I don't see any reason (based on how effective Providence's tactics were) to think a 'raid' is going to part of Pawtucket closing it's spas.

Also, I asked if customers had been charged as a result of raids in RI because I honestly couldn't remember, not to claim that there have never been any customer arrests as a result of a spa raid.

[SMS 54]

Think you misinterpret. I am not "defiant", just pointing out that legally. From a customer's point of view. Nothing has changed.

No, I wouldn't want to be engaging in an illegal activity when police raided someplace I was at, but practically, it would be prety hard for them to catch someone in the act of breakiung the law. Spa workers would be inviolation of clothing ordinances and rules to keep customers covered, but the ordinances are for the business not the customer.

But if you think Pawtucket is going to break from the playbook every other city in RI has used to close spas and go for some big flashy raid than it makes sense for you to not go to a spa.

I don't think that's likely to happen so it's not something I am worryingi about. I went to a spa over the weekend, and had a good massage. No LE or camera crews to be seen.

But I am not telling anyone else what to do, everyone should always do what they feel they need to do to stay safe.

I am not attempting to start a flame war or end up in Thunderdome on this subject, but your assertion that there were no spa raids by LE recently is just plain inaccurate. Cranston, Warwick,

Kingston, and yes, Providence all have been reported on this thread.

[NY Monger]

Over the years, lots of folks had made pro / con arguments as to what can happen, what to do, your rights etc etc. But here's an example of how long this stuff can linger in your life. No matter how patient your job, wife, friends are, three years is a long time.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/10/ny...ttom-well&_r=0

[iamioman]

You can remain as defiant as you wish to be, but do you really want to be in an AMP getting stroked or blown or laid when the raid occurs, even if there are no charges or charges are dropped later against you? The bottom line is the writing is on the wall, the AMPs will close, but the hobby will go on in a slightly different mode. The players will learn to adapt. I'm guessing Apartment AMPS will be more commonplace.

Think you misinterpret. I am not "defiant", just pointing out that legally. From a customer's point of view. Nothing has changed.

No, I wouldn't want to be engaging in an illegal activity when police raided someplace I was at, but practically, it would be prety hard for them to catch someone in the act of breakiung the law. Spa workers would be inviolation of clothing ordinances and rules to keep customers covered, but the ordinances are for the business not the customer.

But if you think Pawtucket is going to break from the playbook every other city in RI has used to close spas and go for some big flashy raid than it makes sense for you to not go to a spa.

I don't think that's likely to happen so it's not something I am worryingi about. I went to a spa over the weekend, and had a good massage. No LE or camera crews to be seen.

But I am not telling anyone else what to do, everyone should always do what they feel they need to do to stay safe.

[JohnAdams]

I think you're missing the big picture. What if you're at a spa and it gets raided? Even if you aren't doing anything when they bust in, there's nothing stopping them from arresting you. You may not be charged afterwards, but they could still detain you. Or you might be subpoenaed at a trial. Or maybe while you're at the spa, the media could be there. If you're arrested, there's your name and picture in the paper, on tv, and / or on the Internet. Now, there's always been that chance. But with all these high profile laws and ordinances, especially with spa closings getting attention, why risk it? Just to tell a reporter, a judge, your boss, your SO, your family, your friends that you weren't doing anything illegal. You were just at a spa under suspicion for solicitation. That's too much a risk for me.

Like it or not, this was only a matter of time. Once these "spas" started to spread and pop up in neighborhoods and started drawing all sorts of traffic and strange people showing up, people started complaining. Of course LE steps in. Everything will just go back to the way it was-low key and under the radar. The way it should be.

[Andrew70]

I stopped in at Harmony last Monday about 1030 am it was like a supermarket before a snow storm, girls running around, no attempt by momasan to hide guys from each other, I was lucky to draw Jackie 30's spinner, off to table shower was rushed but good quick sauna on my way back to the room mamasan says something in Korean and I get the switch, Jackie has a appt why have her start me if she can't finish, I then draw a old Korean woman who I have seen before here, average massage and rushed finish. 60/140 I feel this is ending very very soon by the attitude of mamasan and the girls, a shame where do we go now?

[Tp1701]

How is "as safe today as it has ever been"? Simple, it's NEVER been illegal to get a massage. It's never been illegal to go to a spa. It's still not. So, it's just as safe (legally) as it's ever been .

I think you're missing the big picture. What if you're at a spa and it gets raided? Even if you aren't doing anything when they bust in, there's nothing stopping them from arresting you. You may not be charged afterwards, but they could still detain you. Or you might be subpoenaed at a trial. Or maybe while you're at the spa, the media could be there. If you're arrested, there's your name and picture in the paper, on tv, and / or on the Internet. Now, there's always been that chance. But with all these high profile laws and ordinances, especially with spa closings getting attention, why risk it? Just to tell a reporter, a judge, your boss, your SO, your family, your friends that you weren't doing anything illegal. You were just at a spa under suspicion for solicitation. That's too much a risk for me.

[SMS 54]

Thanks for the details. I don't disagree that police can (and maybe will) be used to spread the news as a way of intimidating the spas (and customers), my comments were largely in response to a few people here who seemed to be claiming a raid was an all but certainty so it wasn't 'safe' to go to spas anymore.

So not disputeing your point that police might be spreading the news, just pointing out there is big difference between police talking to a business owner about new city licensing regulations and police bursting in arresting staff and customers alike (a raid) and charging people with crimes.

I know there's been a couple of raids in new England in the not to long ago past, but I don't remember details. Anyone remember if any of the spa raids in NE resulted in arrests of customers?

You can remain as defiant as you wish to be, but do you really want to be in an AMP getting stroked or blown or laid when the raid occurs, even if there are no charges or charges are dropped later against you? The bottom line is the writing is on the wall, the AMPs will close, but the hobby will go on in a slightly different mode. The players will learn to adapt. I'm guessing Apartment AMPS will be more commonplace.

[iamioman]

In early June it was Pawtucket Police that made the rounds of the spas in the city, letting each know what was coming down the pike. ...That's why I suspect it will be Pawtucket Police at the head of the spear, as well as doing what they can to intimidate potential customers.

Thanks for the details. I don't disagree that police can (and maybe will) be used to spread the news as a way of intimidating the spas (and customers), my comments were largely in response to a few people here who seemed to be claiming a raid was an all but certainty so it wasn't 'safe' to go to spas anymore.

So not disputeing your point that police might be spreading the news, just pointing out there is big difference between police talking to a business owner about new city licensing regulations and police bursting in arresting staff and customers alike (a raid) and charging people with crimes.

I know there's been a couple of raids in new England in the not to long ago past, but I don't remember details. Anyone remember if any of the spa raids in NE resulted in arrests of customers?

[Fly Dangler]

would police really be the ones checking on enforcing business regulations?

In early June it was Pawtucket Police that made the rounds of the spas in the city, letting each know what was coming down the pike. Main Therapy closed for good based on what was said in that visit, Pleasant closed for a couple days then reopened (but was not the same as before) and the others continued as if nothing had happened. That's why I suspect it will be Pawtucket Police at the head of the spear, as well as doing what they can to intimidate potential customers.

[iamioman]

How is it "as safe today as it has ever been" when we know there will potentially be a raid at any moment. Ya, I know they shut down providence quietly, without raids, but who knows what will happen in pawtucket.

How is "as safe today as it has ever been"? Simple, it's NEVER been illegal to get a massage. It's never been illegal to go to a spa. It's still not. So, it's just as safe (legally) as it's ever been.

If you are engaging in illegal activities, whatever it is hasn't suddenly become illegal because no new laws were passed. There's no new illegality or category of activity which is illegal, so you aren't doing anything more illegal now than if you did the same activity a month or two ago.

The new city rules or ordinances proscribe what spas can do and can't do, but these rules are aimed at SPAS and people who work at spas NOT at customers of spas. If a spa isn't following the rules then it's a regulation compliance issue, NOT a legal issue, not an issue for law enforcement.

Yes it's just a guess, but given that Pawtucket is following providence and cranston's playbook, there's absolutely no reason to think they are going to do something high profile like raid a spa (which would require a sting to gather evidence to get a search warrant) other than paranoia, but that could have happened at ANY time you go to a spa.

I don't argue that the spas in PAtwucket will probably be closing in the very near future, but regardless of whether they are about to close or not, or even if police raid a spa, legally, it's as safe as it has ever been to get a massage.