Effects of recent modifications to prostitution laws.
[QUOTE=JBones;1352704]Last Wednesday I got picked up from a vice on BP. It's my first offense need some help should I plead guilty or not guilty? Do I need a lawyer present also. Don't know much on these types of things. Aloha.[/QUOTE]I have looked over the most recent version of HRS 712-1200 Relating to prostitution. The most relevant portion is quoted here:
§712-1200 Prostitution. (1) A person commits the offense of prostitution if the person:
(a) Engages in, or agrees or offers to engage in, sexual conduct with another person for a fee; or.
(be) Pays, agrees to pay, or offers to pay a fee to another to engage in sexual conduct.
This incorporates the changes made in the last legislative session that made it possible for police to arrest clients in sting operations. We heard about Obama's golf buddy and now Jbones. The common element here is the use by police of websites like Craigslist and Backpage to set up the sting.
I see no reasonable way that police could set up such a sting in an AMP. They would have to have a police woman, preferably a Korean national, solicit employment from the MS and then actually be in the room and discuss payment with the customer. She would then need to have a radio link to cops waiting outside or else she would have to actually do the deed which is highly unlikely. Kind of hard to wear a wire when you have a nightgown or bikini on.
As far as cops coming in to an AMP when you are in the room, police could arrest you but I don't think you could be convicted, unless they came in the room just as $$ were changing hands (highly unlikely). Even if you were doing the deed in full climax, any decent lawyer would simply point out in the preliminary hearing that police evidence did not include an observation of payment or agreement to pay. The downside for mongers is that police may try to use their new muscle to make arrests at AMP's that they know will not lead to conviction. This could go on for a while until a judge slaps them down. The big penalty for an arrest is not the potential $500 fine. It is the public embarrassment for all and potential family repercussions for married mongers. For now we have not seen such arrests at AMP's but only stings based on internet solicitation. Moral (for me at least) is stick with the AMP's and stay away from the outcalls and streetwalkers. Better yet stick to places and providers you know.
I will not detail it here but if you look at the testimony on the record in last years hearings, you will see that the focus is on street prostitution and pimping. Even if an AMP-MS is busted for §712-1201 Promoting prostitution, she probably could mount a defense claiming that her $50 is simply for the use of facilities, as it actually is. If I was a lawyer for a MS I certainly would advise her to never answer client questions about anything that goes on in the room, especially prices for service. We all know #1-$50, #2-$100, #3-150 but MS should never let these things cross her lips.
There is an interesting commentary (not an actual part of the statute) in the books about how futile and actually counterproductive prostitution laws are. It actually makes an argument to legalization. One section says: "Making prostitution a criminal offense is one method of controlling the scope of prostitution and thereby protecting those segments of society which are offended by its open existence." I think this may be why cops are relatively tolerant of AMP's as long as they keep a low profile, busts are actually rather infrequent. I notice a new place is frequently busted but think this is just the cops way of showing who is boss.
Sorry for rambling on. Link here:
[url]http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol14_Ch0701-0853/HRS0712/HRS_0712-1200.htm[/url]
View from Orange County CA
View from the mainland. I have heard of two reverse stings. First was at an Asian AAMP in Costa Mesa. 15 yrs ago, a city with tons of AMPs. They turned the MS, and she set up the customer with voice / wire and got for solicitation. Why they went to the trouble I don't know, as it the area there were other AMPs over the years.
The other was in the last two years in Fountain Valley, a city not tolerant of any funny business. They replaced the whole staff with decoys, both Asian and white for a few days and got about 10 mongers. They were sending a big message, be very low key.
I like the idea in Hawaii of girls in bikinis etc. Can't recall any places like that around So Calif.
You guys are having more fun then us, as table shower and GFE and are about non existent in So Calif AMPs a a normal routine.