A prostitution ticket can be given to anyone the police suspect is engaging in the sex trade. A good amount of prostitution tickets are innocent people who were caught up in a police sting operation. In many cases, the police are overly aggressive in their enforcement of sex law, as discussed below in how the officers’ set up massage parlor to get the johns, visit the massage parlors posing as clients, and enforce the track in Orange County.
Receiving a Prostitution Ticket at Massage Parlors
Fake Massage Parlors Luring People In
There are police prostitution sting operations out there masquerading as clients going to massage parlors. In addition to that, there are many police officers lurking on /Yes Back Page/TER/providing services. These are directories are offering massages and companionship.
The police would set up a fake ad and have exchanges about meeting up. In this scenario, the officer will elicit statements via email and text about an exchange for money. However, many times, that is all there is to the conversation. There are no mentions of sexual intercourse or enough to make the offense. They will rely on the prosecution to make the rest of the case, or the system pressure the person to admit the violation when they interrogate him.
There is a joke in the criminal defense circle that there are more cops as customers than regular people. In these scenarios, an undercover police officer would pose as a client to go into an establishment.
Police Stings on Legitimate Massage Parlors
Officer initiates
Once in, they would have a team waiting outside as they initiate a conversation with the provider. The officer would bring up what is on the menu and start talking about sexual intercourse in exchange for money. Once the provider acknowledges it, the team will swoop in and start issuing citations and looking for condoms and money. Once this happens, they are given a prostitution ticket.
Provider Initiates
The second scenario that happens is when the provider would initiate a transaction during an undercover prostitution sting. Prostitution and solicitation charges come into play when the provider is aggressive and starts bringing up the menu (sexual activity) ahead of time. These often involve sex for money or some lewd conduct or breast play. Once the provider is caught, she is tagged with a prostitution ticket.
Prostitution Ticket Given for Solicitation on the Track
These are some of the more easy ways to a Prostitution Ticket in California. The trouble comes when a person gets to a spot and starts talking. If an officer sees this, he will assume the driver is doing an active solicitation and stat investigating the prostitution charge. However, at this moment, the officer will not know enough to make money for a sex case beyond a reasonable doubt.
He will have to start the investigation to make the case that the contact was for the furtherance of prostitution. This happens by making the stop and initiating contact with the driver. The officer is looking for an admission. This is the most vital part of his investigation and can make or break his case. If the John says the wrong thing, they are given a prostitution ticket and are sent on their way with a court date. If they keep shut, they may be let go because there will be insufficient evidence to make a case against them.
An area that is frequented by sex workers walking around is referred to as the track by law enforcement.
For example, John will pick up a person on the corner of Beach and Ball and they drive to a corner. A police officer will show up and start citing them for being around the park at night. The officer will suspect the girl because he has run into her before and start eliciting incriminating information from her. If this happens then it will make the case against John and John will end up getting a Prostitution Ticket in California.
