A new city ordinance is aimed a prosecuting hotel owners and managers who allow prostitution in their facilities. Houston City Council passed the ordinance that holds desk clerks and owners responsible for prostitution on the premises.
Under the ordinance, any clerk or employee of the establishment who is proven to know about the activity could be arrested and charged under a misdemeanor violation. Councilwoman Ada Edwards says prostitution has become a severe problem in her district and she believes this action will attack another facet of the issue.
And the prostitutes in the areas in my city, in my district that I represent are becoming younger and younger. The burden of proof to prosecute the hotel and motel employees would be on the law enforcement agents. Houston Police Department Capt.
Steve Jett heads up the vice squad. But with this ordinance, there is recourse against the facility and the possibility of shutting down some places where prostitution is prevalent. Jett says they already have covert operations underway in some of these motels and undercover officers will have conversations with the clerks to determine if they know about the activity. Houston Mayor Bill White says this action is about stopping crime at every level. Council unanimously passed the ordinance.
There have been some questions about whether it would hold up in a court of law if challenged.
