In a new push to combat prostitution and prostitution-related crime in DC neighborhoods, the Metropolitan Police Department this week begins enforcement of a new anti-loitering law that allows police to disperse groups of two or more individuals congregating for the purpose of prostitution or prostitution-related activity within a designated “Prostitution Free Zone.”
Chief of Police Charles H. Ramsey this week issued declarations for the first two Prostitution Free Zones in the District. The first zone begins on Friday, September 1, in Police Service Area 101, in the area generally bounded by 13th to 14th Streets, NW, L to "Eye" Streets
. The second zone begins on Friday, September 8, in PSA 307, in the area generally bounded by 10
th to 12
th Streets, NW, M to N Streets. The boundaries of each zone are marked by posters in the affected area. Both Prostitution Free Zones will last for 10 days, the maximum amount of time allowed under law
The Omnibus Public Safety Emergency Amendment Act of 2006, which Mayor Anthony A. Williams signed in July, authorizes the chief of police to declare “Prostitution Free Zones” in areas where the health or safety of residents is endangered by prostitution or prostitution-related offenses. While a Prostitution Free Zone is in effect, it is unlawful for a group of two or more persons to congregate on public space within that area for the purpose of engaging in prostitution or prostitution-related offenses. Persons in violation of the law first will be warned by a police officer that they are in a Prostitution Free Zone and will be directed to disperse. Failure to obey the officer’s instruction could result in arrest, without a second warning. Offenders convicted under the law are subject to a fine of up to $300, imprisonment for up to 180 days, or both.
“While some people may still want to characterize prostitution as a ‘victimless crime,’ nothing could be further from the truth for those residents who must endure the presence of prostitutes and their paraphernalia in our neighborhoods,” Chief Ramsey said. “Our city has made great progress over the last several years in reducing prostitution – in particular, the presence of brazen street walkers in many of our communities. But we know we must do even more to combat this very serious problem. The new Prostitution Free Zone law will give our officers one more tool for moving prostitutes and their johns off the corner and out of our neighborhoods,” he added.
The law allows the Chief of Police to declare a specific area as a Prostitution Free Zone based on various factors, including a disproportionately high number of arrests or calls for police service related to prostitution or prostitution-related offenses in the proposed zone within the preceding six-month period. Under the law, the MPD is required to post information detailing the boundaries of the drug free zone, the effective dates of the designation (which can last no longer than 240 hours) and the activities that are prohibited.
Various acceptable group activities continue to be lawful within a declared Prostitution Free Zone. These include distributing campaign literature, collecting names on petitions, soliciting community support, discussing religious or political topics, or meeting for other lawful purposes. Both DC law and internal MPD regulations expressly prohibit racial profiling or any other form of biased policing in the enforcement of the Prostitution Free Zone law. The Police Department has issued a directive to all of its members describing the requirements of the law and providing operational guidelines for its use.
Additional information about the Prostitution Free Zone, including details about the first two zones declared by Chief Ramsey, can be found on the Metropolitan Police Department website: www.mpdc.dc.gov.