I'm still new at this so someone please correct me if I'm wrong. Seems to be a bit of panic here lately since the new legislation was passed. I'm not a lawyer by any means, though probably should have been. But it seems to me that not a lot has changed. Unless you're a pimp, agency owner or a creep who digs underage girls not much has changed. First offense still a misdemeanor, I think most of us would quit after a first arrest anyways. Seems to me that by avoiding Backpage like the clap, knowing who you are dealing with and the usual caution we all should be using anyway that things should be fine. I believe it is going to be a lot harder for both new providers and hobbyists to get established if they even will be able to. That's just my take on things feel free to elaborate or correct me if I'm wrong

as others have also pointed out as well, and you also note, the real emphasis of the law was pimps & underage.  

BTW, in looking thru BP, I don't see any less ads.

Yeah I think it's being blown way out of proportion. I think a little extra caution will be in order as not to get caught in the crossfire.

True about BP, but IMO best to avoid it now more than ever.

And they have been using that charge in the recent arrests.  In the google search I conducted a few days ago, every arrest I saw was a felony.  

So, yea, things have changed.

Having said that, I'm really not doing anything any differently.  I'll continue to screen, and I'll continue to see newbie on a case-by-case basis.

killed to produced that 375 lbs whale with a badge.

This endeavor always have been risky. NC just made it more draconian. The law doesn’t just address agency, pimps and human trafficking it is damn broad in it reach so, use your big head, don’t do stupid shit.

Those that are running around thinking nothing has changed and will not change are being stupid IMHO.

So does the on line dating sites fall in to this vague area also? They do basically the same set 2 people up for a few and does not really know what goes on from that point. I am also not a lawyer but just looking for a point where a line is drawn from one area of the law to another..

So here is a thought, here in Charlotte we are close to the SC line. Why not just provide in SC???

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lol   well, I certainly HOPE that is not true !!

what...???   you mean I am not getting laid based on my handsome good looks and witty repartee..???

man, what a letdown....!

I thought I was just buying dinner without having to actually GO to the restaurant....

who knew..

Yeah me too, I thought I was just paying for the room and gas to get there!! All along I also thought it was my looks and personality!! Bummer!!!!

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Before the crimes against nature charge was used to be able to charge a lady or a guy with 2 separate charges. Solicitation AND crimes against nature, both lesser charges. Now crimes against is being used to charge someone with a felony.

Those laws saying oral and anal are illegal, that NO one in politics is going to touch that law with a 10 foot pole.

Another thing that changes the playing field is the part about advertising. Again we know what the intent of the new law is: to be able to stick it to anyone advertising underage girls on the internet. But that won't keep aggressive LE from using it to charge anyone. So I strongly suggest that ladies NOT draw attention to themselves by posting explicit ad copy. More conservatively written ads are the way to go IMO. It can only help.

I do think some people are panicking way too much with posts about moving out of NC, not working in NC, cancelling tours of NC, ect. Hopefully some of this will die down in the next couple of months.

xoxo,

Steph

This is how I feel about it. It obviously doesn't matter what the law says or is supposed to be for, they're very clearly using it for one thing and one thing only. So what do you do? Follow what the law says and accept that you might get out of it, even if your face and name are plastered on backpage saying you were charged with something? Or do you travel elsewhere, where its still illegal, but the police aren't as focused on it, and the laws are not quite as easily manipulated to fuck you over in the end?

so let's say i ain't real smart, (most would agree on this point) if i go on date with an escort and i TRUELY don't know she's an escort, can i be arrested?

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tight lipped and closing the back door!

The crimes against nature statute in NC has been on the books since 1868 and is/was a felony.

Well, duh, but maybe they would with an 8 inch one...

-- Modified on 8/8/2013 2:10:48 PM

mine are committed while she sleeping! Thank god she's a sound sleeper! But here's the question, is a crime committed if the perp is the only one that ever knows about the crime? Understanding, of course, if she wakes up, I'm busted!!!!

What has really changed is the current atmosphere/attitude, beyond the new law.  Authorities are riding the wave of attention getting press generated by this new law and the national focus on human trafficking and coercion of minors.  Many others are getting caught up in the net.  "Crime against nature" is nothing new and has been used in the past.  

In 2003, the US Supreme court ruled that such laws were unconstitutional as regards consenting acts between adults, in private.  NC chose to go against that and retain this law, citing that the law is "not unconstitutional on its face because it may properly be used to criminalize sexual conduct involving minors, non-consensual or coercive conduct, public conduct, and prostitution", making it one of 9 states to retain such a law.  This provides local jurisdictions a loophole to add a more severe charge, and it does seem many are doing that, under the current climate.  I am in hopes that this 'zealous focus' may fade somewhat with time.  

Consider this excerpt from the website of a prominent local criminal law attorney:

[North Carolina is one of the few states that archaically criminalize certain types of consensual sexual behavior, including oral sex, regardless of the gender or sexual orientation of the participants. For example, even married heterosexual couples participating in consensual oral sex are committing the North Carolina felony of Crime Against Nature.
These laws were first brought into the criminal code, ironically, by England's often married King Henry 8 th and incorporated in North Carolina statutes in 1868.  
In short, the law of North Carolina mandates that "If any person shall commit the crime against nature with man or beast, he shall be punished as Class I felon."
After centuries of this law being on the books, the courts finally held that this law was not enforceable if the activity occurred in private. However, if it occurs in public or other factors are present, it can still be prosecuted.
People convicted of violating this law are branded as felons and lose the right to vote, bear arms etc. While few of these cases are ever prosecuted to conclusion in courts, authorities often prosecute "Soliciting Crime Against Nature" cases, which is a Class 1 Misdemeanor. If you are convicted of this offense, you will have a criminal record (which will include embarrassing details and identifying information including jail photos) for employers, co-workers, customers & clients and all other members of your community to see.]

Notice he says that "few of these [felony] cases are ever prosecuted to conclusion in courts", which is good news.  Of course, as was also mentioned the damage is already done by booking the charge, for many, regardless of the eventual outcome.  The attention and news articles are always about the arrests and the charges.  The fact that charges are dropped or reduced rarely get the same coverage.  Still, it would seem very much the exception to actually get convicted of a felony for what we participate in if you have a good attorney, IMO.  Of course, I have no desire to test that theory, so extreme caution is the rule of the day, as always!

I'm not sure because I'm not gay, but isn't that how gay guys have sex ??????????? oral or anal??????????? so whenever they have sex , . well isn't that an act against nature according to this law. ?????????  So if they are going to enforce this un-natural act on one section of the populace, wouldn't this make gay sex illegal??????????? So a motel couldn't rent a room to gay men, because they could be running an establishment promoting an act against nature. ??????   where are the gays and lesbians on this. Why aren't their lawyers screaming and yelling.????????   Or is this like the "N" word????? one person can say it, sing it ...whatever he wants to, but someone of a diffirent skin color says it, and he is chastised, punished or maybee even fired.   I'm so sick of double standards.

-- Modified on 8/8/2013 9:40:51 PM

Is that based on one's residency?  

Also, I'm wondering about how this effects any of us that cross various state lines not just nc/sc

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