I have been using providers off and on over the past 3 years. I have never been busted but I want to make sure its not out of luck only.

Firstly, I never discuss anything explicit over the phone/emial. Just time to meet and price. I actually had been using CL before ending up on VIP list

Then when I reach, I ask "are you a cop". Since the answer is no, I feel I am okay.

Is this sufficient. I cannot afford to be busted since I am not a citizen of US yet so any busting will deny me citizenship

during a bust. So asking "are you a cop" is a waste of time.

LE can say whatever they want and still bust you if they want. Stick with well and recently reviewed providers here on TER. Avoid Craig's List if you are at all unsure of your BS detecting skills.

First off like the others have said the police can say whatever they want on CL, through email, on the phone whatever.  Even that they are not police.  That does nothing whatsoever.  It is not entrapment because you already had a propensity to commit the crime before you talked to them.  

Secondly, even if you only say a time and price over the phone is enough for at least a solicitation of prostitution charge.  If the police weren't the ones on the other line, but it was the provider, she agreed, and then the police came, that would be conspiracy to commit prostitution.  

Finally like the others said, stay away form CL if you do not want to take any risks.  Police have been known to repost ads of providers they have busted to see who calls, as previously stated enough for solicitation.  

Solicitation and conspiracy are both inchoate crimes, so it really doesn't matter that you actually didn't do the "act" only that you had the intent to do it, and the fact you called the provider is intent enough.

So Herky, say someone calls a stripper or provider to a bachelor party or a private strip, you say that they can be charged with solicitation? just by making the call?

As I said in my post it depends on intent.  Solicitation is a specific intent crime.  It depends on if you are calling truly for a stripper (would be guilty) or if you are calling for something in addition to stripping (guilty).

Now the obvious question you would probably ask is what if you say you just wanted a stripper and it just "suddenly" got out of hand...   Well the police/prosecutor would look at the circumstances, was the price being charged what a stripper normally charges or was it more, thus indicating intent for further activity.  Did you pay the stripper more when she arrived etc.  Generally they are going to find intent somehow.  I mean unless you are Brad Pitt why is the stripper going to suddenly be overcome with passion?

But to answer your simple question about just by making the call, yes you could be charged with solicitation IF you intended for acts of prostitution to occur not just stripping.  It would probably be a harder case for the LE to prove, and be too much work for them though.  They can get just as many people just by posing as prostitutes, they don't have to pose as strippers and go through the whole rigmarole.

asking the ( provider/escort ) if shes a cop is pretty much a waste of time 100% !!! even if shes a cop, she allowed to lie to you in just about every way she wants legally , casue they are doing an under cover sting/investigation....on a good note  must stings are done to arrest providers  not clinets..not only is it much easier but it looks better infront of the media....

lots of ads have terms like bbbjc, daty, etc...that is clear intent to partake in prostitution. Lot of people say offering GFE is not prostitution. come on...which GF does not have sex with you and then if you pay money that's prostitution

-- Modified on 7/20/2007 1:20:47 PM

very true..........asking if they are a cop is a moot point......they allllll lie

-- Modified on 7/24/2007 3:02:03 PM

You've discussed price by even mentioning it.  That's bad and can get you busted just for showing up.

And asking if they are a cop is no security.  They are allowed to lie.  Have you never heard of an undercover cop?  That's the whole point of being undercover.

The only reason you have not been busted is because you have not been with any cops yet. Simple. Your rationale is flawed.

Guys

Here are my golden rules

Stick with 3-5 select providers whom you know well

If you are very attracted to a new one fix a non-sexual dinner meet ...just meet know her personally and then decide for the next step - it is worth the $200 you pay for that !!

Excellent suggestion....

I am the poster lady for getting popped a  sol, charge in OC ,Cal without anything even close to any crime
not a drop of eveidence against me & the cop was drunk & physically threatened me & spit as I refused to pay attention to him. yet Iwas illegally arrested & the DA would not budge, although they had zip & I had no prior & lived 3000 miles away

But is LE actually allowed at any time to fully partake in the event? Would they ever actually have sex?