Heads Up. Saw it on the news this morning.
Link to story below.

www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/news/plymouth_prostitute_sting_march_5_2009

You are a street walker, a dirty ho, a child molester, a murderer, a drug dealer and you are not safe.

But the thing that kills me is that a good percentage of providers, especially on here are safe, non-drug users, pimp free, no criminal record and just like sex
We have to be arrested for it because there is money exchanged.  
We are all grown individuals with families, wives, husbands and are normal.

Someone please tell me what the real issue is?
Hotels I some what understand because it is owned by someone else and the public is welcome.  But when we pay a mortgage or rent everymonth on time and all our bills why are not allowed by law to invite someone over for company.

The money?  So let us get tax is# and pay something on the money we make, yeah, I know who would claim everything you might ask yourself?  Well seeing we are all doing it already and alot of providers don't pay taxes, (alot of us do) why not get something from everyone or atleast those that will comply?  It would save everyone time, trouble, money and they could concentrate on the bigger picture rather than two consenting adults having a good time and not hurting anyone.

Sure keep laws in place for those who pimp out young girls and use the hobby as a means to burglarize someone or stealing from them, but leave us normal people alone and do something else constructive.

I have forever tried to figure out the real reason behind why it is illegal.  It can't be all that bad if it were, why allow it in some states and not everywhere.  

Make me understand, please

Have a nice weekend all

Lauren

is that the US is one of the most puritanical countries in the world.

Police and politicians mix up issues of culture and lifestyle with law enforcement and government.  This is a sad, but true, fact about our society.

Let us not forget that not that long ago -- in my lifetime -- there were laws on the books in certain states making it a crime -- a crime -- to engage in interracial marriage; there were laws on the books making it a crime for a married couple to engage in oral sex.  And today, there are those in our society who believe that homosexuality should be a crime.

Given that that is the environment, is this a surprise?

Shame on us.  Sex work should be legal.  Providers should be able to have health benefits, unemployment insurance and pensions for their old age.  You should be able to do what you do and be proud of it.

I think the real issue is Morals. Our all knowing legislators proclaim that prostitution is Immoral. In my opinion, Bullshit. How about "John Jones" going out and screwing "Jack Johnson's" wife. Isn't that immoral too? Damn right, only difference is no exchange of $$. LE loves to make themselves look good to their public and a quick way to do it is get on some moralistic issue.

I agree with you, make it legal, license it, make it mandatory for periodic medical checks, Etc. Yes, come down hard on the Pimps, Ho's, Druggies, Etc. but, leave consentual sex between two adults alone.

Just an opinion

I don't think there's just one reason that it's illegal, but lucky for us that it is, or we'd be regulated by the F'n state, instead of the moderators on TER!!  

No, kidding aside.  People in our society, as well as MANY others, have been programmed by organized religion and governments for centuries with their laws and rules (trying to guilt us into behaving certain ways.  Do this, and you're a good person.  Don't do that, it's BAD).  If you think about it, when you bread a law, you pay a fine, a monetary amount, depending on how BAD the crime is.  And, in a religious body, if you break a rule, you also pay a fine, a life doomed in hell, unless of course, you pay money to the church, attend services, and be "good", repent... Well, it's about time that each of us look at what our beliefs are for OURSELVES, in our own hearts.  I used to feel badly about being in this profession (when I was 19 and didn't know my own truth as I do now, a couple of years later).

The LE may just need some good PR, make it look like they're "protecting" our people, keeping the terrible hookers and johns in check!!  After all, isn't that what Homeland Security does?  It's for the good of all!!  BS.

now, they are looking out for the children and families of the providers and hobbyists... thank goodness for that, cause that really is their business, but meanwhile we got tot mom's and octo mom's running rampant and no problem's there...oy vey this world.

i agree. and if you think about it, i'd bet a paycheck that there's  a higher percentage of honest escorts that provide a honest service than there are honest politicians! [at least on ter!]

Amen Alantra - AMEN!!!!!!

In regards to your comment on oral sex:

609.293 SODOMY.
Subdivision 1.Definition.
"Sodomy" means carnally knowing any person by the anus *or by or with the mouth.*

Oh, and sodomy is a gross misdemeanor:

Whoever, in cases not [involving sexual assault], voluntarily engages in or submits to an act of sodomy with another may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than one year or to payment of a fine of not more than $3,000, or both.

It is doubtful anyone would even be arrested (much less prosecuted) for this, but it is still on the books-and with stiffer penalties than prostitution between consenting adults in a private location.

all great replies! I suspect we could all go on forever on this subject, here is what I found interesting...Whenever you get prostitution, a lot of times you get drug issues along with that, you get children of prostitutes or the family of the johns, that are adversely affected. So it's not only the act itself, it's other things that stem from that act."
First off, my offspring vs octomom..have flourished as a result of doing this. I have been able to attend to all of their needs monetarily, and physically, even as a single parent. I set my own hours around their many activities, and spend every important event with them due to the freedom this allows me. Not only that, I managed to go to college and support us, without a dime from the taxpayers, welfare or any type of program. I have never even smoked a cigarette...and I am not the only one. So their justification and reasoning is what makes me chuckle. The only way a "johns" family is affected is when these guys arrest them and embarass them. I believe that with the evolution of the internet hobby, the "virtual" realm...has opened this up to guys and gal that wouldnt normally partake in the streetwalker experience. we have provided another route to explore this. I believe that most married guys would say that with this outlet, they actually stay married as sex was the only need to be fufilled, not a physical relationship. I also found it funny that they lured the 3 guys there, not one was from Plymouth and they say its not a problem there..I am sure with our dismal state deficit prediction our money could be spent on more important agendas. The adverse affects werent a result of the act either..they were a result of a closed minded law. Ok, off my soap box!!

and we have law enforcement because people have a tendency to obey only the laws that are convenient to them. LE is only doing what it was sworn to do, Protect the public and enforce the laws that govern public behavior.

LE has also found a link between prostitution and drug use as well as white slavery and they use all methods within the limits of their imagination to enforce laws against these types of activity.

When the majority of our population decides that sex for money should be legal it will be legal. What with the "moral majority" and the conservative christian movement I don't see that happening in my lifetime.

There is hope though. Some of the Scandenavian countries our population came from now have legalized sex for money. Until that migrates to Minnesota we all need to be extra careful practicing this hobby

Yes, I say "here, here!!"  to no more fear, FEAR....however, if we step too far out of the closet, it won't be so F'n exciting!  There's the elemenet of "naughty" to remember....

I am proud of it, and I DO do what I do!! thank you, masculinepotens (that's a LONG name, and I can't type it or say it w/o looking, where the hell did you get it?)

I don't buy the whole "related issues" idea.  It's a smokescreen.  Something should be legal or illegal on it's own merits.  Some crooks use bars, garages, etc. as a cover for their activities.  Should we ban going out for a drink or getting ones car fixed then?  And how is arresting an escort going to help her children?  If anything it makes matters worse because now she has lost income and has to come up with money for legal expenses.

I think it largely boils down to the idea that far too many people support freedom so long as people live by their ideas of what activities are acceptable.  I may think poorly of any number of things people do; that doesn't mean I think they should all be illegal.  We have too many laws in this country and a legal system that is unnecessarily complicated and far too expensive to deal with.

..you and many other ladies on here should be commended for your self determination, and many accompaniments.  You as many other ladies have used this opportunity to advance your education, and the lifestyle of your family. I salute you.

You are right, without the internet, there is no way I would participate in this hobby.  Streetwalkers or quickie specialists are not my thing.

The guys in Plymouth go downtown to play, I hear.

there is also a statute that says it is illega for a woman to cheat on her husband but not vice versa...

I, for one, like that one. JK

There are dozens, if not hundreds, of laws still on the books that are not enforced because they are dumb or the time when they made any sense is past.  The problem, of course, is that someone could take advantage of them to go after people they don't like.

People think an imaginary God hates prostitutes.

Hmmm. I’m not sure why I found this so intriguing as I rarely, if ever, post on these discussion boards; don’t really have much to say. However, having been someone who did their thesis on escorts vs. girlfriends and wives, I just couldn’t help but put in my two cents.

Truly, the bottom line, as research shows men (believe it or not) most often patronize escorts due to two primary reasons: 1) Married men that are unable to, or just simply, not getting the type of sex they desire at home and 2) Single males enjoy the non-commitment aspect of guilt free, unadulterated raw sex.

In addressing the first reason, I found that marriage in the millennium differs not much from marriage in the 50’s. How so you ask? Financial stability for both men and women, shared common interests, and even physical attraction. So how does that tie into sex? Because we live in a constricted and predominately patriarchal society (only a few pious hypocritical men) that utilizes moral and religious reasoning to create laws to conform to their distorted sense of what should transpire between men and women (consensual). We have these silly issues with the legality of escorting.

As in most patriarchal societies, the voice of mainstream recklessly and unabashedly overtly and covertly tells women “don’t sleep with him on the first date”, “never ever suck his nasty thing”, and my all time favorite “sex is a duty for you to perform for your man, of course you cannot enjoy it, nor at anytime express your sexual desires”.  

So many additional studies have been done sociologically and psychologically on how men and women differ in terms of sexual drive etc. Guess what? Without cultural normative influences, men and women differ minutely. That is to say without the guilt and shame, and game playing, most women are taught in the name of virtue, they are just as horny as men are. However, due to a few pressures growing up, their sexuality is stifled and their made to feel ashamed of their bodies.

Many of my friends are married and engage in this wonderful hobby. I have first handedly seen the dynamics of their marriages and have truly come to understand why they are in this hobby; they are rationed out missionary, one pop sex, every other week. For those that scoff at my observation(s). Take a poll with any age range of married men and ask them if they are getting all, that’s right all, of their sexual needs fulfilled?

As far as the single guys who love this hobby (me!!!!!!!) there are a myriad of different reasons why us guys generally don’t want to be in a relationship of any kind, other than a guilt free sexual one. Just think, as I’m sure you guy’s will vouch for, all the different shapes and sizes of these beautiful escorts that are at our disposal. On Tuesday – Blonde, Wednesday – Black etc. And for the most part, the escorts are extremely intelligent, savvy, and warmly offer the GFE (different definitions apply for all of us!!!!!!)

So why this long diatribe, besides attempting to be somewhat philosophical, because quite simply, with gangs and violence towards everyone bursting at our cities proverbial seams, the police have to arrest three guy’s that were going to engage in consensual sex? Come on, seriously?????

Additionally, hats off to the escorts that are in this because they love sex. The sexist term “ you’ve come a long way baby” doesn’t even do you justice in going up against historical and existential set in stone beliefs about how you should act. I’m not sure who said it, but it’s classic “Rarely do well behaved women make history” Stand up and be counted. Unfortunately, because of the laws we have to get creative

Bianca, you are right regarding the Adultery statute in the Minnesota Criminal Code:  adultery is effectively and exclusively defined as sex between a married woman and a man other than her husband.  (Biblical scholars suggest that the seventh commandment was understood similarly by ancient Israel.)  But then the Fornication statute defines as a misdemeanor sex between an unmarried woman and anyone.  It is obviously and odiously sexist for these statutes to define these misdemeanors exclusively in terms of the marital status of the female partner; but between them, all non-marital heterosexual coupling is in fact outlawed, and that itself is of course also ridiculous.

"I also found it funny that they lured the 3 guys there, not one was from Plymouth and they say its not a problem there..."

According to LE, the men who engage in this activity bring all kinds of troubles to town - drugs, and all the crime that flows from therefrom.  So what does Plymouth LE do?  They go out and import it!  What a joke.

Well pointed out points and facts. However I feel if we are supposed to be created equal we should be able to think individually and do what we feel is right, best or best yet our own decisions when it comes to who we sleep with, what we spend our money on, and definetly who we invite over for some fun sexual or otherwise.

So thank you all I really appreciate you taking the time to help me better undertand..

Lauren