My read is as follows, but I would be interested in ActualLawyer's reaction.
It isn't as thought NoVA cops are hanging out the welcome sign for escorts, but MD cops are pretty open about using publicity to scare away escorts and clients. Also, this isn't about some social conservative's crusade; the whole area is pretty blue and some of the most aggressive jurisdictions are some of the least conservative.
In Maryland, Montgomery, Howard, Prince Georges, and Anne Arundel counties (if you are from out of town, this is the Maryland suburbs of DC, the area around BWI, and the suburbs between DC and Baltimore). The approach isn't exactly the same; PG seems to be focused on public nuisance prostitution (i.e., obvious, annoying the neighbors, BP girls), while Montgomery and perhaps Howard will even go after very discreet escorts if they come to LE 's attention.
In Northern Virginia, they do stings and do prosecute, even in lefty jurisdictions like Arlington and Alexandria. NoVA also seems to have more of a problem with gangs trafficking underage girls. They put their PR efforts into scaring people about seeing some sleazy girl who turns out to be pimped out by MS-13 (I doubt if there is much point in using the press to scare the MS-13 sociopaths). Even so, very discreet ladies have been busted in Arlington.
I think their ranking of who they go after is the same across jurisdictions. Underage and trafficked get the most attention (including the clients if the girls are underage) and they get federal help; public nuisance and prostitution connected to other crimes come next; and discreet ladies and their clients are last and only if they come to the attention of LE more or less by accident.
VA jurisdictions and DC seem safer for discreet ladies than most Maryland locations. Obviously, the District, PG, and to a lesser extent Arlington and Alexandria have a lot of serious felony to deal with, while Fairfax, Montgomery, and Howard have less of a problem. However, even deep blue jurisdictions like Montgomery, Arlington, and Alexandria do arrests non-trafficked discreet adults.
