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Rep. Allen Introduces Legislation to Combat Sex Trafficking
One Republican lawmaker at the Wisconsin Capitol wants to fight human trafficking and prostitution by making it a lot more expensive to get caught for paying to have sex.
State Rep. Scott Allen, R-Waukesha, this week introduced a piece of legislation that would add a mandatory $5,000 fine for anyone convicted of using a prostitute.
“One way to tackle human trafficking is to increase the penalty for ‘buyers’ who make trafficking financially viable,” Allen said.
He's calling his plan the The Human Trafficking Prevention Act.
Allen said his plan is modeled after laws already on the books in Florida and Washington state.
Florida’s law was challenged, but a federal judge eventually ruled that the fine is constitutional.
Allen’s legislation would require a “mandatory $5,000 surcharge on individuals convicted of patronizing/soliciting prostitutes or keeping a place of prostitution.”
Right now, patronizing/soliciting is a Class A misdemeanor. That means a maximum punishment of up to nine months in jail, and a maximum $10,000 fine. But that fine is not mandatory, so judges can choose not to fine at all in some cases.
Allen said any money created by the $5,000 fine would be earmarked for the Internet Crimes Against Children task forces and services for Sex Trafficking Victims.
“Wisconsin has become a hot spot for trafficking,” said Rep. Allen. “Let’s change that by making it too expensive to do business in Wisconsin.”
Sen. Andre Jacque, R-DePere, is the Senate sponsor of the plan.
It’s not clear yet when the legislation will get its first hearing, or see its first vote.
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