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SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake County leaders unanimously approved a law change Tuesday to help law enforcers crack down on disguised prostitution.
Under the revised law, business owners will have fewer warnings before losing their licenses when their buildings are used as fronts for prostitution.
Until now, businesses like massage parlors have not been held accountable if their independent contractors violated the law. Only the contractor's license would be revoked.
That's been problematic to law enforcers trying to root out reoffending establishments, said Councilman Steve DeBry, who also works as chief of the Unified Police Department precinct in Millcreek. He said establishments can just hire a replacement and continue to violate the law.
"It's just been a revolving door," DeBry said. "You could never solve the problem or get your teeth into fixing the issue."
It's just been a revolving door. You could never solve the problem or get your teeth into fixing the issue.
–Steve DeBry, councilman
Now, business owners' licenses will only be allowed one warning each year. If two incidents occur — or if two masseuses are arrested, charged or convicted for prostitution — within 12 months, then the business owner's license will also be revoked.
"This is going to help law enforcement deal with the problem," DeBry said. "Are we ever going to make it go away? No. But it's happening, it's prevalent, it's there, and we need to deal with it. … Now we will be putting more culpability on the owners or of these businesses."
