Soliciting prostitutes could become more costly

By CHRIS DANIELS / KING 5 News

KENT, Wash. – Should police be allowed to impound cars used by men who solicit prostitutes?

That's the pitch from the Kent Police Department, which is pitching the idea as a new way to deter prostitution in their city.

"Our neighborhood along Pacific Highway South deserves better, and that's part of the initiative and that's part of the message to change the paradigm," says Kent Police Chief Steve Strachan.

Strachan's department has recently been cracking down on the crime in recent months, while pitching a proposal to State Lawmakers.

Two bills are now in the Legislature which would impound the cars of suspected Johns, and force them to pay a $500 fine to get it back.

"All of those dollars (would) go to a state fund that funds intervention and prevention, so instead of Johns approaching the girls, we have service workers approaching them," Strachan says.

The local chapter of the ACLU says it has no objections to the bill in its current form, and is not taking a stance on the issue.

The two bills:

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1362&year=2009

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=5934&year=2009