By Joe Bachman
Editor

STEVENS POINT — City officials passed a municipal prostitution ordinance on Monday night after a police recommendation.

At Monday’s Public Protection meeting, the city adopted an amendment similar to Wis. Stats. §§ 944.30-944.34. These are statutes prohibiting the patronization, solicitation, and pandering of prostitution.

Requested by the police department, the intention is to create an added tool for situations where criminal prosecution is not appropriate, and for the flexibility to prosecute such charges in municipal court over state court.

Police Chief Marty Skibba seeks to increase the proposed fine of $500 to a higher fine by Monday’s city council meeting.

“Obviously people are aware of trafficking, sex crimes — and unfortunately, Stevens Point is no different in having certain levels of this type of activity,” said Skibba. “But we also understand that there are victims involved as Chief Zenner has spoken about previously — this provides us a tool to work with the victims and get them into systems to work with health and human services.”

“Unfortunately, this activity is happening in Stevens Point,” said Assistant Police Chief Tom Zenner.

Zenner informed city officials of an undercover operation by police involving a false online ad placed for solicitation. In only six hours, they received over 100 responses. Four arrests resulted in the operation.

“This is an opportunity — it gives us one more tool,” said Zenner. “There may be mitigating circumstances that may come with each unique case that this wouldn’t immediately go to a criminal charge. That doesn’t mean we have to stick at an ordinance level.”

According to City Attorney Andrew Beveridge, other communities in Wisconsin have similar ordinances in place. The language in this ordinance was based on an ordinance from the Village of Grand Chute.

Subsection 24.55, of the Revised Municipal Code, Wis. Stats. §§ 944.30-944.34 Adopted, is hereby created to read as follows:

24.55 WIS. STATS. §§ 944.30-944.34 ADOPTED (1) The provisions of Wis. Stats. §§ 944.30 – 944.34 are hereby adopted in the City of Stevens Point. No person shall commit any offense prohibited under those statutory sections. Any person who violates any provision of this Section shall suffer a forfeiture of not more than $500.

This will come to a final vote at next week’s council.