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Police describe stepped-up enforcement; council supports state bill to aid prosecution of soliciting offenses
Summary
Salinas police commanders briefed the council on an ongoing effort to reduce street-level prostitution and trafficking and described a state-level bill the city is prepared to back to restore enforcement tools, while emphasizing community collaboration and victim services.
Salinas police commanders told the City Council on April 8 that the department has increased patrols and used a range of local enforcement tools while awaiting state legislation to restore additional enforcement authority for soliciting and related activity.
Commander Warner (referred to in the meeting) said officers have been using the city's infraction ordinance, 21-32(b), to address street prostitution and that repeated citations can be elevated to a misdemeanor filing in the city attorney's office if the citation threshold is met. "If they are cited 3 times in the 6 months period, the city attorney's office can file it as a misdemeanor," the commander said.
City officials described interim steps taken while state legislation is pending: increased patrols, collaboration with businesses and churches in affected neighborhoods, posting of human-trafficking signage, pursuit of additional cameras, and enforcement of related infractions such as illegal parking and traffic violations.
Councilmembers expressed support for the city's multi-pronged approach and spoke in favor of backing the state measure, which they said would provide the police with clearer authority to contact and assist victims of trafficking while pursuing enforcement. "This bill will assist us further in being able to contact those workers, because many of them, not all, are victims of human trafficking," the commander said.
Local officials emphasized the dual focus on enforcement and services. Law-enforcement officers said they are coordinating with social-service providers to offer resources to people who may be victims of trafficking or exploitation.
No formal vote on a city resolution of support for the state bill was recorded on April 8; several councilmembers signaled they intended to support the policy and encouraged continued enforcement and community collaboration.
