Easton Councilwoman Wants To Take Your Car If You Want A Hooker

Easton, PA seized 8 cars in August of 2008, as a newly enacted city law allowed their police officers to do in response to anyone soliciting prostitution. Among those arrested was a retired police chief.

That was the last time the vehicle seizure ordinance was enforced, after attorney Gary Asteak decided to challenge the law. While the case hasn’t proceeded any further than a filing and Asteak would have been happy for it to remain that way, the mayor of Easton may be looking for a determination of it’s legitimacy.

After the 2008 seizures, a Northampton County judge ordered all vehicles returned to their owners and ordered the city of Easton not to seize any more cars until Asteak’s lawsuit was heard. Asteak did not move forward with his case and the lawsuit has remained in Limbo.

Now, the city of Easton seems to be itching for a showdown, as complaints from citizens about prostitution are heard and their opinion that seizures of vehicles would be a deterrent to an act that men have literally risked their lives for. Considering the 2011 budget for Easton has just been presented, it’s stewards may believe that the added revenue of seized vehicles may help the already cash strapped city.

Asteak is ready for the fight. “If the city wants to reactivate it, I’m game,” he said. Adding, “but I think there are bigger fish to fry.”

Easton Councilwoman Elinor Warner, the bill’s sponsor thinks the ordinance would be lawful, citing John Morganelli, a Northampton D.A., who thinks it enforceable.

Critics on the other hand believe it would eventually be struck down as too severe a punishment for the crime.

I think Easton should simply legalize prostitution. It would allow them to control the small area they deem it legal, maintain the health of the girls and the customers, impose fees for operating licenses, create an additional tax base, bring money carrying tourists into a depressed city, and actually provide men with women who dress nice – like those in Las Vegas. Hell, I’ll bet Easton would make enough money to provide much needed dental care to get all those missing teeth replaced for the Pennsyltuckians that need them.

The fact is that legal prostitution works and works well. Just check with Elko County in Nevada. Crime around the “ranches” is almost non-existent. Tax revenue is steady, STD’s are lower than almost everywhere else in the country (the girls are checked weekly by a medical doctor and the customers are checked each visit by the women themselves), and there are few complaints from local residents.

If Easton had that, I’d live there and they’d probably see a rise in home values.

In the meantime, park your car and walk when soliciting. Easton can then only take your shoes.