|
While prostitution is almost entirely banned in the United States (except for Nevada), in Germany the practice is not only legal during certain hours, but now has been embraced by the government as a source of tax revenue. Bonn, the former West German capital, has installed “prostitution meters” in high-traffic sex worker areas.
Prostitution is permitted between the hours of 8:15 p.m. and 6 a.m. in Bonn. Prostitutes are now required to purchase a six euro ($9) ticket at the beginning of their “shift,” which grants the individual a night of legal work time.
Even if the prostitute finds no work, they still must purchase the ticket. If a prostitute fails to show the ticket to an officer, they will first receive a warning. A second offense earns a fine of $125. Subsequent violations could result in banishment from working in the sex trade.
A city spokeswoman from Bonn claims that the motivation for installing the meters was to ensure that street workers pay their fair share, since women who work in brothels and other sex establishments are already charged a “sex tax.”
The city expects to receive close to 200,000 euros ($288,000) per year, according to a Yahoo! News article. Apparently, after the first night of use, one meter yielded 264 euros ($375).
|