Florida city regulates massage parlors with new ordinance - Seattle Times

[massage]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — One Florida city voted to adopt a revised bathhouse ordinance from the 1980s aimed at cracking down on illicit services offered in massage parlors.

Tampa city councilors agreed to a permit application process for massage parlors that offer bathing, a common precursor to sex acts, and require them to follow more stringent regulations.

The Tampa Bay Times reports that the measure was criticized as oppressive and hailed as a measure to help the city fight human trafficking.


Officials told a sex worker solidarity group they are working with other agencies to make sure women would be protected.

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Once the new ordinance takes effect, the penalty for operating a bath house without a permit will be a fine of up to $500 and 60 days in jail.

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Information from: Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Fla.), http://www.tampabay.com.


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