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New Bill Targets Illegal Massage Parlors
Linh Bui
Story Created:
Feb 4, 2010 at 5:54 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Feb 4, 2010 at 10:57 PM CDT
Driving on I-75 into Bibb County, billboards advertising massage parlors greet you. And the illegal activities that occur at some advertised massage parlors are rubbing citizens the wrong way.
"Can't we do something about the image of our community that is tarnished by so many of these massage parlors?” says Sen. Cecil Staton (R-18).
Senator Cecil Staton is doing something. He held a press conference Thursday in Atlanta to introduce a new bill that aids in the prosecution of illegal massage parlors.
The bill increases penalties for those charged; those convicted a third time would face a felony charge. And the bill let's local government have a hand in the crackdown by passing their own regulations.
"The main part of it is increasing penalties to that there's more teeth in the law for law enforcement and prosecutors. And second, it makes it clear to local government that they can enact ordinances,” he says.
Staton says the problem has grown in Macon and Bibb County because of our location near major highways and easier local ordinances for shops to set up. It's prompted Staton to ask others a simple question, which has a disturbing answer...
"Is there any other area of the state where this problem is as bad as it is in Macon and Bibb County? And their answer is no,” he says.
Senator Cecil Staton introduced Senate Bill 364 Thursday morning. He says it will probably be assigned to the Judiciary Committee or Public Safety Committee. And he hopes it'll move into the House in one or two weeks. The bill has bipartisan support with Senator Robert Brown's signature. And if passed, it could go into effect July 1st.
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David said on Friday, Feb 5 at 12:06 PM
Also most girls leave the state and go elsewhere and new girls are brought in after the first or 2nd offense anyway. This bill is a Fascist Joke. I hope Joe Allen doesn't pander
Ned Nesmith said on Thursday, Feb 4 at 8:40 PM
Sadly, our tax-paid legislature-politicians play a game called: "You vote for my bill & I'll vote for yours" no matter how redundant the bill. With all the really serious needs being neglected in our community, this freshman politician seeks only to sensationalize his name to fool people into re-electing him. We already have an over-abundance of useless, so-called laws on the books without adding more.
David said on Thursday, Feb 4 at 7:17 PM
Staton is a Fascist who wants to legislate morality. BTW Atlanta and even Dooley County have plenty of spas. These places will continue whether Staton likes it or not!
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