Barrie Agency Busts...

[littleone12]

Looks like a few fines were handed out to some local escorts and drivers:

http://www.simcoe.com/news-story/2502522-barrie-escorts-charged

IMHO that grant should be used to target the real pimps. I know it's more rare to target an indy, but what about those poor girls that have their appointments booked for them by some scumbag hanging out in his car outside her hotel. The ones that offer low/no restrictions in their ads, and then answer the girls texts assuring the potential client that this is true. The real predators that coerce otherwise unwilling girls into the profession. The assholes that supply the girls with drugs, make them into addicts just so they become more malleable and dependent on the money (and the pimp). What are the police doing about the girls that do what they are told so that they don't get beaten or raped?

They aren't looking into the business to see if there are any girls coerced into this. By-law is looking into it as a freaking money grab. In only 3 days, they made out like bandits!!

Let's see:

Fines= $250 each.

Assuming a fine is set PER PERSON:
(8 escorts + 5 drivers)$250= $3250

Assuming a fine is set PER INFRACTION:
8 escorts were charged with 13 infractions.
5 drivers were charged with 11 infractions.

(13+11)$250= $6000

So... why did they need a grant to investigate this in the first place? Does at least some of this money go towards future investigations? What does it go towards? Anyone have any idea what the percentages are?

 

[MadonnaLove]

Over the course of three days – Feb. 22, 23 and March 2 – officers contacted several escort agencies and individual escorts through their websites.
Police said they looked for whether or not these escorts were complying with municipal bylaws, and whether or not attendants and drivers were being coerced into the industry.


Barrie Const. James Westcott said the investigation is on -going but as of now, nobody encountered during the investigation said they were coerced into the profession.


I'm so happy I work with a liscensed Agency and ya its worth being licensed.

 

[Morning Glory]

Heard that on Friday FEB. 22, a girl was called for out-call from BW on Hart drive and was charged after she got into the car, I was with Sp on other side of town when she got message, never gave it a thought at the time. Will now , appears eyes are out there again

 

[krazyplayer]

why are they using anti-violence grant money to check bylaw licenses?

 

[MadonnaLove]

Heard that on Friday March 22 a girl was called for out-call from BW on Hart drive and was charged after she got into the car, I was with Sp on other side if town when she got message, never gave it a thought at the time. Will now , appears eyes are out there again

I think you mean Feb 22

 

[littleone12]

Over the course of three days – Feb. 22, 23 and March 2 – officers contacted several escort agencies and individual escorts through their websites.
Police said they looked for whether or not these escorts were complying with municipal bylaws, and whether or not attendants and drivers were being coerced into the industry.


Barrie Const. James Westcott said the investigation is on -going but as of now, nobody encountered during the investigation said they were coerced into the profession.


I'm so happy I work with a liscensed Agency and ya its worth being licensed.

Now if they start busting for incalls thats a criminal offence hence the reason we only do outcalls.

You're absolutely right, Madonna! I missed the "individual" part!! Thanks for pointing that out!

I have no issue paying the licensing fee. My issue is my picture being placed in a government database beside the word "escort" along with my signature stating I am just that. One day I want this to disappear to an extent.

Plus... I'm unwilling to join an agency. I'm too much of a control freak and free spirit.

why are they using anti-violence grant money to check bylaw licenses?

Great question! I'm assuming they got the money because they claim to be looking for girls forced into this.

 

[Morning Glory]

I think you mean Feb 22

T you yes

 

[MadonnaLove]

You're absolutely right, Madonna! I missed the "individual" part!! Thanks for pointing that out!

I have no issue paying the licensing fee. My issue is my picture being placed in a government database beside the word "escort" along with my signature stating I am just that. One day I want this to disappear to an extent.

Plus... I'm unwilling to join an agency. I'm too much of a control freak and free spirit.

You don't have to be with an agency so i'm not sure why you think that. Everyone operating out of Barrie needs to be licensed according to by -law.

Indys are supposed to be licensed too if they operate in Barrie, but yes some people are paranoid about giving there information to be licensed.

A criminal background check is required for licensing so it does protect clients when the criminal check is ok.

Now incalls is a criminal offense so thats a whole different ball game.

 

[Morning Glory]

You don't have to be with an agency to be licensed so i'm not sure why you think that.

Indys can be licensed but yes some people are paranoid about giving there information to be licensed.

A criminal background check is required for licensing so it does protect clients when the criminal check is ok.

Madonna0x, no ill will intended but- Criminal check only states one not been* charged* with a crime, not necessarily they are of totally good character.Anyway how many clients in this business would report a con or theft by an sp, to change it to not OK??. Just a thought on your protects client comment. just IMO. Stay strong and independent Vicky,

 

[MadonnaLove]

Madonna0x, no ill will intended but- Criminal check only states one not been* charged* with a crime, not necessarily they are of totally good character.Anyway how many clients in this business would report a con or theft by an sp, to change it to not OK??. Just a thought on your protects client comment. just IMO. Stay strong and independent Vicky,

i was going to add to my post that some people don't think its fair to be licensed either when only two cities do it and the rest do not. I agree with you morning glory a license doesnt mean your a better character theres bad and good apples everywhere in the world in every profession.

I don't think any less of someone that doesn't want to get licensed thats there choice. But if they want to not take the risk of getting fined and going to court then its something they may consider doing.


I know its a cash grab from the city thats obvious but there are sps like myself that love this line of work and enjoy the job and aren't here because of being coerced.

So maybe they will realize some of us trully love what we do.Its our choice.

 

[littleone12]

You don't have to be with an agency so i'm not sure why you think that. Everyone operating out of Barrie needs to be licensed according to by -law.

Indys are supposed to be licensed too if they operate in Barrie, but yes some people are paranoid about giving there information to be licensed.

A criminal background check is required for licensing so it does protect clients when the criminal check is ok.

Now incalls is a criminal offense so thats a whole different ball game.

I hadn't looked at by-law in Barrie since 2006, but I just did a quick search and the impression they are currently giving is the same as I was told by By-Law in 2006. Back then, I tried to apply for a license as an independent and was told that was absolutely NOT possible. Online, it seems as though that has not changed in the last 6-7 years. I found this list of requirements necessary for an escort to acquire a license:

 Criminal Record Check
 2 pieces of photo identification including date of birth
 Professional name (if applicable);
 Letter of employment/employment offer from Escort Service

Source (on page 13): http://www.barrie.ca/City Hall/ByLa...tertainment Entertainment Industry By-law.pdf

I also found this on Maggie's a few weeks ago:

"4. The law against “Operating a Common Bawdy House” was struck down and might be gone in one year (March 2013). This means that if you see your clients indoors, in your own home or a hotel, this may become legal in a year. And we may see legal brothels. But the changes won’t come into effect for at least a year and in the meantime, the judges demanded that the government come up with a new way to regulate sex workers who work inside (hotels, outcalls, their own home etc). For now though, unfortunately, nothing has changed and working out of your own home, working indoors with someone else or in any one place regularly is still illegal. The only legal way to work remains by doing outcalls or moving from hotel room to hotel room."

Source: http://maggiestoronto.ca/news?news_id=87

 

[MadonnaLove]

"4. The law against “Operating a Common Bawdy House” was struck down and might be gone in one year (March 2013). This means that if you see your clients indoors, in your own home or a hotel, this may become legal in a year. This does not mean in calls are legal now nor does it mean in March it is legal we will find out soon enough through the court. So i hope the court brings good news and in calls will be legal. Outcalls are legal.
Source: http://maggiestoronto.ca/news?news_id=87[/QUOTE]

Do you remember December sp ? she had on her indy website that she was licensed in Barrie.A few other indys were licensed as well. As far as what Maggie says moving from hotel to hotel does not guarantee you can't get charged with in calls. If you don't want to get licensed thats your choice.

tried to apply for a license as an independent and was told that was absolutely NOT possible.

It is possible ...An independant escort requires two licenses to operate in the city of Barrie.Thats not including a driver.

 

[Gettin$$$$$]

First off all Laws and Bi-Laws are open for interpretation, and cases could easily be made in a city such as Barrie to defend any person who may find themself in a similar situation.
First off advertising strictly as an adult entertainer and not an escort can be the easiest way around this.

In a city like Barrie the Bawdy House Act, (you can still be prosecuted on a provincial level at any time by LE as of right now) would easily become void, as it specifically indicated "Common" in their wording of it. It's pretty hard to term the only 4 star hotel in town a "common" place of prostitution as this would imply that its only use was for prostitution. The only case I am aware of that made this type of charge stick, was in Halifax where they could clearly implement the owners of the hotel in the business dealings.

one thing about licensing is that it doesn't mean anything other then those working girls have filled out an application and met the criteria. What it really does is give the police a nice list of names to investigate and slander in the future. I know everyone on here hopes and prays that prostitution laws get better, but with this overly conservative government you can bet that it will not.

This licensing also does not check any of these woman for health issues and only screens the workers. So the comment about the pimps made before goes completely out the window, when as an agency owner one could have priors for living off the avails lets say and be granted status as a licensed agency, this does not stop the drugs or the abuse in any way it actually allows for it further and further isolates more the half of the women currently in the business, as many have records etc and are now forced out of the industry or to operate illegally.

its a touchy subject, but bottom line is that Barrie police only operate to promote their own agenda, what is being done is not to protect anyone

Edit: We have to remember that the general public in Barrie did not become aware of agency and massage parlours until recently. Many of these concerned im sure took it upon themseves to learn that this was permitted by the city, and now have many complaints. These complaints have to be addressed and local LE must do the only thing they can do now and harass people to make it look like they are solving some social ill.

 

[krazyplayer]

Gettin:

the bawdy house laws are in full force federally across the country as part of the canadian criminal code s.210.
these laws are active and being enforced until the supreme court decision likely to come this summer.
the barrie bylaw also requires an adult entertainment license - so you are wrong about getting around it advertising that way.
the cops did go to hotel rooms allegedly looking for underage - even though the women I know that they targeted were all in their 30's.

the people of Barrie have long been aware of of agencies and massage parlours. Where are you from?

 

[krazyplayer]

Little one,

spoc is better than maggies when it comes to indoor SP's info on laws.

http://spoc.ca/