Backstabber Report

Easton, PA Takes Cars From Hooker’s Customers

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, due to both sides appearing to call it a draw and leaving sleeping dogs be.

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, but I think there are bigger fish to fry,” he said.

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

Some people confuse being anal retentive, morally righteous, headline seekers, out to keep people from conducting a simple exchange of available commodities by mutual agreement – without the trappings of dinner and drinks – with creating a law that will deter nothing. It will only change the manner in which negotiations are conducted.

Critics on the other hand believe it would eventually be struck down as too severe a punishment for the crime. Take away a person’s means of transportation to his livelihood (if they are lucky enough to have a job in this economy) because of violating what amounts to a misdemeanor offense? It’s a sledgehammer punishment to a crime that even the law understands isn’t as serious as being a drug dealer.

Considering the law would be broken when a driver attempts,  ”to solicit prostitution or to engage in an act of prostitution or to solicit or engage in sexual activity,” this may result in a lot of teenagers losing their parent’s vehicles when they stop to talk the girl they know from the sex education class at school.  Get right down to it and most honest men will tell you when they ask a woman if she wants to have a cup of coffee with him, he’s already envisioning a night of hot sex. “To solicit sexual activity” is pretty broad wording, in our opinion. Considering our H.S. youth of today that have no qualms about asking outright for what they want, Easton won’t have an impound lot large enough to hold all the cars they will have to sell off.

We 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 have enough money to provide much needed dental care for residents, to get all those missing teeth replaced.

If Easton did that, I’d live there and would appreciate the better hookers that would be available.

In the meantime, I’ll be walking…

I have an old pair of sneakers I wouldn’t mind Easton auctioning off.