APD wants more law on hooker customers

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Albuquerque police want a new weapon in their never-ending effort to stop prostitution on the streets.

If Vice Unit officers have their way, johns won’t only be getting cuffed, their cars will get the boot or seized and sold.

This spring they plan to ask the Albuquerque City Council to propose a law that mirrors DWI laws.

“They’re using their vehicles to conduct criminal activity, so it’s a nuisance,” said an undercover vice officer said as KRQE News 13 accompanied him Friday night. "Not only that, they’re doing the sexual activity in the vehicle often times on people’s private property."

During Friday afternoon and evening vice officers running a "john sting" along east Central Avenue arrested a dozen men and charged them with patronizing a prostitute. They also arrested nine alleged hookers.

Under the proposed ordinance a first offense would mean a john's car would be booted. If they’re caught again, their car would be seized then auctioned off.

Police said the money raised from cars sold at auction would be used to help fight drug addiction and other problems that go hand in hand with prostitution.