IMPOUND LAW TO HELP FIGHT PROSTITUTION, DRUGS

ST. PETERSBURG -- Neighborhood leaders and business owners cheered
Thursday when City Council members voted to impound cars used to
solicit prostitutes or commit drug-related crimes.

"We can get the word out that if you do this, you better go somewhere
else," said Susie Ajoc, a city neighborhood partnership

coordinator who worked on the initiative.

The measure is the result of a yearlong grassroots effort to clean up
34th Street, where residents have complained that prostitutes and drug
dealers are killing property values, driving away tourists and
spurring other crimes.

Using similar ordinances in West Palm Beach and Tampa, a committee of
neighborhood activists joined with police officers to research other
cities and adapt the rule to St. Petersburg's needs.

This is how it works: A police officer can impound a car when he has
probable cause to believe that it was used to solicit a prostitute, to
try to carry out a drug deal or was carrying illegal drugs. If the car
is leased or not being used by its owner, the car cannot be impounded.

The car owner can request a hearing to contest the action. To retrieve
the car from the police impound lot, the owner must pay a $500 fine,
plus towing and hearing costs.

Impounding a car is an additional penalty on top of a criminal charge.
Council members agreed to refund the fine, plus towing and storage
costs, if the car owner is found innocent in criminal court.

St. Petersburg is known for its aggressive efforts to embarrass
prostitutes and their customers. So-called "johns," who are convicted
of soliciting have their jail mug shots shown on Channel 35, the
city's cable station. Some are sent to courses on the dangers of
picking up prostitutes or receive letters that their cars were seen in
known prostitution areas. State law requires that convicted johns have
their licenses revoked for a year.

Residents described wearing surgical gloves when they walk their dogs,
knowing they might have to clean up around needles and condoms. They
said their children have to play in parks as prostitutes walk by.

Residents and council members hope that the problem might move out of
town.

"I can't tell you how many prostitutes told me they were hooking in
St. Pete because Tampa chased them out," said Lorraine Margeson, a
crime watch coordinator who lives near 34th Street.

Tampa and West Palm Beach officials said the impound law seems to be
helping -- though West Palm Beach police said the biggest impact was
the amount of money the city is collecting.

Checked-by: Patrick Henry