DeSantis Issues No Fines After 14,000 Sex Trafficking Cases

Monday, November 21, 2022

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration has declined to issue fines after over 14,000 violations of a sex trafficking law by Florida hotels and lodging establishments. An investigation published on Sunday by the Sun Sentinel found that 6,669 hotels and other lodging establishments had received 14,279 citations since a 2019 sex trafficking law required them to make modest changes to protect victims.

Posted by tonyroma at 12:31 PM | 36 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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In one case, The Plaza Hotel was cited five times after a 17-year-old girl was choked because she would not turn over all her earnings to her sex trafficker.

The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation told the paper that no fines had been issued because the establishment had corrected the problems within a 90-day grace period provided by the law.

State Sen. Lauren Book passed the law and was shocked to find out that state enforcers had required no fines.

"The reason that we had the cure period was that you fix the problem, not that you fall back on your laurels because the department then gives you another 90 days after some time," she explained. "That's not the intention, that's not the spirit of the law or the intention. So it's my intention to go back and change that and not allow for that."

It's not clear why DeSantis has not ordered his government to use the law to crack down on sex trafficking.

Could it be that many of these hotels are campaign contributors to DeSantis? This is only the first report of a 5 part series. The other 4 parts should be equally interesting - or troubling - regarding DeSantis' administration of Florida law designed to protect vulnerable trafficked youth, not mega-corporations and their profits.

#1 | Posted by tonyroma at 2022-11-20 10:48 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

#1 | POSTED BY TONYROMA

I'm sure a few are friends and family.

#2 | Posted by JasonM at 2022-11-21 10:20 AM | Reply

Desantis is a child sex trafficking groomer in chief

#3 | Posted by ChiefTutMoses at 2022-11-21 10:28 AM | Reply

""The reason that we had the cure period was that you fix the problem, not that you fall back on your laurels because the department then gives you another 90 days after some time," she explained. "That's not the intention, that's not the spirit of the law or the intention."

Maybe she should have checked with law enforcement first. She seems blindsided by the fact that they're willing to go easy on sex traffickers. If it weren't for these establishments some of these cops would never--------.

#4 | Posted by Hagbard_Celine at 2022-11-21 10:33 AM | Reply

Where would Robert Kraft get a handy?

#5 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2022-11-21 10:58 AM | Reply

14,000? That's just those between Mar-A-Lago and Matt Gaetz.

#6 | Posted by johnny_hotsauce at 2022-11-21 01:33 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

Governor Groomer.

No wonder they were so worried about democrats doing what they are already doing.

Projection.

#7 | Posted by donnerboy at 2022-11-21 01:51 PM | Reply

Good. A hotel shouldnt be fined because 2 adults had consensual sex in one of their rooms.

Sex work does not mean sex trafficking.

#8 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2022-11-21 01:59 PM | Reply | Funny: 1 | Newsworthy 1

And they should definitely fine people for having sex in traffic. That's dangerous! And very distracting.

#9 | Posted by donnerboy at 2022-11-21 03:27 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

Sex work does not mean sex trafficking.
#8 | POSTED BY SPEAKSOFTLY

Depends. If there's a pimp involved, there is a significant probability that the sex-worker is being trafficked.

#10 | Posted by rstybeach11 at 2022-11-21 03:41 PM | Reply

Depends. If there's a pimp involved, there is a significant probability that the sex-worker is being trafficked.

#10 | Posted by rstybeach11

Only if the pimp is forcing them to do what they dont want to do.

If it's a person who is arranging gigs and taking a cut - that's a manager.
If it's a person who goes on gigs to make sure the sex worker doesn't get hurt or murdered, that's a security guard.

#11 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2022-11-21 04:48 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

If a person is threatening or beating a sex worker for not bringing them enough money that's a pimp.

#12 | Posted by Tor at 2022-11-21 05:01 PM | Reply

If a person is threatening or beating a sex worker for not bringing them enough money that's a pimp.

#12 | Posted by Tor

Right. And threatening and beating people should remain illegal. Consensual sex should not.

#13 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2022-11-21 05:07 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

GRACIE on DeathSantis (with southern accent): "But Ah LOVE he-im!"

#14 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2022-11-21 06:12 PM | Reply

#11 | POSTED BY SPEAKSOFTLY

Either scenario of which can be part of the manipulation involved in trafficking. You desperately want this to be black and white, when it's clearly not.

Swallow it.

#15 | Posted by rstybeach11 at 2022-11-21 06:42 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

Either scenario of which can be part of the manipulation involved in trafficking. You desperately want this to be black and white, when it's clearly not.

Swallow it.

#15 | Posted by rstybeach11

Careful republicans want that to be illegal.

It is pretty black and white - if 2 people WANT to have sex, it's not the government's business, even if money changes hands.

If someone is being forced to have sex, that's wrong in sex work, as it is wrong in any other situation.

#16 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2022-11-21 06:47 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Legalizing prostitution, research has shown, is correlated with a significant probability of increased human trafficking. There are pros, such as potentially improved working conditions for prostitutes. But in terms of human trafficking, legalizing prostitution will more than likely worsen human trafficking in the corresponding region.
orgs.law.harvard.edu

#19 | Posted by rstybeach11 at 2022-11-21 07:02 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

#16 | POSTED BY SPEAKSOFTLY

In a vacuum, your point would be valid (i.e., black and white). But this is not a vacuum: human trafficking is a $30+ billion per year illicit industry, second only to the global drug trade. Following your logic would more thank likely worsen this issue.

#20 | Posted by rstybeach11 at 2022-11-21 07:10 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

#18 | POSTED BY PUPPET16

Are you willfully ignorant? Or just cheering on others to become/continue to be willfully ignorant?

Shortening the long story affords people to ignore the nuance, leading to willful ignorance.

Swallow it.

#21 | Posted by rstybeach11 at 2022-11-21 07:13 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

#20 | Posted by rstybeach11

ILLICIT. That's what makes it dangerous. It doesn't have to be any more dangerous than the legal regulated professional massage industry.

#22 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2022-11-21 08:38 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

In -------- countries girls will always be sold for sex just like boys will always be sold for labor. Our goal should be to help lift these countries out of the ---- instead of punishing free people in our country who want to exchange money for sex.

#23 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2022-11-21 08:40 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

In -------- countries girls will always be sold for sex just like boys will always be sold for labor.

We need to stay out of countries like these. The people of these countries lack the character and personal integrity to stop ------- young girls. It's in their male dominated culture.

#24 | Posted by boaz at 2022-11-22 08:36 AM | Reply

Don't claim to be a law and order governor and rhen ignore rhe crime of sex trafficing. I guess the hotel and motel industry puts profits before protecting children in Florida and Sesantis seems fine with that. Sort of disgusting and he earns his nivk name Ron Desanctimonious.

#25 | Posted by danni at 2022-11-22 08:50 AM | Reply

We need to stay out of countries like these. The people of these countries lack the character and personal integrity to stop ------- young girls. It's in their male dominated culture.

#24 | POSTED BY BOAZ

You mean like Republicans? You support the party of groomers there, buddy.

#26 | Posted by Sycophant at 2022-11-22 10:20 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Sorry Dems, every time you try to express a sentiment of "They should be following the law", every case in the last 10 years of you expressly telling people to ignore laws or not follow laws sits on your shoulders. You lost trust by your own ldeeds, not by anyone else's. There isn't even an argument that can be made as a defense. You tell people to loot and riot. You tell people to cross the border illegally. You tell people to steal. And on and on and on.

Not saying the other side doesn't do it. But this specific instance has caught you red-handed being hypocrites.

#28 | Posted by humtake at 2022-11-22 12:17 PM | Reply

In -------- countries girls will always be sold for sex just like boys will always be sold for labor.

We need to stay out of countries like these. The people of these countries lack the character and personal integrity to stop ------- young girls. It's in their male dominated culture.

#24 | Posted by boaz

But then where would rush limbaugh go to--------?

#30 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2022-11-22 12:48 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

"We need to stay out of countries like these."

America is a country like that.

#31 | Posted by snoofy at 2022-11-22 12:51 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

"but agency policy is delegated"

The buck stops over there somewhere, not exactly sure where... but definitely not with the person in charge!

#34 | Posted by snoofy at 2022-11-22 03:19 PM | Reply

Why the F are hotels somehow being considered responsible IN ANY WAY for what people are doing in them?

Is the hotel directly participating? No? Then it shouldn't be on the hotel.

And how much of this is actual sex trafficking and how much is consenting adults having sex for money? Because only one of those should be a crime anyway.

#35 | Posted by DarkVader at 2022-11-22 09:41 PM | Reply

Typical click bait story, completely misleading. The intention is to suggest that Desantis is providing safe haven for child rapists in area hotels. In fact, The citations mentioned have nothing to do with sexual activity, consensual or non consensual. The hotels were cited for failure to comply with provisions of a new law requiring them to participate in sex trafficking awareness programs. This includes requiring all employees to undergo specific training to recognize signs of sex trafficking, and posting of required signage on the premises.

#36 | Posted by Miranda7 at 2022-11-23 03:07 AM | Reply