Daytona Beach Shores, FL – If you work in adult entertainment in Daytona Beach Shores, you’re now going to need a permit.
The city’s Department of Public Safety is starting to enforce an ordinance passed by the DBS City Council last month requiring those workers to register with the city, a process which will include requiring those workers to pay a small fee and have their fingerprints on file.
DBS Public Safety Director Stephan Dembinsky says the ordinance is about trying to protect those workers from being sucked into the human trafficking trade.
“The city very much wants to support the efforts of the federal and state governments as they seek to bring an end to the vile human trafficking network which soils our nation,” Dembinsky added. “If every local government took a step to assist, those collective efforts would be a force in the right direction to stop the plague of trafficking in humans.”
A new Florida law is requiring some businesses to post awareness signs in public areas about the dangers of human trafficking, complete with a hotline phone number to report any suspected cases to authorities.
Many of those businesses are directly or indirectly related to the sex industry, but the signs will also be posted in public areas like hospital emergency rooms, airports, train stations and highway rest stops.
“Human trafficking is modern-day slavery,” states Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi. “We must do everything in our power to protect the victims of this horrific crime and bring to justice the monsters who prey on them.”
Dembinsky says having adult entertainment workers within city limits register should help them find anyone being forced to work in the sex trade, something he admits may be happening right now without their being aware of it.
Only 1 business currently in the Shores is being forced to comply with this new ordinance. It’s the Biggins strip club on State Road A1A. Workers who do not comply with the ordinance face a $500 fine and up to 60 days in jail.
Anyone who wants to report a case of people being forced to do any type of work without their consent can call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-373-7888 or text “INFO” or “HELP” to 233-733.
NHTRC estimates that more than 20 million people are enslaved worldwide, with Florida ranking 3rd in the nation in calls to its hotline.
For more about human trafficking and what signs to look for, click here or here.
Copyright 2016 Southern Stone Communications.