Monterey County DA enforces human trafficking awareness law

KION news went along with local law enforcement on an effort to prevent human trafficking, their target was Monterey massage parlors. They call the event “Day of Action”.

California ranks as one of the top states for the crime.

Police and volunteers launched into groups looking for signs that massage parlors are complying with the law and, it turns out, many are not.

The signs they were looking for are posters that should hang in windows, giving information to human trafficking victims and also those who suspect it could be going on.

“It was implemented in 2013 and its 2018 and you’re often not seeing these posters in the relevant businesses,” assistant district attorney Jeannine Pacioni said.

The DA’s office did their first Day of Action back in July. Months after they sent the posters to all of the businesses they were going to check in on. The results disappointing.

“We had sent a copy of the poster to every one of them and only a third were

compliant after we sent the poster and waited months to go back and check

and see if they had the poster up.” Pacioni said, “Only a third compliant. That’s very poor

compliance.”

Thursday was the follow up.

KION was there as officers stopped at several businesses. None had the posters on display.

Not hanging the poster could cost a business.

“Instead of just saying, ‘Hey here’s the poster, post it’ we’re saying ‘Here’s the poster post it, oh hey by the way, here’s a violation, you’ve got thirty days to correct’,” Pacioni said.

If and when those posters do go up, the DA’s office hopes they send a message.

“For the victims, that there’s help out there but also to warn those predators that we’re looking for them,” Pacioni said.

The businesses that didn’t have the posters up have thirty days to comply with the law. The first fine if they don’t is $500.

Thursday’s Day of Action focused mainly on Monterey Peninsula cities. A Day of Action for Salinas is also set to be scheduled.