Item would amend an ordinance for hotel and motel registration relative to deterring drug and prostitution related criminal activity with the creation of requiring a permit. East Baton Rouge leaders have created a system meant to curb human trafficking, prostitution and other illegal activities they say have flourished in some motels and hotels across the parish. The East Baton Rouge Metro Council on Wednesday passed an ordinance creating a system of permits, registrations and fines that could force hotels or motels that become crime havens to shutter after multiple penalties.
Sex trafficking has historically been a problem in Baton Rouge. Just before Christmas last year, police arrested two Arkansas men accused of having driven a year-old girl from Arkansas to Louisiana, posting photos of her on a prostitution website and trafficking her for sex. The men were arrested as they were leaving a motel room on Boardwalk Drive.
Two Arkansas men were arrested Thursday for sex trafficking a juvenile after police found them leaving a Baton Rouge area motel where they hadβ¦. Also last year, a group of nuns opened a Baton Rouge home for human trafficking victims called Metanoia Manor, which Pope Francis blessed.
Jim Steele, an investigator with the district attorney's office, said Baton Rouge has a group of hotels that have been especially problematic. Those in the Rieger Road area immediately came to mind, he said. And Steele said the DA's office will give special notice to hotels they believe are in trouble, and tell them what they need to do to "get out of the hole. Baton Rouge Lodging Association leaders announced their support Wednesday for the effort to curb crime and trafficking at hotels and motels.
Ben Blackwell, speaking on behalf of the organization, said "we want to do our part" to curb trafficking, prostitution and drug usage. Hotels and motels are now required to apply for permits through the city-parish, and the permits can be suspended or revoked if the hotels incur multiple prostitution or drug-related arrests or calls to law enforcement within a short time period.
