In November of this year Craigslist has pledged to crackdownon ads for prosititution through it’s website. As part of their agreement with attorney generals around the country, anyone who posts to the “erotic services” section of their site will be required to provide a working phone number and pay a fee with a valid credit card. The website (craigslist.com) will provide that information to law enforcement if subpoenaed.

What does this mean to the thousand’s of “hobbyists” that call on Craigslist providers?

For many hobbyists, it means having to look over your back everytime they call on a local escort. Many local law enforcement agencies have been using escort advertising services to conduct stings looking for “Johns” in the area. In the state of Colorado a “John” would not only face a misdemeanor charge but they might have their vehicle confiscated as well as face the public humiliation of being placed on the “John’s list” published online by the Denver Police Department.

Jim Buckmaster, the Craigslist Chief Executive Officer said, “The deal will allow legitimate escort services to continue advertising, while providing a strong disincentive to companies that conducting illegal business.” (quote according to MSNBC “Craigslist to crack down on prostitution ads”)

The following definitions are according to the City of Westminster:

“(A)  "Escort" means any person who, for a salary, fee, commission, hire, or profit, makes himself available to the public for the purpose of accompanying other persons for companionship or agrees or offers to act as a companion, guide, or date for another person, or who agrees or offers to privately model lingerie or to privately perform a striptease for another person.

(B)  "Escort Service" means any business, agency, or person who, for a fee, tip, commission, hire, profit or other consideration, furnishes, offers to furnish, or advertises to furnish escorts as one of its primary business purposes.

(C)  "Escort Service Runner" means any person who, for a salary, tip, fee, hire, profit or other consideration, acts in the capacity of an agent for an escort service by contacting or meeting with escort patrons whether or not said person is employed by such escort service or by another business or is self-employed.

(D)  "Escort Patron" means any person who seeks the services of an escort, escort service, or escort service runner.

(E)  "Licensed Premises" means a single, discrete, identifiable location at which a licensed activity is permitted and, in fact, is conducted under the authority of any one license.

(F)  "Person" means a natural person, partnership, association, company, corporation, or organization or a managing agent, servant, officer, partner, owner, operator, or employee of any of them. “

After talking with several local escorts and agencies in the Denver Metro Area, there have been several busts and stings set up by local law enforcement. So before you think about engaging an escort through Craigslist, you might think twice!