Jugglez must be mad
13-May-2003, 03:26 PM
#1
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: www.mojonation.ca
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Jugglez must be mad
http://torontostar.com/NASApp/cs/Con...=1052251556662
Region targets massage parlours
Some prostitution fronts, police say
300 bylaw charges laid in York blitz
LESLIE FERENC
YORK REGION BUREAU CHIEF
Police and municipal officials in York Region are cracking down on illegal massage parlours they say are nothing more than fronts for prostitution.
In some cases, the parlours are operating as bogus spas, aromatherapy or holistic treatment centres, police say.
More than 300 charges were laid under the Municipal Act for bylaw infractions at 88 massage parlours in Vaughan, Richmond Hill and Markham during a 10-day blitz dubbed "Operation Closure," police said yesterday.
Some of the parlours, in business complexes and near residential areas, were "nothing more than prostitution," Detective Sergeant Mark Grant of the drug and vice enforcement bureau told a news conference at Richmond Hill police station.
No criminal charges have been laid and the parlours remain open until the charges are dealt with by the courts.
But police believe that as a result of the blitz some operators are having trouble finding attendants while others are shutting down.
Operation Closure involved a team of 15 police investigators, along with municipal bylaw enforcement officers, who inspected the parlours and laid charges wherever they found bylaw contraventions. The campaign and ongoing bylaw enforcement is meant to "create a climate that is unfavourable and unprofitable" for illegal massage parlours, Grant said.
York Region police Chief Armand La Barge said massage parlours have ****** to "epidemic proportions" in York Region. Regional politicians say the parlours have been an ongoing problem in the area.
When Markham officials met with La Barge after he became chief in December, one of their primary concerns was the need for a crackdown on massage parlours, said Councillor Stan Daurio.
Strict enforcement of existing municipal bylaws is essential to achieve that, said La Barge.
He added that strong partnerships between police, municipalities and residents will help "to wrestle this multi-million-dollar business down."
Police estimate that about 130 body rub parlours operating in York Region net about $72 million annually.
Police also allege some of the businesses are run by Asian and Eastern European crime syndicates and, during the recent blitz, charges were laid against a Vaughan body rub house police say has "direct connections" to the Hells Angels motorcycle club.
The charges laid during the blitz related to the dress of attendants, whose breasts and genitals must be covered at all times; hours of operation; licensing; the requirement that a licensed owner be on duty during business hours; and locks found on massage room doors, which are prohibited.
As part of the April 30 to May 9 sweep, charges were laid against 34 parlour owner-operators and 177 attendants or "masseuses," some of whom were working in the nude or topless.
One of the women was turned over to immigration officials.
Customers can't be charged under the bylaws, but they can be subpoenaed as witnesses for the prosecution.
In Vaughan, landlords are being notified that if body rub parlours are convicted of operating without a licence, the buildings used to house them could be closed.
Markham is considering whether to revoke the licences of some of the parlours charged. So far, one such business has had its permit revoked.
Individuals convicted by the courts face fines of up to $25,000 or six months in jail or both, while corporations convicted could face penalties of up to $50,000.
Region targets massage parlours
Some prostitution fronts, police say
300 bylaw charges laid in York blitz
LESLIE FERENC
YORK REGION BUREAU CHIEF
Police and municipal officials in York Region are cracking down on illegal massage parlours they say are nothing more than fronts for prostitution.
In some cases, the parlours are operating as bogus spas, aromatherapy or holistic treatment centres, police say.
More than 300 charges were laid under the Municipal Act for bylaw infractions at 88 massage parlours in Vaughan, Richmond Hill and Markham during a 10-day blitz dubbed "Operation Closure," police said yesterday.
Some of the parlours, in business complexes and near residential areas, were "nothing more than prostitution," Detective Sergeant Mark Grant of the drug and vice enforcement bureau told a news conference at Richmond Hill police station.
No criminal charges have been laid and the parlours remain open until the charges are dealt with by the courts.
But police believe that as a result of the blitz some operators are having trouble finding attendants while others are shutting down.
Operation Closure involved a team of 15 police investigators, along with municipal bylaw enforcement officers, who inspected the parlours and laid charges wherever they found bylaw contraventions. The campaign and ongoing bylaw enforcement is meant to "create a climate that is unfavourable and unprofitable" for illegal massage parlours, Grant said.
York Region police Chief Armand La Barge said massage parlours have ****** to "epidemic proportions" in York Region. Regional politicians say the parlours have been an ongoing problem in the area.
When Markham officials met with La Barge after he became chief in December, one of their primary concerns was the need for a crackdown on massage parlours, said Councillor Stan Daurio.
Strict enforcement of existing municipal bylaws is essential to achieve that, said La Barge.
He added that strong partnerships between police, municipalities and residents will help "to wrestle this multi-million-dollar business down."
Police estimate that about 130 body rub parlours operating in York Region net about $72 million annually.
Police also allege some of the businesses are run by Asian and Eastern European crime syndicates and, during the recent blitz, charges were laid against a Vaughan body rub house police say has "direct connections" to the Hells Angels motorcycle club.
The charges laid during the blitz related to the dress of attendants, whose breasts and genitals must be covered at all times; hours of operation; licensing; the requirement that a licensed owner be on duty during business hours; and locks found on massage room doors, which are prohibited.
As part of the April 30 to May 9 sweep, charges were laid against 34 parlour owner-operators and 177 attendants or "masseuses," some of whom were working in the nude or topless.
One of the women was turned over to immigration officials.
Customers can't be charged under the bylaws, but they can be subpoenaed as witnesses for the prosecution.
In Vaughan, landlords are being notified that if body rub parlours are convicted of operating without a licence, the buildings used to house them could be closed.
Markham is considering whether to revoke the licences of some of the parlours charged. So far, one such business has had its permit revoked.
Individuals convicted by the courts face fines of up to $25,000 or six months in jail or both, while corporations convicted could face penalties of up to $50,000.
13-May-2003, 04:05 PM
#13
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Hamilton
Posts: 2,696
Originally posted by gatherer
girls can go topless anywhere in ontario it's a provinence wide law...
girls can go topless anywhere in ontario it's a provinence wide law...
What I said was "I have yet to have seen this".
Still awaiting the answer to my question "WHY???"
