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German Prostitutes Taxed By Parking Meter System

Prostitue Tax

First Posted: 01/09/11 13:57 BST Updated: 01/11/11 10:12 GMT

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A German city of Bonn has begun collecting taxes from street prostitutes, using a similar payment method to a parking meter.

The machine charges prostitutes six euros (£5.30) a night for soliciting custom on the street. Under the new meter system, which went into service over the weekend, street prostitutes must purchase tickets from the machine to work between the hours of 20:15. and 06:00.

Leaflets explaining the system, translated into several languages, were handed out to prostitutes in the city.

Street prostitution in Bonn has an unusual degree of organisation. Prostitutes tend to congregate on one particular road, where the meter machine has been installed. Wooden garages have been built by the council nearby, where customers can park their cars and have sex. The garages come with alarms in case of an altercation inside.

Monika Frömbgen, a spokeswoman for the city, explained that it was only fair for streetwalkers to pay tax. She said: “The women in the bordellos and the sauna clubs also pay the tax, and so should those working on the streets.”

The ticketing system is the latest step in Bonn's drive to increase tax revenue as it wrestles with financial problems. The council has also introduced a "sex tax". Dortmund has a similar system, but it requires prostitutes to buy tickets from petrol stations.

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A German city of Bonn has begun collecting taxes from street prostitutes, using a similar payment method to a parking meter. The machine charges prostitutes six euros (£5.30) a night for solicitin...
A German city of Bonn has begun collecting taxes from street prostitutes, using a similar payment method to a parking meter. The machine charges prostitutes six euros (£5.30) a night for solicitin...
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andrewjamesfox1
1 Fans
 
03:16 PM on 09/04/2011
I would support this if the taxes raised were ringfenced and only used to look after the women. Prostitution clearly cannot be stopped, but the taxes raised could be used to stop people being forced into prostitution and offer help if anybody gets into trouble. Considering the amount of money in prostitution as many of one person per ten prostitutes could be employed to look after them.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
freshie
industrial designer changing the world
556 Fans
02:52 PM on 09/04/2011
I agree if it's all consented to. Many times these girls are not in their right mind when these decisions are made. If it's something they truly aspire to as a method of survival or desire, then, I'm ok with it. Exploitation, not too much.

My hope is that in places where it's legal, the women are protected. The sex drive breeds many unsavory characters, mostly men, unfortunately.

I just hope the women are empowered to some extent. The irony, because of sex, they can be. Many guys are just too thirsty. Especially in cultures like ours, where the beauty of this desire is repressed. Sex is still a taboo subject here.

I'm just making an observation. I've lived in Germany and understand the system. As a young lad, I've used it on 1 occasion. It's very organized but there was an uneasy tension all around in the apartments where they worked.

The prostitutes who, in my opinion, make out ok, are the ones who charge 4 to 5 grand or more per hour. The ones who have to deal with average citizens like myself, I don't think it's worth it, doesn't look enjoyable.

Women should be well compensated for the act in order to pick and chose clients, rather than giving it up to any clown to meet their financial needs.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Craig Bovia
Vermont, 1791, women can vote, no slavery allowed
1291 Fans
05:05 PM on 09/03/2011
No wonder their budget deficits are down. In California, we can't even get Amazon to collect sales tax.
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DaveJohnWard
68 Fans
 
07:11 AM on 09/03/2011
do they get clamped if they don't pay?
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Fremon
Retired in Palm Desert CA
691 Fans
10:41 PM on 09/02/2011
The sex trade is just that, it is commerce. These ladies are self employed and should be tax and regulated like any business. It health costs are incurred by the city/state then these ladies should pay for this "insurance". If pimps are involved they should be taxed at the business rate. Sex as said is the second oldest, don't know which is older, profession and will continue to be around. Get off the puritanical nonsense that it is against religion. It is a woman's right to be self employed and a john's right to partake of that service. Love Germany and Scandinavia as they don't seem to be enveloped in a puritanical veneer we so much "enjoy" in this country. Pure sex as enjoyment is not immoral nor its only purpose to procreate. If is a biological function of being human. It does not have to be the Hugh Hefner portrayal of sex as being lurid or lecherous.
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dukeofurl01
Information Systems Analyst & GIS Technician
34 Fans
08:47 PM on 09/02/2011
I'm curious, does the similar system in Dortmund actually work? Do they pay the tax?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Whistlejackett
Hey stop doing that
971 Fans
 
03:51 PM on 09/02/2011
"Wollt ihr das bett in Flammen Sehen?
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kjsmason2010
24 Fans
05:07 PM on 09/02/2011
Bitte keine Flammen im Bett
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yourlawstudent
53 Fans
 
02:26 PM on 09/02/2011
Reasonable people have long thought that such steps may be not only sensible but to necessary in order to bring prostitution under some sort of regulation; thus seeking to prevent personal tragedies of young ladies engaging, sometimes against their will, in such practices.
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Kos Murray
9 Fans
02:48 AM on 09/02/2011
Oh girl, I am block. foad yall.
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Aroddo
226 Fans
12:29 AM on 09/02/2011
mind you, our prostitutes also get public health care. give the line of work they are in, the taxes are well worth the benefits they gain.
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Kos Murray
9 Fans
02:48 AM on 09/02/2011
Yes I know. That's why the male pilgrims had the belt buckle on their hats. We have one state, Nevada that looks into Health. I do not know if the houses/ranches are taxed. After 235+ years old here in America humans still have a buckle on the brain and not the pants/skirt/head piece/dress.(don't know all the proper names of clothing items from around the world for items of clothing) I still think the johns/janes need to pay a tax as well. Like your comment.' Thank you.
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StThomas
Not until I see the holes of the nails....
106 Fans
12:18 AM on 09/02/2011
A sort of PAYF?

In memory of Dave Allen....
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Kos Murray
9 Fans
10:41 PM on 09/01/2011
What a HOOT. Just add another GS Tax so the johns are taxed as well. That will make it even to M?F. The Goods and Servers Tax. Now call it what it does to all- The Get Screwed Tax.
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basketpam
109 Fans
10:25 PM on 09/01/2011
This ought to be interesting. People have been saying for years that if prostitution were made legal and taxed the country would make a fortune. I applaud this town for taking this step. When prostitution is regulated like this the rate of disease, theft, abuse and other problems drops drastically. One thing America will NEVER learn is that you CANNOT legislate morality. They tried it with prohibition and that was an abismal failure. That was the beginning of the gang wars and major criminal activity. Look where that has led us today. The ONLY thing I think shouldn't be legal are drugs. That's one thing that is NOT good any way you look at it.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Notsosurearewe
A pair o' pathetic peripatetics
849 Fans
11:22 PM on 09/01/2011
Oh? Legalize marijuana and the Mexican cartels will start to blow away with the wind.
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lovelybunchofcoconuts
It's nice, to be nice, to the nice
201 Fans
09:37 AM on 09/02/2011
Then shouldn't you be out campaigning to make alchohol and prescription drugs illegal? Marijuana never made anybody as aggressive as alchohol does, and people have actually committed rape while sleepwalking on Ambien. Half the country is on some sort of legal sedative or anti-depressant that makes you even more psychotic than you were before.
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joepine
20 Fans
08:01 PM on 09/02/2011
gov's has been making money for years on drugs remember Col. Olie North got busted for saleing drugs for the Gov....they all do it
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UKVisitor
420 Fans
07:54 AM on 09/03/2011
MLBOC, if your comment is directed at Basketpam I think she was arguing against prohibition, so I'm not sure what your point is?
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yurdreamis
The Things We Least Expect To Happen Usually Do !~
75 Fans
10:25 PM on 09/01/2011
Oh my gosh ! Attention Gov. Rick Snyder of the ever financial rotting MICHIGAN.......here is something else to tax....THE HOOKERS IN DETROIT !!!! Do It....Do It.....Oh Yea !!!!
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racetrak3
52 Fans
10:19 PM on 09/01/2011
oh here we go..how many US senators are gonna suggest this new tax revenue??
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