Protecting Prostitutes

A certain group of roadside workers are being asked to add to their uniforms and it could be bad for business.

A Spanish mayor in the town of Els Alamus, near Barcelona has issued a warning to roadside prostitutes. Wear reflective traffic vests or face a $56 fine. The mayor José Maria Bea says over the last months about ten prostitutes have begun wearing the lime green vests over their chosen uniforms. Bea says anyone can be fined for standing or walking along highways without wearing vests but is urging prostitutes to participate since most of their time and business is spent on the dangerous roadways.

Some of the women are firing back saying the move is simply an attempt by the mayor to drive some of the 300,000 sex workers out of town. The sex industry is very lucrative in Spain and while pimping is illegal, prostitution is only banned or restricted in some areas. During his campaign the Spanish Prime Minister promised to end the act completely but so far has failed to do so. The vests aren’t very flattering, so the ladies do lose some curb appeal. But at least they can live to work another day…or night.