Every aspect of paying for sex is illegal in Washington, but some offenses are considered more serious than others. Law enforcement—especially in the Seattle area—prioritize arresting and prosecuting certain types of prostitution-related offenses.
Here are some basics to understanding laws related to prostitution. Any transaction that involves buying or selling sexual acts is considered prostitution in Washington. The biological sex of the buyer and seller are irrelevant to a prostitution charge.
An individual can be charged with prostitution if he or she offers to engage in sexual acts in exchange for a fee. They have been much less aggressive about prosecuting individuals suspected of prostitution. The police department in Seattle frequently sets up sting operations that can result in many arrests and charges for prostitution-related offenses.
If an individual is driving a vehicle at the time of an arrest for patronizing a prostitute, the police can impound the vehicle. The law recognizes that many prostitution transactions involve more than just the person buying sex and the person selling it. The most serious crimes under the law are those that involve profiting from prostitution as well as those that involve sex with minors.
The following crimes are all felonies and can carry punishments of jail time, fines and the requirement to register as a sex offender for the rest of your life. Patronizing or soliciting sexual services from someone who is underage is a more serious offense than patronizing an adult sex worker. Patronizing a juvenile sex worker is a felony. Promoting prostitution means profiting from prostitution or advancing prostitution. Promoting prostitution is a felony regardless of whether there is an element of coercion in the relationship.
