For the first time in Pa. history, a county government, ours, has taken a legal step to address the human trafficking problem through stricter regulation of massage parlors. Michael Tanenbaum reported the bold, protective move for PhillyVoice.

The evidence linking human traffickers with illegally oriented spas and therapeutic centers is not just anecdotal. According to National Human Trafficking Hotline statistics, 3,000 of the 32,000+ U.S. cases of human trafficking in 2017 involved massage parlors.

“One of the questions that I was so often asked in dealing with human trafficking was: Does it really exist in Bucks County? And it does,” assistant county solicitor Chelsey Jackman said.

Enacted as part of January’s designation as a national month of awareness on the issue, the Bucks County actions will make it harder for these businesses to engage in illegal activities. Tougher provisions now dictate operational issues that include:

• Hours of operation
• Presence of an owner or manager during all business hours
• Proper physical contact between staff and customers

Officials in Bucks County are hopeful that the new ordinance will create better industry practices and help legitimate massage businesses operate more safely.

Residents who believe a Bucks County establishment is operating illicitly may report their suspicions to the Department of Protection, Weights, and Measures.

More on this story is at PhillyVoice.