Read the whole story at The Daily Breeze…

Massage parlors rub Torrance wrong way

Alarmed by a surge in so-called massage parlors that are often little more than fronts for prostitution, the city of Torrance has enacted a 45-day moratorium on such businesses.

Police also pledged to crack down on those that already exist to ensure massage parlors and their employees are properly licensed and are operating legitimate businesses.

“This drops the gauntlet,” Mayor Frank Scotto said. “People in this business know they have to be careful for the next 45 days.”

The City Council on Tuesday night unanimously adopted the moratorium on new massage parlors and licensing for massage technicians. It could be extended for another 10 months by another council vote.

The moratorium and crackdown comes ahead of pending state legislation that would remove much local control of massage businesses. That legislation, authored by Sen. Jenny Oropeza, D-Redondo Beach, will standardize certification for massage therapists when it comes into effect Sept. 1.

While city officials are still analyzing the implications of the legislation, they fear that not acting now could lead to an even greater proliferation of such businesses and associated criminal activity.

Police officials said they are essentially “treading water” when it comes to massage parlors that are seemingly popping up on every street corner. Police often find such businesses – which come and go and relocate with a dizzying frequency to stay a step ahead of law enforcement – are unlicensed, as are the people who work there.

…

“Traditionally, the Police Department has issued citations to about 20 percent of the businesses that we perform inspections at,” Chase said. “However, in 2008, with the dramatic increase in businesses and technicians, that number jumped to 47 percent of businesses we visited that resulted in citations. Additionally, from 2005 to 2008 during 44 different undercover operations, we made 23 prostitution or lewd conduct arrests.”

More than half – 52 percent – of massage parlors were cited for some form of criminal activity during the stings, he said.

Many of the women working at the massage parlors are themselves victims of human trafficking, Chase said.