Urged on by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, counties statewide are ramping up their efforts to crack down on sex trafficking by making sure a wide array of public establishments display posters warning against the crime.
The posters, which include warnings and instructions in both English and Spanish, show phone numbers for the National Human Trafficking Resource Center and the Statewide Georgia Hotline for Domestic Minor Trafficking.
According to state law the flyers must be posted in public locations including bars, hotels, truck stops, government buildings, and public restrooms.
Atlanta in particular, with its reputation as a transportation hub, has long battled sex trafficking. That fight has gained intensity in recent years, particularly with the arrival of high profile events including next year’s Super Bowl coming to the city. Earlier this month FBI and local authorities rescued over 160 children and made 150 arrests in a major sex trafficking sting, one of the largest in state history.
On Monday, Fulton County Chairman Robb Pitts held a press conference reiterating his county’s efforts to aid in the fight, noting in particular the push to have businesses display the posters that will hopefully contribute to raising awareness of the issue and offer help to those who may already be caught up in it. According to Pitts businesses found without the signs face a $500 fine that will escalate to $5,000 on the second offense.
