# Sec. 14-139.05. Prostitution free zones Codified through Bill No. CB-018-2026, adopted May 12, 2026, effective July 24, 2026. Source: Municode, Supplement 2026 Update 2. Editorial notes and legislative history omitted. ## Sec. 14-139.05. Prostitution free zones Prince George's County, Md., Code ยง 14-139.05 (2026) (a) For purposes of this Section, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings: (1) Chief of Police means the Chief of the Prince George's County Police Department. (2) Disperse means to depart from the designated prostitution free zone and not to reassemble within the prostitution free zone with anyone from the group ordered to depart for the duration of the zone. (3) Known participant in prostitution or prostitution-related offenses means a person who has been convicted in any court in any jurisdiction of any violation involving prostitution or prostitution-related offenses. (4) Police Department means the Prince George's County Police Department. (5) Prostitution means the performance of a sexual act, sexual contact, or vaginal intercourse for hire pursuant to the Annotated Code of Maryland, Criminal Law Article, Section 11-301. (6) Prostitution free zone means public space or public property in an area not to exceed a square of one thousand (1,000) feet on each side that is established pursuant to subsections (b) and (c). (7) Prostitution-related offenses means those crimes and offenses defined pursuant to the Annotated Code of Maryland, Criminal Law Article, Sections 11-303 to 11-306. (b) The Chief of Police may declare any public area a prostitution free zone for a period not to exceed four hundred eighty (480) consecutive hours. The Chief of Police shall inform his commanders, the County Executive, and the Council of the declaration of a prostitution free zone. (c) In determining whether to designate a prostitution free zone, the Chief of Police shall find the following: (1) The occurrence of disproportionately high arrests for prostitution or prostitution-related offenses, and calls for police service because of prostitution or prostitution-related offenses in the proposed prostitution free zone within the preceding six (6) month period; (2) Objective evidence or verifiable information that shows that a disproportionately high incidence of prostitution or prostitution-related offenses are occurring on public space or public property within the proposed prostitution free zone; and (3) Any other verifiable information from which the Chief of Police may ascertain whether the public health or safety is endangered by prostitution or prostitution-related offenses in the proposed prostitution free zone. (d) Upon the designation of a prostitution free zone, the Police Department shall mark each block within the prostitution free zone by using barriers, tape, signs, or police officers that post or announce the following information in the immediate area of, and borders around, the prostitution free zone: (1) A statement that it is unlawful for a person to congregate in a group of two (2) or more persons for the purposes of prostitution or prostitution-related offenses within the boundaries of a prostitution free zone, and to fail to disperse after being instructed to disperse by a uniformed officer of the Police Department, or a non-uniformed officer of the Police Department upon display of Police Department identification, who reasonably believes the person is congregating for the purpose of engaging in prostitution or prostitution-related offenses; (2) The boundaries of the prostitution free zone; (3) A statement of the effective dates of the prostitution free zone designation; and (4) Any other additional information the Chief of Police provides. (e) It shall be unlawful for a person to congregate in a group of two (2) or more persons on public space or public property within the perimeter of a prostitution free zone established pursuant to Subsections (b) and (c) and thereafter to fail to disperse after being instructed to disperse by a uniformed officer of the Police Department, or a non-uniformed officer of the Police Department upon display of Police Department identification, who reasonably believes the person is congregating for the purpose of engaging in prostitution or prostitution-related offenses. (f) In making a determination that a person is congregating in a prostitution free zone for the purpose of engaging in prostitution or prostitution-related offenses, the totality of the circumstances involved shall be considered. Among the circumstances which may be considered in determining whether such purpose is manifested are: (1) The conduct of a person being observed, including that such person is behaving in a manner raising a reasonable belief that the person is engaging or is about to engage in prostitution or prostitution-related offenses, such as: (A) Repeatedly beckoning to, stopping, attempting to stop, or attempting to engage passers-by in conversation for the purpose of prostitution; (B) Stopping or attempting to stop motor vehicles for the purpose of prostitution; or (C) Repeatedly interfering with the free passage of other persons for the purpose of prostitution; (2) Information from a reliable source indicating that a person being observed routinely engages in or is currently engaging in prostitution or prostitution-related offenses within the prostitution free zone; (3) Physical identification by an officer of the person as a member of a gang or association which engages in prostitution or prostitution-related offenses; (4) Knowledge by an officer that the person is a known participant in prostitution or prostitution-related offenses; and (5) Knowledge by an officer that any vehicle involved in the observed circumstances is registered to a known participant in prostitution or prostitution-related offenses, or a person for whom there is an outstanding arrest warrant for a crime involving prostitution or prostitution-related offenses. (g) Any person who violates this Section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, is subject to a fine not exceeding One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) or imprisonment not exceeding six (6) months, or both.