Solicitation charges in Detroit do not require a sex act. Residents living in areas where prostitution has been an issue frequently report apparent prostitution activities to the police, and they use decoy officers to catch people looking for prostitutes. These trained, conniving officers know what conversation is needed to complete the act of solicitation. In fact, it has been reported on multiple occasions that undercover officers flag down unsuspecting men, ask for directions, or engage in other random conversations, and then falsely allege solicitation.
It is unlawful for any person to accost, solicit, or invite another person in any public place by word, gesture, or other means to commit any act of prostitution. Detroit prosecutors will seek to forfeit the vehicle and sell it at auction if the alleged solicitation occurred in or from a vehicle, unless the accused agrees to a negotiated settlement.
Solicitation of prostitution under state law occurs when a person accosts, solicits, or invites another person, by word, gesture, or any other means, to commit prostitution or to do any other lewd or immoral act. When someone is arrested and charged with solicitation in Detroit, the police seize their vehicle and tow it to a secured lot. The person arrested is obviously in immediate need of getting their car back, and they will pay almost any amount to get it back as soon as possible.
The vehicle owner is at a considerable disadvantage. They can fight the forfeiture , in which case, even if they win, they will not get the car back for months. Most people cannot afford to be without their vehicle for months and are basically forced to pay the redemption amount, whether guilty of solicitation or not. Solicitation cases are notoriously difficult to defend. Seasoned, well-trained decoy officers know what they must show in court to win.
Furthermore, most people with solicitation charges in Detroit are understandably embarrassed and want the case to go away as quickly and quietly as possible. Arguments such as mistake, misunderstanding, lack of intent, and false testimony by officers are possible defenses.
