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BY JULIA CORDEROY

ANCHOR LAUREN GORES

You're watching multisource world news analysis from Newsy.

Parking meters-- for prostitutes. Yup.

Euronews has the edgy policy from Bonn, Germany.

“A meter with a difference. The German city of Bonn has begun charging prostitutes a nightly rate of 6 Euros for taking clients to special parking spaces.”

Officials say the meters have been introduced as a way to tax the working girls. The Telegraph UK says…

“The ticket machines come as the latest step in Bonn’s drive to increase tax revenue from prostitution as it wrestles with financial problems.”

This tax is expected to pull in some big bucks from the 200 street workers in the city. BBC reports...

“264 Euros were found in the meter when it was first emptied... they [are] expected to get about 200 000 Euros per year from the meter.”

One must wonder that in these difficult financial times whether Germany has the right idea. Political Articles says...

“The world’s oldest profession is here to stay, and it’s time that we accepted this reality. If the sex trade is legalized, taxed and regulated, it will benefit society in many ways.”

But others are concerned about the social effects of legal prostitution. A blogger for Opposing Views says...

“Legalized prostitution sends a message to the community that individuals can be bought and dominated for personal pleasure.”

Freelance sex workers in Bonn sure aren’t lovin’ the change. The Week explains…

“The meters amount to double taxation, since prostitutes already pay income tax.”

But others say-- you gotta pay for what you use. The New York Times quotes one woman saying…

“It’s like rent, food or all the other things everybody has to pay for.”

A small change-- but what about the big picture? A reporter for the Economist wonders-- what will happen to the profession in Bonn as a result of the tax?

“Is taxation likely to decrease prostitution, as we'd expect in normal markets, or increase it by regularizing the practice?”

But for all the serious questions raised by the policy-- some bloggers just think the whole thing is ridiculous.

“Most governments will put a boot on one of your tires to disable your car if you don’t pay your parking tickets. Does this mean hookers who don’t buy a street-walking pass will get a chastity belt?” (Wordpress)

Transcript by Newsy