Lacey adopts ordinance to combat illegitimate massage, reflexology businesses - The Jolt News

[By JC Medina]

By JC Medina

The Lacey City Council has unanimously passed Ordinance 1666, which amends the Lacey Municipal Code 5.38 concerning massage and reflexology services, during its meeting on Tuesday, November 19.

The ordinance aims to strengthen regulations surrounding these businesses, ensuring public health and safety while curbing criminal activity linked to unlicensed practices.

“The amendments are going to provide the city a better tool to ensure that massage and reflexology and businesses are operating properly and with transparency," shared Lacey City Attorney David Schneider.

According to the staff report, certain businesses in Lacey have been identified as employing unlicensed or uncertified workers, thus failing to meet state health and licensing requirements.

These businesses, while portraying themselves as legitimate, have been implicated in criminal activities such as prostitution, human trafficking, and money laundering.

Over the past year, reports from residents and property owners have highlighted suspicious activities, such as advertisements on websites for “escorts,” “erotic massages,” and other euphemisms for prostitution.

The issue escalated in early 2024 when Lacey police, coordinating with the Fire Code Inspector, discovered non-permitted sleeping quarters and a female employee dressed in lingerie.

Further investigation, including online research, revealed that several massage establishments in Lacey were advertising services commonly associated with prostitution, using non-local phone numbers connected to online prostitution platforms.

In addition to these findings, undercover operations have suggested that minors may be involved in some of these illicit activities.

“Several of the businesses have online reviews of the services provided by female employees.” the report read. “The reviews posted by the customers are graphic and sexual in nature.”

Lacey Chief of Police Robert Almada noted that he "probably got more messages about this than anything over the entire year from people who were shocked that this stuff even goes on. So they're all very supportive of this, and I think it'll be good for [the city].

“The proposed municipal code will not only deter and prevent criminal behavior in Lacey but will legitimize those businesses that are in compliance with the updated Lacey Municipal Code and Health Department certifications,” the staff report read.

“Most importantly, it will protect potential victims of prostitution, sexual exploitation, and human trafficking.”