Zurich to Launch Drive-in Sex Booths For Safer Prostitution

Zurich has planned to launch drive-in sex booths by next year to help prostitutes work in a safer environment. Officials in the Swiss city hope that this move will help make the sex industry much safer and more regulated.

Earlier this year, voters in Zurich passed a referendum to allow construction of the sex booths on the city outskirts, which will provide private accommodations for about 30 prostitutes and their customers, ABC News reported.

When the booths open in August, prostitution will be banned in certain parts of the city and confined to the booths and two other zones, according to a news release on the Zurich Social Welfare Department's website.

"The big difference is that until now prostitution is in a public space," the channel quoted Michael Herzig, spokesperson for the department, as telling World Radio Switzerland.

"Now we are going to change this, transfer it from the street, from a public to a private space to an old industrial area which belongs to the city that give us the possibility to define the rules of prostitution in this space," he said.

The booths will be fitted with parking spaces, alarm buttons and an on-site counselor, English language Swiss news site The Local reported last year when the publicly funded measure was being discussed.

Beginning in January, the prostitutes will also have to apply for a license, register with a health insurer and buy a ticket each night for about 5 dollars before they begin soliciting customers.

Officials from the Social Welfare Department said the plan is "progressing" and is ready to enter into full-force in the New Year.

Source-ANI