After a police headquarters captain came up with a new way of cutting down on prostitution in the city of Lisbon, Portugal, he has apparently lost his case.
"We spend so much of our time arresting these women, we have little left over for the serious crimes but we can't just ignore them when they are out there flaunting their stuff", stated Captain Adilio Barbara.
"Meanwhile the drug business grows and there have been more murders, probably over the drug trade if you ask me. They compete and knock off their competition. I sometimes think the women are only out there to tie up our time. There is usually a bailout within a couple of hours and they are back on the street again."
The captain told his men to arrest the ladies and charge them not only for prostitution but for exposing themselves to the public in general and they would have to await a judge to decide the double case and that would leave them in jail for at least a day or two before they could get back out on the street.
March 10th the first trial comes up and both sides made their case before the judge, Judge Danito Calisto.
After hearing both sides Judge Calisto went to his chambers and a witness who serves in the court says the judge made several telephone calls and suddenly had a huge smile on his face.
Coming back in, everyone stood and Judge Calisto pounded his gavel.
"After careful thought and after consulting the law books of Portugal, I have decided in the lady's favor."
"Wearing scanty clothing is simply a lady of the night's uniform and thus it is not illegal. The wearing of a uniform, or in this case almost the lack of one, is related to her job, though the job itself is illegal and the police may arrest her for that." he ruled.
Later Captain Barbara allegedly told reporters, "What can we do? As they say, it is back to the drawing board. Although I will be checking on this judge from time to time."
