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New California Law Makes Buying Sex From Minors a Felony as San Diego Ramps Up Enforcement

The measure shifts enforcement toward demand by directing offender fines to a fund for victim services.

Overview

  • AB 379 took effect January 1, with San Diego police saying they will implement it immediately using additional officers and undercover operations.
  • Soliciting commercial sex from anyone under 18 now carries a felony charge, closing a gap that had left offenses involving 16- and 17-year-olds as misdemeanors.
  • Loitering in public with intent to buy sex is now a crime, giving officers authority to intervene in known solicitation corridors.
  • The law establishes a Survivor Support Fund that uses offender fees and fines to provide grants to community groups serving trafficking victims.
  • Civil penalties rise for hotels that conceal trafficking, increasing to $3,000 for a first offense and $10,000 for a second.