Manifesting prostitution law rejected. The Dallas County Criminal Court of Appeals has struck down a law against "manifesting the purpose of engaging in prostitution." The law "is seeking a shortcut that trespasses on the constitutional rights of Dallas citizens," wrote Judge Kristin Wade in her decision. The statute was "overbroad," she argued, because "it punishes constitutionally protected conduct as well as illegal activity."
The Dallas law is separate from Texas' main prohibition of prostitution. The latter prohibits engaging in, offering to engage, or agreeing to engage in sex acts for a fee. The former prohibits looking like you might be about to do so.
