| Red Light Abatement Act | |
|---|---|
 | |
| California State Legislature | |
| Introduced | 3 November 1914; 111 years ago (1914-11-03) |
| Signed into law | April 7, 1913[1] |
| Governor | Hiram Johnson |
Status: Current legislation | |
TheRed Light Abatement Act is avice law inCalifornia that was intended to curtail or eliminateprostitution. The Act was passed by the California legislature and signed by GovernorHiram Johnson in 1913, and became effective on 3 November 1914. Under the Act,brothels around the state were eventually shut down. The legislation was modelled on the liquor laws that had originated inIowa.[2]
The law was opposed by some California residents who gathered signatures for a veto referendum, 53% of voters voted yes and the new act became law.[3]
The Act stated "every building or place used for the purpose of prostitution, and every building or place in or upon which acts of prostitution, are held or occur, is a nuisance which should be enjoined, abated, and prevented, and for which damages may be recovered."[4] By 1920, 33 states has passed similar legislation.[2]
Under the act owners of the buildings where prostitution takes place are fined by the city.[5] This led many property owners to be more vigilant of the activity which took place in their buildings, as well as to institutediscriminatory renting practices, such as not allowing single women to rent a first floor apartment. In some places, women could not rent an apartment at all.[citation needed] As a result, prostitution moved to the streets, making the practice more dangerous.[6]
After many years, most red light districts ceased to exist under this act.
The legislation was still in use in 2018, when it was used to shut downSan Josemassage parlors run by Hung Nguyen.[7]
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