Connecticut Passes Law to Combat Human Trafficking

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While many of us are likely familiar with the stereotype of no-questions-asked motels where people (often portrayed as male politicians) meet with prostitutes away from prying eyes, what many of us don’t realize is that such places do exist, and they can be party to very sinister activities. These kinds of locations make it possible, sometimes knowingly, for bad actors to traffic in human beings.

Human trafficking—transporting children and adults against the will for illegal labor or sex—is a serious problem throughout the world, and occurs in the United States with disturbing frequency. It often happens in places like hotels and motels, which are usually not required to get much information from visitors. This allows traffickers to use the space they provide for their criminal activities. Then again, there are some locations that knowingly allow this kind of activity and profit from it.

Connecticut has passed a law, Public Act No. 16-71, which will make it easier to police such activities. It requires that documentation about human trafficking, as well as contact information for people in such situations or who may be witness to them, be placed in the lobby, where money changes hands for rooms.

Starting in October 2016, all hotel and motel staff will receive mandatory training on what trafficking is and how to recognize it, which will prevent people from claiming ignorance on the matter.

The law is primarily focused on educating people on human trafficking, which is not well known despite its widespread nature. It also makes Connecticut the first state to require hotels and motels to keep records of their guests, which can be used by law enforcement to apprehend suspects.

The hope is that Public Act No. 16-71 will become a model law that other legislatures will move to adopt in order to fight human trafficking in their own states.