Washington § 9A.88.085 - Promoting travel for prostitution.

Full text of Washington Revised Code of Washington § 9A.88.085 — Promoting travel for prostitution., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 9A.88.085. Promoting travel for prostitution.

(1) A person commits the offense of promoting travel for prostitution if the person knowingly sells or offers to sell travel services that include or facilitate travel for the purpose of engaging in what would be patronizing a prostitute or promoting prostitution, if occurring in the state.
(2) For purposes of this section, "travel services" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 19.138.021.
(3) Promoting travel for prostitution is a class C felony.
[ 2006 c 250 s 2.]

Notes

Finding—2006 c 250: "The legislature finds that the sex industry has rapidly expanded over the past several decades. It involves sexual exploitation of persons, predominantly women and girls, including activities relating to prostitution, pornography, sex tourism, and other commercial sexual services. Prostitution and related activities contribute to the trafficking in persons, as does sex tourism. Therefore, discouraging sex tourism is key to reducing the demand for sex trafficking.
While prostitution is illegal in developing nations that are the primary destination of sex tourism, sex tourism is a major component of the local economy. The laws target female workers rather than the male customers, and economic opportunities for females are limited. Developed nations create the demand for sex tourism, yet often fail to criminalize the practice, or the existing laws fail to specifically target the sellers of travel who organize, facilitate, and promote sex tourism." [ 2006 c 250 s 1.]

Source: official Washington text · Last verified 2026-08-27

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Frequently Asked Questions About Washington § 9A.88.085

What does Revised Code of Washington § 9A.88.085 cover?

Section 9A.88.085 ("Promoting travel for prostitution.") is part of the Revised Code of Washington, the codified statutory law of Washington. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

How do I cite Washington § 9A.88.085?

A common citation format is "Revised Code of Washington § 9A.88.085" (Washington). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.

Is this the official text of Washington law?

No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Washington official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Washington attorney.

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