A sex meter scheme, taxing prostitutes 6 euros a night to work the streets of Bonn has raised more than 35,000 euros for public coffers in its first year. Prostitutes working the streets have to buy themselves a ticket from the converted parking
meters each night, or face a fine. In fact wardens have only handed out about 20 fines so far. The sex tax has been accepted by the prostitutes, said city spokeswoman Elke Palm. The idea, introduced last August, was an extension of a tax
imposed on brothels in the city at the beginning of 2011, Die Welt newspaper reported. The tax scheme includes the provision of performance huts where prostitutes and their customers can conduct business. This has reduced the number of
complaints from people living near the areas where prostitutes work, said Palm. Mechthild Eickel, chairwoman of the sexworkers' association Bufas, said it was unfair that prostitutes rather than their customers should have to pay the tax. It is
a pleasure for the customers. Why don't they put the money in? she asked the Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper.
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