http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2009/11/27/11949581-sun.html
Between Oct. 29 and Nov. 25, police levied 37 fines against 20 women and 15 agencies for allegedly offering sex services without proper documents.
Fines totaled $134,000. One agency was nailed with a $20,000 bill.
But it's more than a money grab. Prince said licensing escorts and agencies is key to keeping the industry clean and gang-free.
Escorts face a yearly criminal record check when they hold a license.
Cops will decline or take their licenses if they've been involved in violent, drug-related or recent crimes.
That helps cuff the hands of organized crime to take control of the girls.
"Someone has to control it. Because if we don't do that, we will have nothing but trouble as organized crime moves into the area, and the ages of the girls drop. They're not 18; they're 14 or 12," said Prince.
"You take the control away, someone steps over the line, and nothing happens, they take one bigger step over the line."
To add teeth to their cause, fines are set high -- $2,500 for operating as an unlicensed call girl, and an extra $2,500 for operating an agency without papers.
A license for a single escort costs $125. Agencies are charged about $3,800.
"It gets expensive," said Prince.
He said he thinks this sweep will sink in with the escort community.
After their first night of the operation Oct. 29, "the word was out big time. When we went on Craigslist the next day, there were about a quarter of the ads on there as usual," said Prince.