I asked Jonah Spangenthal-Lee, a blogger for the Seattle Police Department's Public Affairs Unit, to fill me in on this brief police report.

On March 18, an in-car video system recorded an incident that involved an undercover agent for SPD's Vice Unit and an unidentified man. The suspect allegedly made contact with the undercover officer and offered her money in exchange for a sex act. Since prostitution is illegal in our state, he was arrested and booked into King County Jail for "prostitute patronizing."

In Hawaii, things are apparently a little different.

Officers are urging lawmakers to pass a bill that aims to curb prostitution, as long as they keep in the exemption that allows cops to have sex with prostitutes during investigations.

The police argue that the provision helps them catch offenders (in the sex act, one gathers), but human trafficking experts contend that it only worsens the situation for sex workers.

In my opinion, the only way to resolve this whole sad business is to decriminalize prostitution and offer services that make it safer for all parties. Yes, how unoriginal.