The Lansing City Councilwill vote next week on the reinstatement of an ordinance allowing police to seize vehicles of prostitute solicitors.

After a three-year trial period, council members are evaluating the effectiveness of the ordinance to decide whether to renew it.

"Public prostitution has got to stop," Lansing resident Christine Timmon said. "It's a public disturbance. It causes social problems and health problems. Good neighborhoods shouldn't have to be ruined by these activities."

The reinstatement of the ordinance would establish any public place used for prostitution as a public nuisance. In addition, when a vehicle is used for engaging in any form of prostitution, it could be impounded.

"It's a big enough problem to where we need to do something about it," Lansing City Council President Carol Wood said.

"If someone is soliciting a prostitute and they have to call their wife or parent because they got their car taken away, they might think twice next time if they know the penalty."

To get a seized car back, the owner must pay $500, negotiate with the city attorney or fight the charge in court.

Wood said there has been enough consensus from the city council regarding the impact of the ordinance for it to be reinstated.

In 2001-02, police seized 22 cars. This year police have already seized 18.

Lansing police Lt. Bruce Ferguson said the act is known to police as "working the johns." The pursuit occurs when undercover cops pose as prostitutes in attempt to arrest johns, otherwise known as prostitute solicitors. When someone is caught, his or her car can be confiscated.

"There's a problem when we have residents calling us when their kids are playing outside and see a prostitute walking by," Ferguson said. "We're working on taking this kind of activity out of our neighborhoods. If you can stop the source of it, you can keep it out."

Ferguson said there are some typical areas in Lansing that, for some unknown reason, are labeled as prostitution areas.

"We work closely with our neighborhoods and deal with quality of life issues," he said. "We need to clean up. We want our residential neighborhoods to be known as good, safe places for families, not for prostitution."

But not everyone agrees that this is the way to stop the problem.

Lansing resident John Pollard said some men that solicit prostitutes are married and if the car is taken away, it's punishing wives and children too.

"Can she get the kids to daycare or visit her husband in jail?" he said. "Or go to church or the store? A wife should not be punished for something her husband does, and especially not the kids."

Pollard added that this ordinance is 3 years old and there's been no data shown to determine if the program was effective.

The issue will be reviewed by the public safety committee today. On Monday, the council will vote on whether to extend the ordinance. If it is approved, it will be in effect for ten years.