Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act, 1993

Loitering for purposes of prostitution.

8.—(1) A member of the Garda Síochána who has reasonable cause to suspect that a person is loitering in a street or public place in order to solicit or importune another person or other persons for the purposes of prostitution may direct that person to leave immediately that street or public place.

(2) A person who without reasonable cause fails to comply with a direction under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding—

(a) £250, in the case of a first conviction,

(b) £500, in the case of a second conviction, or

(c) £500 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 4 weeks or to both, in the case of a third or any subsequent conviction.

(3) In this section “loitering” includes loitering in a motor vehicle.