Highway US-19 is known to New Port Richey Police as a corridor for prostitution. Up and down the highway they walk, right in front of businesses and homes.

Since the police department doesn't have enough man power for the countless undercover stings, like one they ran back in May, Chief Kim Bogart is looking to get some new laws on the books.

"We are going to attack," Chief Bogart says. "We're going to attack it and attack it and attack it."

The department has been researching ordinances from other jurisdictions. One of them, out of the state of Washington, would designate zones known for prostitution.  Then, anyone with a prior prostitution conviction walking through could be hit with a trespassing violation.

Another one from the Miami-Dade area targets hand gestures meant to flag down Johns.  It also goes after the Johns themselves, when they repeatedly circle areas known for prostitution.

"It's very clear to anyone that that's what's going on," Chief Bogart says.  "But of course the folks that are in that business, they'll fight the constitutionality and argue that they have a right to be on the streets and wave to friends that are going by."

Further research revealed some of those ordinances were struck down in court as unconstitutional.  Which is why Bogart says the city attorney's office is now taking the reigns in an effort to find one that is fool proof.

Bogart is hoping to have that ordinance in front of the New Port Richey City Council within the next few months.