Washington statute
RCW 9A.88.110 — Patronizing a prostitute
Current through 2026 Regular Session
Part of Chapter 9A.88: Indecent Exposure—Prostitution, Revised Code of Washington.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of RCW 9A.88.110
Statutory text current through the 2026 Regular Session. This publication reproduces the official text of the Revised Code of Washington from the Code Reviser's published files; it is not the official statutes of the State of Washington.
(1) A person is guilty of patronizing a prostitute if:
(a) Pursuant to a prior understanding, he or she pays a fee to another person as compensation for such person or a third person having engaged in sexual conduct with him or her; or
(b) He or she pays or agrees to pay a fee to another person pursuant to an understanding that in return therefor such person will engage in sexual conduct with him or her; or
(c) He or she solicits or requests another person to engage in sexual conduct with him or her in return for a fee.
(2) The crime of patronizing a prostitute may be committed in more than one location. The crime is deemed to have been committed in any location in which the defendant commits any act under subsection (1)(a), (b), or (c) of this section that constitutes part of the crime. A person who sends a communication to patronize a prostitute is considered to have committed the crime both at the place from which the contact was made pursuant to subsection (1)(a), (b), or (c) of this section and where the communication is received, provided that this section must be construed to prohibit anyone from being prosecuted twice for substantially the same crime.
(3) For purposes of this section, "sexual conduct" has the meaning given in RCW 9A.88.030.
(4) Patronizing a prostitute is a misdemeanor.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
Is patronizing a prostitute a felony or a misdemeanor in Washington?
Patronizing a prostitute is a Misdemeanor in Washington under RCW 9A.88.110.
Which Washington statute covers patronizing a prostitute?
Patronizing a prostitute is governed by RCW 9A.88.110 (Patronizing a prostitute).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.