BOISE -- A nonprofit asked a northern Idaho lawmaker for help to draft a bill that would raise awareness about sex trafficking across the state. Republican Rep. Sage Dixon from Sandpoint said it may come to a surprise to many living in Idaho, but sex trafficking is happening here.
"I was shocked to hear about it," he told KTVB Friday.
Dixon authored the bill that would let nonprofits post sex-tracking awareness signs, with the human trafficking hotline listed on the signs, in Idaho rest stops.
The signs would be most useful at rest stops near state lines. Idaho already has one human trafficking sign posted at a rest area in the southern part of the state, but that is the only one.
Dixon's district borders Canada and he knows traffickers bring victims into Idaho from the north.
"Other times they will come through Washington or Oregon and be transferred through our state," Dixon said. "They have seen a lot coming from the West Coast through (to) the oil fields, unfortunately."
Ideally, a victim might be in a position to see the sign and call for help by using the hotline.
The Polaris Project operates a 24-hour toll-free hotline where operators are available to answer calls from anywhere in the country in more than 200 languages. It is an option for victims that is better sometimes than dialing 9-11 for help because the resources for victims are greater.
However, another option is for travelers to use the hotline. Someone might witness strange activity on the road and the signs would direct them to where they can report it.
"The ideal location is these rest stops, because as they are coming through. They will be able to see that and it also increases awareness to people who aren't involved," said Dixon.
His message is this -- if you think it's not happening in Idaho, you're wrong.
"This is actually happening here and it's happening to our children," he said. "It is still something that is somewhat in the shadows and I received an email from a young lady in eastern Idaho that was a victim of trafficking. She was a student that was very accomplished in high school went out and got a job and got a boyfriend that ended up initiating her into human trafficking."
The bill has made its way through the Idaho House and is on its way to the Senate. Our neighboring states, Montana and Washington have also passes similar legislation.
