When I first moved to Florida my first stop was Miami. Having only visited once, I had no idea on what to expect. Lets just say, we weren’t in Minnesota anymore! Miami is known for a lot of things, but today I’m getting into the seedy underbelly of Miami’s Red Light District.
There are actually many zones that qualify as red light districts in Miami, so I’ll do my best to speak about each of them in this full guide to the dark side of living in Miami.
What is a Red Light District?
According to Wikipedia, a Red light district is an area that is prone to prostitution, allows adult oriented shops such as sex shops, strip clubs, and motel rooms by the hour. Most red light districts across the world, such as the one in San Jose, Costa Rica, are also riddled with open drug use.
That being said, there’s a few zones that fit the bill as being labeled a red light district in Miami, so I’ll break down each one separately and share with you the current happenings in each area.
Where are the Red Light Districts in Miami?
Here’s a list of where you can find sex, drugs, and trouble, in Miami. Some of you will no doubt flock to these areas, while for others, this is an FYI on areas to avoid in Miami. Do with this information as you wish.
I don’t want to make this article into a Miami Hookers expose, because as of now, that’s typically taboo and illegal. However, being from here, I can tell you that it’s a very rampant and relevant topic so its’ worth touching on it.
Miami Hookers and What to Know
Escorts and ladies of the night in Miami are something that are very present in Miami. You’ll find them walking in the streets, as I detail below, to operating in private businesses under the guise of being “erotic body rubs,” and of course, anywhere men with money hang out. There’s no shortage of escort agencies you can find if you look around, and my travels lead me to believe that Miami is about as in your face about it as Las Vegas.
It doesn’t surprise me, however. The makeup of Miami’s population is largely South and Central American as well as European. These cultures have legalized prostitution and it’s something that’s normal for them. That culture has carried over into Miami so yes, if you are looking for hookers in Miami, you can find them.
All right, with that in mind, let’s get back on topic.
Ocean Drive
The famous main street across from the beach in South Beach was once a place of glory. A place where celebrities like Jennifer Lopez would proudly dine in the open. I’m here to tell you, those days are gone. One look at our past Spring Breaks in Miami will show you that the glitz and glam is gone.
You’ll see it very blatantly at the start of this clip from a recent video. Shout out to Getaways and Guitars on YouTube for the clip.
It’s not uncommon to find prostitutes roaming the streets at all times of day soliciting their services. The later it gets, the more rampant it becomes. They aren’t just confined to the streets, either. Many will enter bars, such as the new Patpong Road bar and lounge, and openly recruit clientele.
Drugs? Don’t get me started. It’s about as easy to get drugs on Ocean Drive as it is to get a cold beer.
Be very careful when in this area. It’s quickly losing its history and all its glory. There is a lot of activity among the local government to lessen the nightlife by cutting back the time bars can be open, but it’s doing very little to curb the violence that happens here. It’s a shame.
Miami Springs
This area actually created an area for this type of activity, if you can believe that. However, the Miami Herald reported that this area has become a “nuisance,” and it’s doing it’s best to clean things up. The local government has issued a notice to property owners to abate improper behavior as part of a nuisance ordinance.
According to the Herald, the area has had a severe increase in prostitution, drug sales, and theft.
This is all thanks in part to a 2013 ordinance that surprisingly allowed sex shops to set up in the area. Additionally, allowable activities include “bondage,” “lap dances,” and even “humiliating activities” in this adult zone. In fact, the ordinance goes as far to describing the following activities to be permitted:
- fondling or touching the buttock, pubic region, anus, female breast, or male genitals.
Yep, that actually was made allowed by the City Council. #OnlyInMiami
Here’s more social proof of this prostitution zone in Miami, courtesy of NBC6.
Perhaps the most disturbing part of this story is that not only was an hourly motel approved, as well as as a strip club, with the kicker being that the hourly motel is less than 500 feet from a school and a library. These poor children!
79th Street Near Biscayne Boulevard
I used to work on 123rd and Biscayne back in 2002, and it used to be MUCH worse. The prostitution would run miles up and down Biscayne Boulevard. These days, the 79th street area has a high concentration of prostitutes at most hours of the day. This area, located near Biscayne Boulevard, isn’t the best part of Miami, obviously.
It was reported on a recent Reddit thread that the women wear hardly anything and flaunt their goods in front of school children riding the bus without a care in the world. Prostitution is very rampant in this area, which is the Little Haiti area of Miami.
Little Havana
While this area has taken on a lot of investment over the years, you really can’t get the Central American (read: Nicaraguan) prostitution problem off the streets. Sure, it’s cleaned up over the years and a lot has changed since this famous New Times story but Little Havana, including Calle Ocho, and the Flagler area on the cross street of 27th Avenue continues to have ladies of the night popping up at gas stations and walking the streets.
Prostitution in Miami in General
Like most big cities, there’s a huge presence that starts with escort agencies advertising online. However, this also spills over into the expensive night clubs like LIV, where you’ll encounter European prostitutes of all shapes and sizes. It’s not just confined to LIV, and if they pay the price of admission, can they be stopped?
Red light cameras play a significant role in monitoring and reducing illegal activities. These cameras automatically detect and capture images of vehicles running red lights at designated intersections. The system records the car’s license plate and captures images of the vehicle in the middle of the intersection with the red light in plain view. The images are reviewed and approved by police department personnel before issuing violations. This automated law enforcement system helps track and reduce illegal activities, including those related to prostitution.
It’s a very interesting time in Miami. A Sheriff candidate wants to legalize prostitution in Dade County.
On the flipside, residents of the Flagami area are trying to block off their streets due to finding broken bottles and used condoms on their doorsteps. They even find themselves being flashed by women who cross through their neighborhoods en route to a motel.
Summary
Prostitution is rampant in Miami. The red light districts I mentioned are just the tip of the ice berg. While the street walkers has been cleaned up in my 24 years living in South Florida, there are still women roaming the streets offering sexual services. In another blog I went into the question of “Is Miami Safe for tourists?” and urge you to read more about areas of danger.
Be very careful if you visit here, and of course, obey all local laws!
About Tim Schmidt
Tim Schmidt is a 20+ year Entrepreneur and Digital Marketer. A Fort Lauderdale-based "Digital Nomad," he enjoys traveling as much as possible with family and friends. AllWorld is his escape to document all of his adventures, including being a hardcore "foodie." He has property in Costa Rica and visits several times each year and is happy to offer his expert advice for planning your trip.
