HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — After Houston said no to the sex robot brothel, county commissioners are making it clear the business isn’t welcome in the county either.
They unanimously approved revisions Tuesday to the county’s rules regulating sexually oriented businesses or SOBs.
The revisions include a ban on using a so-called sex robot for sexual activities in a business.
“These businesses can be havens for human trafficking and other serious crimes,” said County Attorney Ryan, who proposed the revisions.
A Canadian company that already operates an "adult love dolls rent before you buy service" in Toronto had hoped to open a location in Houston. They had already started construction before running into permit issues that halted work.
The company, KinkySdollS, sells and rents human-like dolls that can cost more than $3,000 each.
Mayor Sylvester Turner lead the charge to keep the business out of Houston.
The county attorney’s office and the Harris County Sheriff’s Department also created new definitions and requirements for adult motels, adult cabarets adult cabaret entertainers, adult bookstores, theaters and arcades.
The businesses are now required to post a sign containing educational information about human trafficking, including the National Human Trafficking Hotline.
A violation of the County’s SOB regulations is a Class A misdemeanor that could lead to a $4,000 fine and up to one year in jail.