Human Trafficking in Virginia
Human Trafficking in Virginia
Effective July 1, 2013 section 40.1-11.3ย of the Code of Virginia was amended to require any employer who operates a truck stop to post notice of the existence of a human trafficking hotline to alert possible victims of human trafficking of the availability to report crimes or gain assistance. As used in this subsection, โtruck stopโ means a facility that is capable of fueling a qualified highway vehicle that bears an IFTA identification marker as those items are defined in sectionย 58.1-2700. Failure to post a notice may result in a civil penalty of $100 beginning January 1, 2014.
Adult entertainment businesses are currently required to post a notice of a human trafficking hotline for potential victims. Failure to post may result in a civil penalty of $500. This notice shall be posted in the same location as other employee notices required by law.
Report Possible Human Trafficking
Human Trafficking cannot be stopped by the efforts of one person alone.ย Instead, its prevention requires partnerships of many individuals and organizations,ย including you. The Virginia State Police offersย a tip lineย for members of the public to report concerns and help stop this crime.
โHuman trafficking involves the obtaining of and coercive control of persons for sexual exploitation or exploitation of a labor force far below market pricing in violation of the laws of the Commonwealth, several international protocols, most nationsโ laws, the U.S. Constitution, and several federal statutes.โ โย The Commonwealth of Virginia Commission on Human Trafficking Prevention and Survivor Support Final Report, January 9 2023.
If you observe the following indicators of potential human trafficking, please use the VSP tip line.
- Does the person appear disconnected from family, friends, community organizations, or houses of worship?
- Has a child stopped attending school?
- Has the person had a sudden or dramatic change in behavior?
- Is a juvenile engaged in commercial sex acts?
- Is the person disoriented or confused, or showing signs of mental or physical abuse?
- Does the person have bruises in various stages of healing?
- Is the person fearful, timid, or submissive?
- Does the person show signs of having been denied food, water, sleep, or medical care?
- Is the person often in the company of someone to whom he or she defers? Or someone who seems to be in control of the situation, e.g., where they go or who they talk to?
- Does the person appear to be coached on what to say?
- Is the person living in unsuitable conditions?
- Does the person lack personal possessions and appear not to have a stable living situation?
- Does the person have freedom of movement? Can the person freely leave where they live? Are there unreasonable security measures?
How to Report
Text:ย 847411. Send a message to that number by typing โVSPโ followed by the tip. Messages are anonymous. VSP may make contact with you regarding your tip in efforts to obtain more information.ย If the information you possess concerns a person (or yourself) in imminent danger, contact 911 or #77 to report that information.
Online:ย Submit a Tip Online
Additional Resources
To learn moreย about Human Trafficking and its impacts on adults and children at home and abroad,ย please visit these otherย agency websites.
Human Trafficking Poster
