The Mesa City Council voted this week to enact new regulations for the escort industry.
Escorts working in Mesa will now have to register for a license with the city.
City leaders hope increasing regulations could help crack down on sex-trafficking operations that masquerade as escort services.
Previously, only escort agencies had to register with the city.
Mesa police hope the new regulation will help the department distinguish legal escorts from the unlawful ones.
Escort applicants will undergo a business and criminal background check. Mesa has not yet set the license cost but estimate an individual license could cost $200.
Mesa code prohibits escorts from engaging in sexual contact with patrons.
