As used in this section "house of prostitution" means a building, enclosure or place that is used for the purpose of prostitution as that crime is defined in Section 30-9-2 NMSA 1978. A house of prostitution is a public nuisance per se.

History: 1953 Comp., § 40A-9-17, enacted by Laws 1963, ch. 303, § 9-17; 1989, ch. 114, § 2.

Cross references. — For abatement of public nuisance, see 30-8-8 NMSA 1978.

The 1989 amendment, effective March 28, 1989, added the first sentence.

Criminal proceeding. — Former statute providing for injunction and abatement of nuisance and forfeiture of premises on proof that lewdness, assignation or prostitution existed was criminal in nature and the complaint was an action in the nature of a criminal proceeding. State ex rel. Murphy v. Morley, 1957-NMSC-087, 63 N.M. 267, 317 P.2d 317.

Crime not enjoinable as such. — Where a ground of equitable jurisdiction to enjoin otherwise exists, the claim to such relief is not to be denied merely because the act complained of constitutes a crime, but a crime may not in and of itself be made an independent ground for injunction; hence, trial court could not extend authority of its restraint against defendant from maintaining a certain premises for purposes of lewdness, assignation or prostitution throughout entire county, and its attempt to do so fell squarely within the interdiction that equity may not be employed to forestall the commission of a crime. State v. Robertson, 1957-NMSC-060, 63 N.M. 74, 313 P.2d 342.

Sufficiency of complaint. — Where the nuisance complained of is a nuisance per se, and denounced as such in the statute, it is sufficient for the complaint to allege its existence in the language of the statute. State v. Robertson, 1957-NMSC-060, 63 N.M. 74, 313 P.2d 342.

Bond as enforcement device. — A trial judge has both the statute and the discretion inherent in his broad equitable powers to draw upon in providing means for the enforcement of order restraining defendant, from using, occupying or maintaining a certain premises for purposes of lewdness, assignation or prostitution, by requiring a bond of defendant, so long as its effect is confined to the premises in question. State v. Robertson, 1957-NMSC-060, 63 N.M. 74, 313 P.2d 342.

Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — Validity of statutes or ordinances requiring sex-oriented businesses to obtain operating licenses, 8 A.L.R.4th 130.