Mexico City's thousands of prostitutes regulated

Other rules require them to refrain from drinking and drugs and to keep away from schools and churches.

The rules, agreed to by prostitutes and city authorities, require street walkers to limit their areas of solicitation in the Cuauhtemoc district and the downtown La Merced, where Mexico City's huge produce market is located.

Male prostitutes and travestites are barred from the La Merced district, but not from Cuauhtemoc. Both must limit their hours from midday to 6 a.m. the following day. From 6 a.m. to midnight, prostitutes must dress "decently," but after midnight they can wear baby dolls, transparent clothing and even G-strings.

Prostitutes must carry an identification card that shows they undergo regular medical checkups and must refrain from working if they are sick.

There are no estimates on how many prostitutes work in Mexico City, but authorities believe as many as 3,000 frequent La Merced alone. The City Council later is expected to approve legislation incorporating the new rules.