It's a problem in many cities, and Springfield Police have been battling it for decades --prostitution. On any given day, and hour, women are selling and men are buying. CBS 3 Springfield's Liz Tufts shows us the risks both sides are willing to take.

When most people think of a prostitute, they picture a woman barely wearing clothing, working the streets late at night, but when you were on your lunch break I posed as one, on a sunny Wednesday afternoon on Main street, wearing everyday shorts and a tank top. I paced the city corner with kids close by and restaurants open for business. In less than 2-minutes I had my first customer.

As our camera's captured everything on tape, undercover police officers were across the street making sure I was safe. The first "john" didn't even hesitate. He urged me to get into his car and exchange sex for cash. But when my price was out of his budget he took off. Seconds later, he turned around and followed me into the same parking lot where police were parked. Our first customer is now part of the hundreds of people who are in trouble with the law so far this year. "The vice unit has made 104 arrests for prostitution and 16 customer arrests, " says Detective Martin Germaine.

Detective Martin Germaine of the Springfield Vice Unit has been patrolling the streets for prostitutes for more than 20 years. He tells me women, men, even young teens are out working the streets every day--every hour: rain or shine.

"It always tends to show more in the warm weather, more people outside, things move outside. Cold rainy days they are still out there, they are under bridges, looking for cover, " adds Germaine.

After my first customer, I went back out again. And although this time I wasn't as nervous, I was shocked to see the person sitting behind the wheel. He had a wedding ring on, in his mid 60's and looked like a nice guy. You could tell he was nervous but insisted I get into the car. I posed as a prostitute for just 5 minutes and was propositioned by two men. It's a problem taking over Springfield streets, and one that is driven by another demon all together--drugs. "100 percent. This is driven by drugs, they need money and they need their drugs so they do it, " says Germaine.

So as long as the drug problem continues, the Vice Unit will be doing their part by trying to put an end to prostitution, one arrest at a time.

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