Getting caught buying sex in Oakland could now mean thousands of dollars in new fines

OAKLAND — City Hall here is taking a tougher stand against pimps and johns across the city, which has become known for hosting the largest open-air sex trafficking market in the Bay Area.

The City Council granted final approval Tuesday to an ordinance that significantly ups the fines and consequences for anyone caught buying sex in the city, while also targeting the people trafficking women and the property owners allowing the industry to flourish in their buildings.

City leaders...