8.—(1) A member of the Garda Síochána who has reasonable cause to suspect that a person is loitering in a street or public place in order to solicit or importune another person or other persons for the purposes of prostitution may direct that person to leave immediately that street or public place.

F8[(2) A person who without lawful authority or reasonable excuse fails to comply with a direction under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a class D fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or both.]