Hartsville is a small city of about 8,000 residents in Darlington County, South Carolina. Street prostitution has been reported in certain areas of the city, and has generated complaints to local law enforcement.

In response, the Hartsville Police Department has conducted at least one reverse sting. In January 2008, the HPD sent a female officer undercover as a prostituted woman. Three men were arrested after they solicited the officer and made an offer of money for sex. The names, ages, and addresses of the men were reported in the news and each had to pay a fine of $1,087.

Hartsville Police have also made at least one opportunistic sex buyer arrest. Later that same year, Hartsville Police arrested and publicized the name of a sex buyer who repeatedly attempted to solicit women in and around one of the city’s hotels. The man was intercepted after several women reported the harassment to police.