In my first-hand experience as a criminal defense attorney, keeping my ears open as I travel through Hobby World and the criminal justice system, and knowledge gleaned from reading published Texas cases, I'd say there's a risk inherent to seeing a pimped girl because she may be underage (that is, 17 years-old or younger). Some pimps actively recruit underage girls. I'm not saying all underage providers have pimps. I'm saying most of the underage providers I know about had pimps.
Plain-vanilla prostitution involving a provider 18 years-old and above is a Class B misdemeanor under Texas law punishable by up to 180 days in county jail and/or a $2,000 fine. Prostitution involving a provider 17 years-old or younger is a second-degree felony punishable by up to two to 20 years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.
For more on this topic, see:
"Texas Laws Regarding Underage Providers"
btw, while the age of consensual, non-hobby sex in Texas is 17 years-old, it's a felony to have sex with a 17 year-old prostitute. One law has no relation to the other.
Three more observations:
1. In my opinion, many of the ills that befall many providers, such as addiction to illicit substances, money troubles, and HIV are not caused by pimps, although pimps may exploit addictions and economic needs to their advantage.
2. Pimps are MUCH more common than you think, especially if you rightly include scumbag husbands and deadbeat boyfriends. Without fear of informed contradiction, I'll say that if a provider is below the age of 30, the probability is she has a pimp. If a hobbyist is banging young providers, he's banging at least some young providers with pimps, no matter what the girls say. If a hobbyist has a moral problem with pimps, he shouldn't fuck young providers.
3. Generally, I have no problem if a provider has a pimp. I know lots of pimps. Some are well-organized business people and some are the dregs of humanity. Many are female. Pimps, to a degree, keep the wheels of the Hobby World machine greased and moving.