Posted on 06/20/2007 12:19:11 PM PDT by Baladas
FORT LAUDERDALE -- FORT LAUDERDALE Sexual offenders and predators would be banned from living in 90 percent of Fort Lauderdale, under a proposed law the city intends to pass later this year.
Commissioners said Tuesday they plan to join the long list of municipalities — 25 in Broward so far — adopting their own restrictions about how close to schools, parks and day-care facilities sexual offenders can live.
The ordinances are intended to be tougher than state law, to protect children from pedophiles living nearby.
Fort Lauderdale's proposal would leave more places for offenders to live, compared with some Broward cities that leave little or no room. The city is home to 412 sex offenders, 32 of whom have the more serious label of "predator." Any of them running afoul of the new law would be able to remain where they live now; the law would apply only to new residents.
Cities say state law doesn't go far enough in protecting children, because it applies only to those convicted after Oct. 1, 2004, or those with earlier convictions who are still under state supervision, City Attorney Harry Stewart explained in a memo.
Most Broward cities with their own laws expanded the no-pedophile perimeter around children's gathering places from the state's 1,000 feet to a more restrictive 2,500 feet.
"So there's no zero tolerance, huh?" asked Commissioner Charlotte Rodstrom. "You have to have some places where they can live."
Stewart said an outright ban isn't constitutional, and anything beyond what the state law says could invite a legal challenge from the American Civil Liberties Union.
"We've litigated with them on several occasions," he said.
"They seem to have a second office here," Mayor Jim Naugle said.
(Excerpt) Read more at sun-sentinel.com ...
Whew - only 10% more to go...
Probably wouldn’t please you if you lived in the 10% area though.
Period. There, that's better.
What a dumb law. Pedophiles should be kept in prison for life (at a minimum) as they are so dangerous and prone to recidivism.
You know, like "Teletubby Heights" or "Underoos Village."
Such an ordinance would carry a lot of political “atta boy” “nice try” stuff but it would without doubt be unconsitutional.
The remaining 10% is called prison.
Oh man.
Thats bad (LOL)
“They seem to have a second office here,” Mayor Jim Naugle said.”
Give them the boot through “special” higher taxes.
Let me guess -- because the new residents are more dangerous?
Stupid, stupid, stupid. If 1000 feet or 2500 feet is the minimum distance deemed acceptable to the city, then that's the distance. You can't "grandfather in" a pedophile!
C.O.P.S. might as well build a studio there.
You might want to think twice about these laws. Minors who have had sex with minors, or 19 year olds with 17 year olds, and parents who “inproperly” handled their children have been convicted as “sex offenders”. All pedofiles are sex offenders but not all sex offenders are pedofiles. You may be the next to be added to the list.
Or Chris Hansen could.
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