Again… you have to wonder how many issues are taking place or have EVER taken place on a beach which would cause these politicians to consider passing ordinances. From the below article it looks more like politicians trying to make themselves look good, rather than address a problem.
Beach to consider sexual offender ordinance
With the more people coming to St. Augustine Beach, the police department thinks it’s time to consider a sexual offender ordinance.
“We don’t have an ordinance of our own,” said Beach Cmdr. Jim Parker. “We can enforce the county ordinance at Pier Park and Splash Park, but that’s as far as our jurisdiction goes.”
While no sexual offender or predator was registered as living on the beach Friday, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement sex offender search, a couple offenders live nearby.
The proposed ordinance, drawn up by City Attorney Doug Burnett, echoes that of the county’s, which limits the location and participation of sexual offenders and predators where a group of children is located.
The ordinance is on the agenda for Monday’s City Commission meeting.
“We’ve seen the crowds double in the past couple years, and the ordinance will protect both the residents and tourists,” Parker said.
He also said the city needs to adopt a sexual offender ordinance because there have been two related incidents within their jurisdiction.
“Recently we had an incident on the beach with a guy who was using binoculars to watch girls,” he said.
The girl said it wasn’t the first time it had happened, but she never reported it, according to a memo from City Manager Max Royle.
While the suspect admitted to watching girls through binoculars, he was urinating in the sand at the time of the incident.
“He turned out not to be a sexual offender, but that really drove home the need to have an ordinance,” Parker said. “We don’t want to delay it anymore.”
Parker said there is only one other incident in recent years involving a sexual offender on the beach.
There was an out-of-county man at the Splash Park a couple years ago who had failed to register as a sexual offender.
Parker said the SABPD recommended the city adopt St. Johns County’s sexual offender ordinance.
“Why reinvent the wheel if the county is already doing it,” he said.
There are two aspects of the county ordinances the city will consider adopting. One is the St. Johns County Prohibited Holiday Activity Ordinance for Sexual Offenders and predators.
“This prohibits sexual offenders from participating in Halloween,” said Cmdr. Chuck Mulligan, a spokesman for the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office. “They can’t have anything that will entice children to knock on their door. They have to keep their lights off, they can’t have decorations on their door and they have to put out a sign saying the house is closed to trick-or-treaters.”
Another aspect of the ordinance under consideration is the St. Johns County Child Safety Zone Ordinance which allows law enforcement to take action if a person is reported to be loitering around a park or another area where children congregate.
“If a sexual offender or predator goes to a park with no legitimate reason to be there and are exhibiting suspicious behavior, they can be questioned by law enforcement,” Mulligan said.
Both of these ordinances have been in effect since 2009, and Mulligan said they have been instrumental in locating and charging sexual offenders and predators.
“Historically, since they’ve been on the books, we’re required to do random checks, and we can charge people if they’ve failed to register or have moved into the area,” he said.
Again this is unbelievable. And all because a non-sex offender was caught doing something inappropriate. Registered citizens can’t go to schools or beaches now with their own families and kids. When will the insanity stop? I just hope other bordering counties don’t start adopting this madness such as Duval, Nassau, etc.. They can just go ahead and take me back to jail if they do pass such an ordinance because I’m not staying away from the only place that gives me peace and serenity. I go there for my own enjoyment and I don’t even give other people there a second thought. And I certainly don’t go there to cause a problem. Looks like now Gail and FAC will have to go and talk some sense into city council meetings.
This is the same thing happening in PASCO COUNTY next week April 21.
Registered citizens will be PROHIBITED from being in “300ft radius Child Safety Zones” for any reason other than passing through. These zones include public beaches, libraries, bus stops, parks, playgrounds.