Jacksonville passes Bill to amend Sex Offender Ordinance
Jacksonville Bill 2016-233 was passed. The bill modifies language in their sexual offender statute to be more specific. The change comes in response to a lawsuit that the language was too vague.
The amended language is below. If you live in Jacksonville, these laws will apply to you:
- “It is unlawful for any Sexual Offender or Sexual Predator to participate in any practice or event, including, but not limited to, any event related to a nationally or locally recognized holiday or seasonal event, if such practice or event
involvesis primarily targeted toward non-familial childrenand includes activities, such as distributing candy or other items.” - A clarification of the ban on Holiday displays by that class of criminals, “if such display
could or wouldis primarily targeted to entice, attract, or lure a child onto, or nearer to,any residence, or property, or onto or nearer to any vehicle or vessel rented, owned or occupied by such person.” - An addition of “primarily targeted toward children” to the extant definition of display: “Display is defined as any decoration including, but not be limited to, lighting, figurines, posters, artwork, crystals, bales of hay, scarecrows, etc. which is visible to the public in plain view and is primarily targeted toward children.”
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In my opinion it is still purposely vague – WHO decides that it is primarily targeted towards children??/ Too open-ended
Don’t like this one bit.
This is a change to Sec. 685.104. – Prohibited Activities for Sexual Offenders and Sexual Predators; Exceptions. This change clarifies, but provides no relief, especially to the most egregious “requirement:”
(ii)
From 6:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m., on October 31 (or any other day on which Halloween is celebrated) post a sign at his or her residence, including a vessel, or vehicle, stating, “No candy or treats here.” Such signs shall be in letters at least two inches high and shall be legible on the property leased, rented, owned or occupied by the Sexual Offender or Sexual Predator, and clearly visible from the street, waterway, or any property that is open to public access. The signs may be removed after 11:59 p.m. on October 31, or the day on which Halloween is celebrated.
https://www2.municode.com/library/fl/jacksonville/codes/code_of_ordinances?searchRequest=%7B%22searchText%22:%22%5C%22sexual%20offender%5C%22%22,%22pageNum%22:1,%22resultsPerPage%22:25,%22booleanSearch%22:false,%22stemming%22:true,%22fuzzy%22:false,%22synonym%22:false,%22contentTypes%22:%5B%22CODES%22%5D,%22productIds%22:%5B%5D%7D&nodeId=TITXIXPUSA_CH685SEOFSEPRRE_S685.104PRACSEOFSEPREX
Why wasn’t the sign challenged???
Because we did not have a group in Jacksonville willing to organize and challenge.
humm if this is not deemed a freedom of speech violation, i will be amazed (well most likely if fought the crooked system would find no violation)