'OLE-WHINE

It's seems that 2-thousand foot zone of protection from sex offenders around schools and licensed day-care facilities still isn't enough for some people. In sleepy little villages all over the state (beginning with Ely pop: 1,149), city council members are creating their own 2-thousand foot zones. Oelwein (pop: 6,692) has gone off the deep end according to a story in the Dubuque Telegraph Herald.

"Some other cities have said, 'Move out of our town, don't live here," but that's the extent of it,'" said Oelwein City Administrator Steve Kendall of the city's proposed law that would fine registered sex offenders $750 for going to public places "where children congregate."

That's right...anywhere there are children and the congregate. Malls, outside the convenience store, downtown, scooping the loop, uh...

"...Setting foot in city parks, schools, swimming pools or the library would carry a fine for registered offenders unless they have children and are taking them to the area. The council unanimously passed the first reading of the ordinance last week and will hold another reading next week and in early February..."

I'm assuming those children they're talking about would be the ones they have help birth themselves. I don't suppose there would be a loophole big enough for Clinton to walk through..."it depends on what the meaning of 'have children' is"

Sure, it's a little strange. It may even make sense to some people. I'm just wondering how they're going to go about enforcing it. Random ID checks of adults around children? Force sex offenders to wear a special hat? How do you tell who's a sex offender and whether or not they're violating the law when you're an Oelwein cop cruising around for a look-see?

Nevertheless...it's an idea worth considering. Right Iowa Legislators?

Although Oelwein's law would be the first of its kind in the state, a committee was formed by state legislators late last year to consider adopting a similar statewide rule. The Legislature is expected to address the issue this month.

Right. And the usual forces are lining up to oppose it. Right again. And they're right to do it.

Iowa Civil Liberties Director Ben Stone has raised concerns that the Oelwein residents will be calling the police every time they see a registered sex offender and that they might be fined for just walking or driving past the places on the list, something Kendall called "totally erroneous." Fines would not be given for walking or driving past the listed public places, he said, but would be distributed based on "officer discretion."