Ohio Sex Offenders to get special licence plates.

[emzie]

CINCINNATI (Reuters) - Lawmakers in Ohio said on Wednesday they want to force convicted sex offenders to use a fluorescent-green license plate on their cars so they can be easily identified.

A Republican and a Democrat in the state legislature have joined forces to propose the law, which echoes measures in several U.S. states that require convicted drunken drivers to use a yellow, pink or red plate on their cars.

"The fluorescent-green license plate will make the most egregious sex offenders easily identifiable," state Democratic Rep. Michael DeBose said in a statement.

Police said the green plates would allow them to track sex offenders, who are already required to register with the local sheriff's office and are prohibited from living within 1,000 feet of a school.

"It will give Ohio families a great peace of mind knowing that their children will be able to recognize where this danger exists," Summit County Sheriff Drew Alexander said.

Opponents of the proposed law argue the use of a special plate would stigmatize everyone who shared the offender's car -- including their spouse or children.
The proposed law will be debated in committee before a decision is made whether to put the proposal to a vote.

http://today.reuters.com/news/artic..._0_US-USA-CRIME-SEX-PLATES.xml&src=rss&rpc=22

I'm not really sure how to feel about this. On one hand, protecting society -- specifically children -- from abuse is very important. The ease with which a sex offender could be identified near a school cannot be over looked.

On the other hand, I fear that people who want to move on with their lives are even more so forever ruined. As it is, your whole neighbourhood will probably know you're a sex offender. Your prospective employers can find out. And now, if you choose to drive, everyone, everywhere, will know. Murders are treated better.

Because the privilege to drive is just that, a privileged issued by the State, I believe Ohio is within it's rights to do this. I think if I was back home and saw one of these cars though, I would pity the driver more than be angry with him (or her).

 

[Left]

Have we always been this obsessed about sex offenders or is this a recent deal?

Seems like TV news has become 24 Hour Pedo Watch.

 

[skadistic]

I think this should be limited to only real threats.

 

[CartesianFart]

Depend on the degree of the sex offenses that a sex offender once have committed.

Of course it does not absolutely say that once they have committed an henious crime of whatever degree does not necessarily means that they will do it again.It depend on the individual which differ in degree of cases i guess.

 

[Xanikk999]

I think this is a bad idea, especially if it applies to all sex offenders.

Just another way of trying to single out groups of people and make them outcasts.

Doesnt help if they want to try to change thier ways.

 

[downtown]

Dumb idea. We already have a very sophisticated sex offender system tracking system in Ohio. This just messes anybody who ever shares a ride with, or lives with, somebody who at one point in their life, was a sex offender. Plus, those cars will be at risk for on-road retribution.

This is a popular game though in Ohio politics...who can be "toughier on sex offenders". A few towns in Columbus actually banned them from living there.

 

[IglooDame]

Because sex offenders couldn't possibly rent a car...

Whups, carryover from the sarcasm thread.

Anyway, stupid idea, right up there with tattooing P (for Pedophile) on their forehead.

 

[ArneHD]

This is a thouroughly silly and paranoid suggestion in my oppinion.

 

[emzie]

I think this should be limited to only real threats.

So do I. I think a Judge should make this call (much like a Judge makes the call on Ohio DUI plates). It should also be open to appeal. The term sex offender encompasses a lot of people -- child molesters, rapists and guys caught masturbating in an adult theatre. Surely the last shouldn't be treated as the first two.

 

[CartesianFart]

Everytime a law is propose by the legislators in my state the more i get the impression that Ohio do indeed want to be a sick Utopia in the making.

 

[Tycoon101]

Maybe it'll make kids think twice before they go into the stranger's minivan if they see a license plate that advertises that they are a sex offender.

I support this on the basis that their personal rights became forfeit when they decided to be criminals.

 

[Perfection]

Whatever happened to the concept of "time served"?

 

[JollyRoger]

I think if anyone should have to have special license plates, it is those convicted of drunk driving. If I'm on the road, I am more concerned about a drunk driver than somebody who got caught with his 15 year girlfriend when he was 17.

 

[emzie]

Maybe it'll make kids think twice before they go into the stranger's minivan if they see a license plate that advertises that they are a sex offender.

I support this on the basis that their personal rights become forfeit when they decided to be criminals.

Kids shouldn't have to think twice before getting in any stranger's car.

 

[Xanikk999]

Maybe it'll make kids think twice before they go into the stranger's minivan if they see a license plate that advertises that they are a sex offender.

I support this on the basis that their personal rights became forfeit when they decided to be criminals.

Why should they lose those basic rights when they leave prison though?

This isnt helpful for reabilitating the pedophiles who want to get rid of thier affliction.

 

[emzie]

I think if anyone should have to have special license plates, it is those convicted of drunk driving. If I'm on the road, I am more concerned about a drunk driver than somebody who got caught with his 15 year girlfriend when he was 17.

People convicted of DUIs on Ohio get yellow plates with red lettering.

 

[Tycoon101]

Kids shouldn't have to think twice before getting in any stranger's car.

They shouldn't, but there are some things in society that are just too illogical.

Why should they lose those basic rights when they leave prison though?

This isnt helpful for reabilitating the pedophiles who want to get rid of thier affliction.

If you break the law with full knowledge of the consequences then you are a criminal forever.

If they want to get rid of their pedophilial thoughts they should not have acted on them in the first place.

 

[Desmond Hawkins]

Only if they give special licence plates to every other type of felony.

Assault, armed robbery, murder, umm...drug-use...

 

[Masquerouge]

Yeah right. So Genarlow Wilson will have a special plate? These two teenagers who echanged vids of themselves naked will have a special plate?

And I agree with Sobieski. Why singling out sex offenders?

 

[woody60707]

Dude, what the hell? really? &*^%@*&! (it's crap like this that makes me think a bit that the 9/11 crazes aren't all wrong)

Anyways, has anyone even shown that laws like this in any way do any good at all. I'll place money that crap like this leads to more criminal behavior, not less.