FL- Davie law targets landlords renting to sex offenders

To this date, no where in the nation has anyone shown a past crime that would have been prevented had a residency law been in place at the time, these laws are nothing but hypothetical nonsense a pretext and way to circumvent constitutional protections.

1-21-2009 Florida:

Davie proposes jail, fines for those who 'turn a blind eye'

DAVIE - Landlords beware.

A proposed town law would allow property owners to be fined or jailed if they rent to convicted sex offenders and predators in violation of residency restrictions. The Town Council will take a final vote on the measure tonight.

Davie requires a 2,500-foot buffer between where sex offenders and predators can live and places where children gather, like school bus stops and playgrounds. Under the new law, landlords in that zone who "turn a blind eye" may face fines up to $500 and/or 60 days in jail, said Assistant Town Attorney Tom Moss. Repeat violators could face fines of up to $1,000 and/or a year in jail.

"We're not looking to run out and arrest landlords," Police Chief Patrick Lynn said. "The intent is to move offenders out of our area."

Chris Mancini, an attorney who has represented sex offenders, said Davie would be the first in Broward County Click here for restaurant inspection reports to "lock up" a landlord.

Police officials in Davie, currently home to 48 registered sex offenders, say they are simply following the lead of Cooper City, Pembroke Pines and Weston.

But landlords in those cities don't face jail time for violating the buffer zone law. They can, however, be fined up to $500 a day.

So far, Weston has not fined any landlords, according to City Manager John Flint. But in 2007, Weston threatened to fine the grandparents of a sex offender $150 a day for allowing him to live in their home, located near an elementary school and bus stop. The city later settled the case and dropped the fine, allowing the grandson to remain as long as he was not convicted of any more sex crimes.

Mancini, the attorney in that case, said laws targeting sex offenders don't make cities any safer. He holds out hope for a state law that would create a standardized rule that would apply anywhere in Florida.

"The bottom line is this battle is going to rage on until the state comes in with a state law," he said. "There is no consistency anywhere."

Davie's 2,500-foot buffer zone is similar to laws passed by cities across the state after pedophiles were charged in the separate murders of Jessica Lunsford and Sarah Lunde. The town's current ordinance applies only to sex offenders convicted after Oct. 1, 2004. The new law would apply to all sex offenders, regardless of their conviction date.

Davie officials say the new law should help persuade property owners to do background checks.

"It's not meant to be a trap for landlords," Mayor Tom Truex said. But "if you are a landlord, you should make some inquiries before you rent the property."

Florida law requires all sex offenders and sexual predators to register with the state. It also requires police to notify a community when a sexual predator moves in, but does not mandate notification for sex offenders.

Davie police will inform landlords if a sex offender has moved in, Chief Lynn said.

But most landlords know when they are renting to a sex offender because the neighbors usually let them know, Police Lt. Wayne Boulier said

"It's hard to say you didn't know it when the whole neighborhood said they told you about it beforehand," he said. ..News Source.. by Susannah Bryan