Interesting here is that, this is a local registry not the state registry, and given that I cannot see how they can justify such a fee. That makes winning a possibility in most courts, but never forget, Louisiana has French law background which may affect the case in some way.3-8-2011 Louisiana:
LAKE CHARLES, LA. (KPLC) - A Lake Charles sex offender has filed suit in State District Court against the Mayor and City Council over that controversial new sex offender registration fee. The ordinance would require a $600 registration fee up front and then an annually fee of $200.
As well, sex offenders would have to provide authorities with additional details of their past history.
The suit raises six key issues including whether the ordinance violates the constitutional rights of sex offenders by inflicting cruel and unusual punishment and depriving them of equal protection under the law. The suit also raises the question of whether the city council went beyond its authority in enacting an ordinance tougher than the requirements of state law.
Clinton Fruge was convicted of attempted forcible rape when he was sixteen. He says he does not object to registering as a sex offender but believes Lake Charles new ordinance goes too far. "City council has abused their authority. They are trying to take steps that only our legislature can take . Secondly, they don't have the authority to add to people's sentences."
Fruge is now married and the step father of a six year old boy. He and his wife Amy say a six hundred dollar registration fee would hurt their family. "They were raised from $60 to $600. That is a $540 jump. For me and my wife that's an electric bill, a water bill and a gas bill all together probably." His wife Amy agrees. "Not only would we have to move. We would also have to take out $600 out of our pockets that feeds my little boy. $600 that could very well buy me a new vehicle to get my little boy around."
In the lawsuit filed, Fruge says the new requirements amount to dishing out more punishment on those who have already served their time-- so he says it's unconstitutional. "We're human beings and we have the right, just like everybody else, to live where we choose to live." Said Amy, "They don't want my husband to live in this town. Why? He's a human being. Clinton: My residence was approved by the parole office. Since the passing of this ordinance, my residence is going to be within the additional 200 feet added."
Fruge's suit is against the mayor and city council. The effective date of the new ordinance is in July by which time sex offenders are to be in compliance.
The city has not yet been served with the suit, but Mayor Randy Roach says it will be referred to the city's legal department for whatever action they think is appropriate. ..Source.. Theresa Schmidt
2 comments:
It's about time sex offenders fight back on these retarded laws. There has to be end to this madness of double punishment. Finally.
I support us having to pay fees to increase the education of the LEOs of the land. Maybe through more education, they will learn how to treat us appropriately (ie having the registry for those who it should apply to and eliminating it for those who it should not &/or going back to a position where only those who have a need to know are privy to SOR information). But these rates are absurd. It is like they are trying to keep RSOs out of their community. What if 1000 of us decided to go in there and pay their stupid fees? They need to know that RSOs are not the ones doing the repeat offending. Doing a search for more information on this article, I found that several LEOs in Lake Charles have committed sex offenses themselves. It makes me wonder if they are trying to hide that they are rapists & child molesters themselves.
Post a Comment