City of South Lake Tahoe Has No Choice But to Repeal Sex Offender Ordinance

Due to a ruling by the California Court of Appeals, the City of South Lake Tahoe can no longer enforce their sex offender ordinance which made it a misdemeanor for sex offenders to be within 300 feet of a school, park or recreation areas. During Tuesday's meeting, the City Council had to repeal the ordinance. To be official, the City Council will have a second reading and vote on the item in June.

"This is mind boggling," said City Councilwoman JoAnn Connor. "I am disgusted that the court has decided to ignore children in deference to sexual predators."

South Lake Tahoe was one of about 40 cities in the state who were put on notice that the ordinance was going to be illegal.

The reason the subject ever made it to the courts was that such an ordinance made it impossible for sex offenders to have access to public transportation and still be in compliance. The government cannot regulate their free movement. For example, in the city limits the buses travel and Highway 50 and go by the McDonald's PlayPlace and South Tahoe Middle School. They could have been sited for being on a bus because it went by those locations.

Repealing of the ordinance now allows registered sex offenders to be
at the Recreation Center and near parks and schools. School laws in effect still prohibit the offenders to be on school property though.

During the meeting, City Manager Nancy Kerry urged parents to be proactive in reporting suspicious behavior or criminal activity.