2008 Woodie Awards
Car plates may ID sex offenders
Ohio senator, representative propose green license tags
Erin Bowen
Issue date: 3/23/07 Section: Community
Sex offenders in the state of Ohio may have to obtain fluorescent green license plates if a bill proposed to the state legislature is passed. Yet the effectiveness of such a proposal on both the safety of Ohioans and the potential deterrence of future crimes is being debated statewide.
Ohio State Senator Kevin Coughlin (R) and House Representative Michael DeBose (D) proposed a bill Feb. 28 at the National Conference of State Legislation that would require registered Ohio sex offenders and predators to use specially designated fluorescent green license plates.
Patrick Katzemeyer, representative for Congressman DeBose,
explained that it is DeBose's intention to use House Bill 217 to safeguard children from the worst sex offenders in Ohio.
"The bill will only affect Ohio's most violent and repeat offenders," Katzemeyer said.
While there are eight levels of sexual offenses categorized by the Ohio justice system, Katzemeyer said DeBose intends to target only the top three tiers of criminal convictions - child predators, who are individuals convicted of sex offenses and deemed likely to commit further crimes; violent abusers, such as in cases of rape; and repeat child offenders, who are individuals convicted of more than one offense. Each tier faces varying levels of registration requirements in the state.
Katzemeyer further explained that convicted sex offenders would be required to use the license plate for five years before applying for removal and that the court system would have complete discretion over the time frame for removal of the plate.
Keith Dailey, spokesperson for Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, said Strickland supports the bill.
"If the General Assembly passes this bill, the governor will sign it," Dailey said.
Yet, the bipartisan bill does face opposition and concerns.
David Singleton; executive director of the Ohio Justice and Policy Center, a nonprofit interest group aimed at reforming Ohio's justice system; said he is concerned that forcing convicted sex criminals to use the green license plates is a
Ohio State Senator Kevin Coughlin (R) and House Representative Michael DeBose (D) proposed a bill Feb. 28 at the National Conference of State Legislation that would require registered Ohio sex offenders and predators to use specially designated fluorescent green license plates.
Patrick Katzemeyer, representative for Congressman DeBose,
explained that it is DeBose's intention to use House Bill 217 to safeguard children from the worst sex offenders in Ohio.
"The bill will only affect Ohio's most violent and repeat offenders," Katzemeyer said.
While there are eight levels of sexual offenses categorized by the Ohio justice system, Katzemeyer said DeBose intends to target only the top three tiers of criminal convictions - child predators, who are individuals convicted of sex offenses and deemed likely to commit further crimes; violent abusers, such as in cases of rape; and repeat child offenders, who are individuals convicted of more than one offense. Each tier faces varying levels of registration requirements in the state.
Katzemeyer further explained that convicted sex offenders would be required to use the license plate for five years before applying for removal and that the court system would have complete discretion over the time frame for removal of the plate.
Keith Dailey, spokesperson for Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, said Strickland supports the bill.
"If the General Assembly passes this bill, the governor will sign it," Dailey said.
Yet, the bipartisan bill does face opposition and concerns.
David Singleton; executive director of the Ohio Justice and Policy Center, a nonprofit interest group aimed at reforming Ohio's justice system; said he is concerned that forcing convicted sex criminals to use the green license plates is a
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