« Some lethal injection headline highlights | Main | Around the blogosphere »
May 2, 2007
Scarlet letter license plates for sex offenders
USA Today has this article about a new sex offender sanction growing in popularity. The piece is entitled "Sex offenders may get special tags; Eye-catching license plates proposed by lawmakers in Wisconsin, Ohio, Alabama." Here is how it starts:
Lawmakers in three states are pushing bills to require convicted sex offenders to display special license plates on their cars. Proponents in Wisconsin, Ohio and Alabama say the sex offender plates would be another tool to keep the public safe. Critics say the plates would lead to a false sense of security and unintended consequences.
"For too long child sex predators have been watching our children," said state Rep. Joel Kleefisch, a Wisconsin Republican. "It's time we have an opportunity to watch them back." Wisconsin's bill, authored by Kleefisch, would require people convicted of the most serious assaults involving children to use a chartreuse-green plate. The license plate in Ohio would be fluorescent green, and the Alabama bill would leave it up to the state Department of Revenue to design the plate.
An Assembly committee approved the Wisconsin bill 8-3 last week. Hearings have been held in Ohio, where Gov. Ted Strickland, a Democrat, has said he would sign the bill if it makes it to his desk. The Alabama bill was only recently introduced.
May 2, 2007 at 07:57 AM | Permalink
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
https://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83451574769e200d83533457669e2
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Scarlet letter license plates for sex offenders:
» Wednesday Roundup from ACSBlog: The Blog of the American Constitution Society
Homeland Security Secretary (and former federal appeals judge) Michael Chertoff is considering limiting visas to British citzens of Pakistani descent. Under the new rule under consideration, Pakistani-Brits would be required to file a special app... [Read More]
Tracked on May 2, 2007 12:53:43 PM
» Scarlet License Plates Catching On from Sex Crimes
At Sentencing Law Policy, Professor Berman points to a USA Today article about more states following the lead of Ohio in setting up special sex offender license plates:Lawmakers in three states are pushing bills to require convicted sex offenders to [Read More]
Tracked on May 2, 2007 5:01:59 PM
» Questions from A Stitch in Haste
--Is researching how often people smile, and then using the data to designate, e.g., "10 Smiles Per Hour Zone," a proper use of taxpayer money? And why am I [Read More]
Tracked on May 3, 2007 9:02:27 PM
Comments
Oh, I get it. When kids see the sex offenders with their special plates, they will know better than to drive within 100 feet of them.
Posted by: S.cotus | May 2, 2007 10:39:37 AM
This may have some deterrent effect--who knows? But this seems to me to be somewhat ill-advised. I am usually not on the side of criminals, but marking these guys like this seems an invitation to vandalism (of their cars) and violence. If limited to the "worst of the worst" offenders, it's probably not horrible. However, with respect to people who have "paid their debt to society" (another hackneyed and misleading phrase), and have led clean lives after, you have to wonder what this accomplishes.
Posted by: federalist | May 2, 2007 10:44:29 AM
First let me say that I have no love of sex offenders, and I do believe that they are a special type of criminal that needs certain extra-Constitutional restrictions placed on them. However, I would like to say that pervo-marked license plates on vehicles is a VERY BAD IDEA.
Before I go on, I wish to state a disclaimer: I am taking care of a relative who was paralyzed in an incident involving a road rage assault. She was a pedestrian when a car ran another car off the road into her. The reason? The guy in the first car had flipped off the assaulter. Neither of them were hurt, but my aunt is living with the consequences in pain for the rest of her life.
Without a doubt, when most people associate “sex offender” with “child rapist murderer”, or at LEAST that association comes with regard to their own children. Therefore, by putting a license plate on their car signifying them as such, you will CLEARLY create a VERY DANGEROUS situation.
First, let me say that most people, when they see a car with a sex offender plate, their heart immediately races and their adrenaline goes to town, so right off the bat, their driving control will be affected. Now note: I said when they see a car with a plate, NOT if they see a sex offender!! You see, sex offenders may have families who also need to drive the car, and they have children whom are also going to be passengers in the car. So right off the bat, those people will be in JUST as much danger as the sex offender.
To continue: I don’t think the legislature understands the concept of “road rage”. That is, simply, a situation where people whose adrenaline has been affected by bad drivers, where they react, usually subconsciously and without thinking, by responding to the bad driving event with one of their own. Perhaps speeding up to tailgate, or to pass and cut off, or any other form of retribution that can endanger not only the drivers and occupants of both vehicles, but of OTHER vehicles and pedestrians in the area.
Do you see where I am going? Put together the fact that most people’s blood will race when they see something that represents a very conscious threat, a sex offender, with the fact that road rage usually results from said responses to threat.
Result: Many cars will be run off the road, and many people will be hurt or die. While most people would not complain and actually cheer the death of an offender in this manner, and perhaps exonerate the road rage driver in a court of law, what would happen if INNOCENT people were hurt or killed? (I’m using the term “innocent”, by the way, to differentiate the offender from non-offenders; technically, the offender is just as “innocent” as any other citizen, but I'm splitting hairs).
I’ll be honest: if I see a car with a pervo plate myself, I don’t know WHAT I’d do. If I, a rational person with a healthy interest in maintaining safety for my own children and family, can be brought to the edge by such a sighting, what would happen if the person ALREADY unstable, or perhaps former victim, decides (or reacts) to run the car off the road?
I’m not even talking about the obvious things, like vandalism, because many people wouldn’t care if this happened. I'm strictly talking about the actual safety of the other drivers and pedestrians themselves with regard to the law.
I’ve been long winded here, but I hope I’ve given food for thought to other people. Do we truly want to risk the lives from PROVABLE cause (road rage)? I mean, what is the TRUE upside of having a license law for sex offenders that can justify those provable risks?
Posted by: Peter | May 2, 2007 11:01:29 AM
Wow...if even federalist thinks this is too harsh on ex-cons then you KNOW this has to be a bad idea!!! lol
Posted by: anon | May 2, 2007 11:07:50 AM
Peter brings an interesting perspective to the matter.
Peter, your aunt is lucky to have a person like you in her family.
Posted by: federalist | May 2, 2007 11:10:45 AM
I think this is a profoundly stupid idea as well. However, I am unsure that the possibility of “road rage” really a good reason not to do something.
For one, it isn’t clear that upon seeing certain stimuli, drivers are immediately driven into “rage.” (For example, nobody jurisdiction has ever been able to argue that certain bumper stickers constitute a “clear and present danger” by enraging people that disagree with them.)
Secondly, placing the blame for such violence (such as what happened to the above-poster’s aunt) takes away from the fact that in the US, people are generally responsible for their actions. Not “society.” Not “a mob.”
I have an alternative suggestion: code the license plates so that only cops can tell (at a glance) which ones are sex offenders – e.g. maybe prime numbers in a certain range would be “pervert numbers.” This way, cops could enforce laws, and criminals wouldn’t have the tendency to beat up sex offenders.
PS: Here are the prime number between 307 and 701: 307, 311, 313, 317, 331, 337, 347, 349, 353, 359, 367, 373, 379, 383, 389, 397, 401, 409 , 419, 421, 431, 433, 439, 443, 449, 457, 461, 463 , 467, 479, 487, 491, 499, 503, 509, 521, 523, 541, 547, 557, 563, 569, 571, 577, 587, 593, 599, 601, 607, 613, 617, 619, 631, 641, 643, 647, 653, 659, 661, 673, 677, 683, 691, and 701.
Posted by: S.cotus | May 2, 2007 11:50:26 AM
"I have an alternative suggestion: code the license plates so that only cops can tell (at a glance) which ones are sex offenders – e.g. maybe prime numbers in a certain range would be “pervert numbers.” This way, cops could enforce laws, and criminals wouldn’t have the tendency to beat up sex offenders."
This contradicts the reason that legislatures wants to vote for the issue. They want the public, especially children, to identify that the owner of the vehicle is a registered sex offender. While not in the quoted article above, one legislature actually associated the fluorescent green color with "Mr. Yuk" that children should avoid.
But I HAVE studied road rage to a very high degree, and know of its psychological implications. That's why I can say with valid trepidation that the license idea is a really bad law to implement. Perhaps a better solution would be to "constitutionally" ban registered sex offenders from society in the first place (through a colony, perhaps). But that's a letter for another column on another day.
Posted by: Peter | May 2, 2007 1:34:03 PM
Okay, I will bite. Let’s say that you have studied it. Does “road rage” mean that an individual, upon seeing a certain stimulus loses his sense of right and wrong (i.e. becomes inside) or somehow has some kind of irresistible impulse to do evil?
And, can you point to any published decision where someone has been found not guilty by reason of insanity due to road rage?
Posted by: S.cotus | May 2, 2007 2:23:52 PM
S.cotus--your response is a goalpost mover. The issue is not whether people cannot control their "road rage", but rather whether a legislature (and surely, S.cotus, you remember the law school distinction between legislative facts and adjudicative facts) should take into consideration the possibility that some people will fly off the handle and commit violence upon seeing these license plates. You seem to think not--that's fine, but the import of your question and the citation request (which is beyond idiotic) in no way undermine Peter's point. Peter's point is, basically: "The last thing we need on America's highways and byways are more road rage triggers." Your response is: "Gee, can you prove that the road ragers would be driven to the point of insanity."
Posted by: federalist | May 2, 2007 3:19:22 PM
Well, the line between “legislative fact-finding” and judicial fact-finding is obviously somewhat blurred, and from time to time we are faced with legislatures that attempt to usurp judicial functions in an incorrectly. First of all, no legislature, to my knowledge has found that special plates cause road rage, and all indications are to the contrary: that legislatures think that special plates make us safer. But this is a false issue. because you, and others argue that the legislature should not act in this manner. I agree with the result: branding people is a bad idea, but not the reasoning.
Even assuming the validity of legislative “fact-finding” none is necessary to *not* provide people with these plates.
My problem with the arguments against providing plates is that it diminishes personal responsibility. If there really was a pattern of people losing control because they saw certain stimuli, it would probably have been reported in some way or other. But none of this matters if we either 1) opt not to use such plates; or 2) use such plates. It might only matter if some hypothetical legislature decided to use the plates, but then bill sex offenders for police protection necessary to protect them from hypothetical road-ragers.
Posted by: S.cotus | May 2, 2007 3:55:19 PM
I think this whole conversation is rather mute. People are vindictive when it comes to sex offenses and have an inner need to put these people down, or harass them, or punish them further because of the moral implications of their crimes. Regardless, these laws are wrong. All notification laws are wrong. Not because I favor sex offenders either. They are wrong because the constitution states that no one (even ex criminals) should be singled out. And now, with further illegal restrictions on them AFTER incarceration, most will not be able to support themselves or their families. And the people are screaming "HOORAY" with out any thought of the consequences. This is all BS and not the way to fix the issue. If your pet has an 'accident' on the rug, you don't beat it to stop it from happening again do you? No, you take it to a professional and they review what can be done to correct it. I think offenders are seriously under represented and unfairly treated. Don't get me wrong either, some of these guys certainly are dangerous and deserve to be locked up forever. But most are not that type. Also, any offenders who read this and are interested in making some money because they can't find a job, I have an idea for you that can help. And yes, it is perfectly legal but will not be discussed in this public forum.
Posted by: avgJoe | May 2, 2007 6:27:36 PM
"It might only matter if some hypothetical legislature decided to use the plates, but then bill sex offenders for police protection necessary to protect them from hypothetical road-ragers."
At that time, I'm sure the ACLU will come out with obvious ex post facto statutes that would prohibit such payment for crimes committed in the past.
Basically, let me respond to S.cotus question, "And, can you point to any published decision where someone has been found not guilty by reason of insanity due to road rage?"
Well, I will refer to my aunt's assaulter's plea: guilty, with qualified mental state. He successfully pleaded to time served, plus probation, plus paid for his anger management treatment. He was basically penniless and uninsured when he committed his assault, so the state is currently paying for part of my aunt's treatments that I can't attend to as well. The bottom line is that he's out of jail while my aunt has to pay the penalty.
You BET I read up and studied extremely closely the entire issue of road rage! I've learned that there are many degrees of rage that go through people's minds, including the different stages of responses. For instance, say someone cuts a person off. The response of the guy being cut off could be as follows:
Level 1. Annoyance: no overt response or even anger
Level 2. Unresponsive Anger: no overt response
Level 3. Light Responsive Anger: example: flipping off the guy in return
Level 4. Threatening Anger: example, raising a fist at the guy
Level 5. Reflexive Vehicular Threat(swerving his vehicle at the guy)
Level 6. Reflexive Vehicular Action (swerving his vehicle at the guy, forcing him out of his lane or off the road)
Level 7. Premeditative Response: action taken at a subsequent time, such as recording the license plate, getting the address of the guy, then going to his house and assaulting him or whatever
Finally, the responses can actually escalate back and forth until an action occurs. For instance,
1. Driver A cuts in front of Driver B
2. Driver B flips off Driver A
3. Driver a swerves to threaten Driver B
4. Driver B swerves to run Driver A off the road.
The progression of the above stages of road rage applies from one driver to another as well.
Now, I'm not saying that people will do anything to the driver of the pervo plate. But at the VERY least most drivers will start at LEAST at level 1 (Annoyance), and probably level 2 (Anger), once they see someone with a plate. So you have literally hundreds of Level 1 or Level 2 affected driver out there. How likely can it be that the escalation can grow that much more quickly? I would purport to say that this will happen far too often. Since there is no actual law regarding pervo plates yet, there are no stats, but one cannot discount the studies already performed with road rage to effectively read the tea leaves regarding this issue.
That's about as comprehensive explanation that can be given. At the very least, NO legislator has considered the above, and I wish they could get the real dope on road rage before passing the law.
Posted by: Peter | May 2, 2007 6:35:54 PM
this is not rationally related to ANY government objective. Asinine, and hopefully when the special plate serves as the basis or pretextual basis for a traffic stop, courts of appeals with suppress whatever drugs are found due to the unconstitutional search.
Posted by: Bruce | May 2, 2007 7:29:13 PM
I subscribe to this blog through Yahoo. I can't believe some of the comments I've read on this blog!
Does everyone believe that NOBODY can be rehabilitated for these crimes? Come on! I don't "support" sex offenders, but there are so many issues that are off the table in this area.
When I was a kid (yes a LONG, LONG, time ago) boys who were 18 and 19 would date -- and I'm sure had sexual relationships -- with girls who were 16 and 17. What do we call that now? Those 19 y/o kids would be (and are) considered sex offenders by many statutes in several jurisdictions.
There is a lack of common sense in all of this. If our society cannot see the difference between a 19 year old boy having sex with a girl who is 17 and a 55 year old pervert molesting a four year old child, then there is something wrong in this country.
Special license plates for sex offenders are the least of the problems in this issue facing our society.
Posted by: Richard | May 2, 2007 10:19:15 PM
I'm a Mother: AND WHAT IF THE PERSON IS INNOCENT AND BECAUSE OF OVER ZEALOUS, CORRUPT GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WHO ARE ONLY THINKING OF FURTHERING THEIR CAREERS, PLUS SCARE TACTICS, INTIMATATION AND COERSION TO THE PERSON AND THEIR FAMILIES, GOT A CONVICTION ON A PLEA AGREEMENT????? LET'S JUST CONTINUE THIS INJUSTICE IN OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM!!!!!!!
Posted by: Pat | May 3, 2007 2:18:43 AM
Peter, Can you provide a couple of cites to medical journals that you got this from?
Bruce, I am not going to say it is completely irrational. Perhaps people, if they saw these cars parked with 20 miles (or feet) of children, would be able to move their children. It is, of course, exceedingly bad policy, and likely an excuse for pretextual traffic stops.
Richard, I have not seen anyone in here saying that rehabilitation is impossible.
Pat, The only injustice I see is the confiscation of your caps lock.
Posted by: S.cotus | May 3, 2007 6:49:20 AM
Once again grand standing politicians are missing the point. Stranger danger is way over blown. Kids molested by someone almost always know that person. What happens when a registered offender gets married and raises a family? Does his wife and kids have to ride around in a car with a SO plate on it? Think the cops won't abuse their power by going after these drivers for the smallest infraction? Will it protect anyone? No, it won't do any good at all.
Posted by: Craig, Chicago | May 3, 2007 6:46:19 PM
I absolutely agree with you Craig. The abuse of the law enforcement community in profiling people is well documented. Now they even have a better excuse to pull you over. So what happens when you get your car worked on at a shop and the guy working on it hates sex offenders with a passion? He could be unscrupulous and make it so you have an 'accident'. You would have no recourse against him either. And even if you tried it would get buried because you're an offender. So what if the person driving the car is the guy's innocent young daughter, then what? This is a ridiculous law. I think we need to get a lot of people together to fight this type of lawmaking, because the next law that is passed like this may affect you whether you know it or not. What do you think?
Posted by: avgJoe | May 3, 2007 7:06:14 PM
S.cotus,
The only paperwork I have would be germaine to the assault case that my aunt was involved in. Since he plead, there were no court transcripts other than my aunt's own testimony, and testimony given by the medical examiner in charge of the investigation for the prosecution.
Of course, since there are no laws in place anywhere as of yet with regard to license plate identification, all I can go on is my own experiences, both with my aunt, as well as with studies about road rage in general from AAA, Department of Justice Statistics, and various white papers submitted by college statisticians regarding road rage. Those links are included below.
However, there is a plethora of information, much of what I researched, available at links such as the ones provided here:
http://www.luhs.org/depts/injprev/Transprt/tran1-04.htm
http://commdocs.house.gov/committees/trans/hpw105-34.000/hpw105-34_0f.htm
http://www.sae.org/technical/papers/2007-01-1177
(fee)
http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/Publications/Abstract.aspx?id=239421
That should give you a start, S.cotus. The bottom line: Road rage is VERY common, and since most people would develop such rage just from the site of a sex offender in general, it is NOT a leap to predict that there will be many incidents before such laws are justifiably repealed. I certainly hope that such action isn't necessary in the first place, but I won't hold my breath.
I predict 10 - 20 deaths or major injuries before they repeal the laws if they implement them. Of course, I'm not even mentioning the vandalism that will undoubtedly occur, because that in itself is not a safety issue, but one of morality (and inconvenience), which I will not judge one way or the other here.
Posted by: Peter | May 4, 2007 6:33:25 PM
This is just the latest of a cavalcade of pointless new restrictions on sex offenders. The only good these restrictions do:
1) give the legislators something to put in the "win" column on their campaign propaganda every four years;
2) give the average person some enhanced sense of security and safety from a very rare crime;
3) make it ever more likely that the sex offender who has completed his sentence, been rehabilitated (if his state contemplates the possibility) and gone on to lead as normal of a life as possible, will commit a brand new felony because of an inadvertent violation of the latest restriction.
Let's be honest. The legislators aren't as short-sighted as we may think. It's not about the new laws themselves meeting any sort of safety concern. It's about increasing the chances of catching an offender who is out and about because he managed to get convicted, sentenced and released before the latest round of 20-year mandatory sentences were enacted. If you can't put them back in prison for what they did a long time ago, you've got to find a new reason to put them in prison. Hence the new laws. It ain't rocket science.
Posted by: slim | May 4, 2007 11:40:56 PM
I forgot to add . . . don't you think that any offender who happens to be married will simply transfer the vehcles into his wife's name (if they're not already?)" But then the next legislative session there will probably be a law making it illegal to entrust a motor vehicle to a registered sex offender. I'm dizzy with anticipation.
Posted by: slim | May 4, 2007 11:44:07 PM
"I forgot to add . . . don't you think that any offender who happens to be married will simply transfer the vehcles into his wife's name (if they're not already?)" But then the next legislative session there will probably be a law making it illegal to entrust a motor vehicle to a registered sex offender."
If I'm not mistaken, I think the statute calls for harsh punishment if the offender drives a car without plates in the first place already, at least for the Wisconsin proposal.
Posted by: Peter | May 5, 2007 9:16:45 AM
Peter -
I believe you're right about the Wisconsin law. I was coming from the Alabama perspective. Shocking that someone has managed to come up with a more restrictive law than Alabama!
Posted by: slim | May 5, 2007 10:52:30 AM
(family member of a convicted sex offender)
I am writing to you about the plates that are going to be or could be implemented on sex offenders.
This law is singling out just one area of criminal activity. Lets take this to the next level if these so called "tuff on crime" law makers are wanting the next vote for office. Why not put this on the people that have DUI, Murder, Burglar, Drug dealer, Drug Users, ...etc. All having an individual color. If you are going to do it for one area of crime they need to do it for all CRIME.
The only reason they are doing this is to look good for the voters in the states they reside in.
Singling out just one area of crime isn't fair and just. These individuals already have the strictest rules. The strictest laws against them. I for one think in looking into a register for all crime even speeding tickets!
If you are going to do it for one crime you should do it for all crime. Past and Present. O'wait, I forgot if we do that it might hurt more people than help.
Hummm... I wonder if they thought of that before they put a broad stroke on sex offenses. Most of these people have a hard enough time just getting a job. If this does pass I can't image the road rage problems that will occur.
Posted by: none | May 7, 2007 12:05:48 PM
I am writing to you to share my opinion on a certain subject that seems to be in the news a lot lately. Everyone seems to think that making a registered sex offender where a big yellow license plate will allow people to know what they truly are. Now being a victim myself, my father molested me when I was younger and is now serving time. The man that molested me and the man that is now sitting in prison are two totally different people. I have forgiven my father and maintain a very stable loving relationship with him. I love him as my father and he loves me as his daughter. Now I wont go into great detail about what happened with my father but he has fifteen years left in prison. In my heart I truly, one hundred percent believe my father will never molest another child in his lifetime. I believe there are many registered sex offenders who are out walking the street that will never 'relapse' you could say. They feel absolute remorse for the pain they have inflicted on the child! en that they molested and will live with that the rest of their lives. Now to be put a big warning on them as 'bad people' or 'I molested a child' is crude and un thoughtful. If we are putting a warning label on registered sex offenders why not put big warning signs on people who are drunk drivers and killed someone, drug dealers, wife beaters, drunk drivers, and all the other people in this world who have made a mistake. Everyone deserves a second chance and putting these yellow license plates on sex offenders cars are just cause chaos and innocent people that made a mistake to get hurt. I understand that people are concerned for their children but there are categories to registered sex offenders and that needs to be made clear. Wisconsin makes it accessible to everyone to do quick background checks on neighbors and friends and if they are that concerned they can look it up. I just wanted to give you another point of view on this situation.
Thank you,
Erica Hartjes
Student
Posted by: Erica Hartjes | May 9, 2007 4:39:47 PM
I am writing to you to share my opinion on a certain subject that seems to be in the news a lot lately. Everyone seems to think that making a registered sex offender where a big yellow license plate will allow people to know what they truly are. Now being a victim myself, my father molested me when I was younger and is now serving time. The man that molested me and the man that is now sitting in prison are two totally different people. I have forgiven my father and maintain a very stable loving relationship with him. I love him as my father and he loves me as his daughter. Now I wont go into great detail about what happened with my father but he has fifteen years left in prison. In my heart I truly, one hundred percent believe my father will never molest another child in his lifetime. I believe there are many registered sex offenders who are out walking the street that will never 'relapse' you could say. They feel absolute remorse for the pain they have inflicted on the child! en that they molested and will live with that the rest of their lives. Now to be put a big warning on them as 'bad people' or 'I molested a child' is crude and un thoughtful. If we are putting a warning label on registered sex offenders why not put big warning signs on people who are drunk drivers and killed someone, drug dealers, wife beaters, drunk drivers, and all the other people in this world who have made a mistake. Everyone deserves a second chance and putting these yellow license plates on sex offenders cars are just cause chaos and innocent people that made a mistake to get hurt. I understand that people are concerned for their children but there are categories to registered sex offenders and that needs to be made clear. Wisconsin makes it accessible to everyone to do quick background checks on neighbors and friends and if they are that concerned they can look it up. I just wanted to give you another point of view on this situation.
Thank you,
Erica Hartjes
Student
Posted by: Erica Hartjes | May 9, 2007 4:39:57 PM
Very true. Scarlett letter for the "sex offender". With the laws that are being passed, and the fear that comes to everyones mind when the word "Sex Offender" is spoken, unconstitutionality comes to mind. There are so many different circumstances involved when it comes to "Sex offender". I am a survivor and also by the legal sense sex offender. I was abused as early back as I can remember at the age of 3, by my biological father. At the age of 15 he actually raped me til the age of 16, where good friends of me to open up. He spent 6 months in jail and 6 months in a mental institution and the state droppped the charges! I had no self esteem or self worth. When it came to sexual situations, I blotted out what was going on and didn't know how to say NO! Then I met a man just like my father. His first words to me was "I'm an alcoholic" My response "so what" There was no fidelityin the marriage, and he only thought of one thing. Lots of mental abuse in the marriage. Drugs and alcohol through out the marriage! By the time I got out of the marriage, I was a full blown ADDICT. Divorced him because he got another woman pregnant, and he convinced me that if I left the marriage he would get custody of the child. Then went right back to him! One night totally drunk, in my room. He brought a female in the house whom I believed was 18. 2 secs of touching on my part, and I'm branded for life. Found out later that she was a minor, along with finding out my ex had a bunch of porn of minors, along with the fact he RAPED an 11year old. My life was a disaster. Lost my children to the state. Testified against my ex, spent year in jail and year in a alcoholic treatment facility. After all this transpired, my life has changed in every sense of the word. I have custody of my children, been sober 10 years, and doing my best to give my children a good life. HOLD IT. I also live in fear, my information is out there for anyone to find, one of my children was at school, and someone brought up the offender website for the whole class to see for my 12 YEAR old daughter. She came home a wreck! Not including when the newspaper printed my picture for the whole world to see and lots of people saw me, and of course it gets back to the school and children. Better yet, what am I to do now. My eldest child is driving and the citizens are pushing for a license plate that says "SEX OFFENDER" Not including the citizens are pushing for Driver License that says SEX OFFENDER across it. I go anywhere with my children, and what's going to happen? When is this madness going to end. I don't make much money, so I have no way to fight it. All I want to do is protect MY children. What am I supposed to do?
Posted by: s. s. | May 19, 2007 4:05:53 PM
In response to Posted by: S.cotus | May 2, 2007 3:55:19 PM
I'm interested in S.cotus idea, but couldn't find a way to contact him. So, if you are reading this, please drop me a line at [email protected] as I don't want to provide too much information in a public forum either.
Though I have to note, I think there are a lot of constitutional issues not being addressed in the forum, not to mention in the court rooms all over America.
I think a database with special plates would be good for everyone who has had more than one speeding, parking, and all criminal offenses, after all, if they have had more than one offense of any kind, they clearly have a problem with authority figures, and don't respect the law or others safety, and we should be protected from people like that right? And I think the government should run it, and the people fund it, and it should be non-appeal able, and should be a registration for life, and yes, transfer when you move anywhere in the US, and should require a special drivers license fee paid yearly, and a notice in the paper as well. We need to know who these people are, and it shouldn't matter that they have already paid their fines, fees, and maybe even spent a little time in jail. Not only that, but we should be able to come up with new laws, and make them responsible for complying with them as well, even though they didn't know the new laws were going to be made when they plead guilty to that little 50.00 fine and 2 nights in jail 10 years ago. (Am I being a little critical here?) Well, those things are what is being done to sex offenders, real ones, and simply accused ones, all over America. Wait until you can't find a job, move to a certain city, (without a sign in your yard) and you are asked to move from your house of 30 years because your city just passed a NEW city ordinance prohibiting your living in THEIR city. Today its sex offenders, why, because they are easy targets, everyone hates them already, but the presidence you set today, could be inflicted upon YOU tomorrow. You should be careful what you all wish for. It could be you, your mother, father, son or daughter that is convicted tomorrow. After all, the definition of a sex offender is becoming so very broad, that lost of people could be accused. And, by the way, if you think you are going to get a fair trial were you can explain the mistake they made in accusing you, you are mistaken,don't forget, we hate you already remember. We are not trying to hear YOUR facts, we will believe whatever the STATE says, they are watching out for us, remember, they would never lie.
Posted by: Dwayne | Jan 25, 2008 10:45:47 AM
I foresee trouble if this goes through, we're are basically condemning these people to a life of prejudice, hate, violence, and stares. we knows they deserve it, but it is a bit harsh to be putting them in the open.. this is really not the solution, i don't know what is, but I'm pretty sure this won't solve the problem, it'll only worsen it..
Charlie Davidson
Web Administrator
Posted by: Charlie Davidson | Aug 12, 2009 12:15:00 AM
Maybe if they would just give them the dealth penalty like should be happening we wouldn't have to worry about plates.
Posted by: Sarah | Dec 2, 2009 11:08:42 AM
Absolutely awful idea imo. Yes fair enough, these people have commited crimes and deserve to be punished, but advertising it on their licence plates?! I mean come on, that is just asking for trouble! In the UK there are always stories of offenders houses being trashed etc. when the public find out where they live, so imo this simply wouldn't work.
Karl Moss
Web designer
Posted by: Personalised number plates | Mar 31, 2010 5:02:06 PM
Great post even though I was a little confused at first and thought you are talking about jewels. Anyhow great site and good info to know! More conversation materials for me!
Posted by: air jordans retro 4 | Nov 29, 2010 4:14:53 AM
