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April 10, 2010
Maryland legislature moving forward on branding sex offender drivers' licenses
As this AP article details, "Maryland senators have passed legislation that would add special coding to sex offenders' driver's licenses." Here are the basic details:Senators passed legislation with the provision on Saturday. Sen. Richard Colburn, R-Dorchester, sponsored the amendment, which requires the marking to be done in a way that only law enforcement can understand. He says it would alert police to ask more questions if they stop a registered sex offender with a child.
Opponents say adding the markings is akin to a "scarlet letter" and will make it tougher for those on parole to rejoin society. They add it could drive more sex offenders underground as they try to avoid registration requirements.
April 10, 2010 at 03:09 PM | Permalink
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Comments
I am most certainly neutral on this. Both parties argument's make sense. One for public and enforcement ease, and the other about the criminal's to go underground. But at the end of the tunnel, I don't know what to pick.
Posted by: N/A | Apr 10, 2010 3:50:37 PM
horsey buckey unless your in a state still living in the 1950's EVERY driver's license has a little back barcode on the back that has your LIFE HISTORY on it. The only reason something would be on the front in plain english or even an obsccure code that wont' be a "POLICE ONLY" secret even before the bill is passed let alone before the first license has it on it. would be TO SHAME AND HARASS the individuals.
plus of couse it's TEXT BOOOK NAZI BEHAVIOR!
Posted by: rodsmith | Apr 10, 2010 5:57:09 PM
personally i think someone NEEDS to BRAND this traitor of a politician and anyone who backs him in the nazi activity.
Posted by: rodsmith | Apr 10, 2010 5:58:19 PM
Yeah, it will take all of 10 minutes before someone tells a reporter how to identify the mark on the license. And Rod is right, it takes 3 SECONDS for a license to return any criminal activity you have EVER been arrested for. This is only to shame and embarrass people, and it is only a matter of time before some joker decides they don't have to serve someone with that sort of license.. like the drugstore clerk who would not supple birth control pills because of her pro-life stance. There is no reason for this than to make this politician look 'tough on the pervs'.. it has no real effect on helping fight crime, only create opportunities for vigilantism. I'm sorry 'N/A' but you support a position that only further degrades someone's life, it neither helps protect children nor helps officers do their jobs.
Posted by: tbucket | Apr 11, 2010 3:12:35 AM
This is totaly absurd. This is in no way shape or form a protection method for the public. This is 100% harrasment and a way to further the social life sentence a sex offender already recieves. If a sex offender goes to get employment and has secured a position, you don't think this will kill that opportunity for that person to become a productive member of society. The lengths at which new jerk politicians will go to look tough on crime in a election year is sick.
Posted by: michael | Apr 11, 2010 1:57:57 PM
More piling on. Why not just cut off an ear...or nose? That would make them easy to identify. And the public won't object. After all, these are witches we're burning. It's OK...might actually help some soulless cretin get elected to something.
Posted by: John K | Apr 11, 2010 6:24:22 PM
You know as well as I, none of these eager to get a paycheck and a vote politicians give a darn about protecting society.. only a paycheck and a vote... if they did, they would listen to professionals in the field who warn these laws are counter productive.
What a bunch of Nazis.
Posted by: Citizens for Change, America | Apr 11, 2010 11:14:56 PM
yea i live close to the alabama border so i've seen their so-called "secert code" it's a set of letter in bright orange about an inch high that say "SEX OFFENDER" sorry no way that is ANYTHING but a way to harrass LEGAL CITIZENS of this country and a TREATOROUS act from any politician who backed it or signed as well as any fool enforcing it.
sorry the us it self ended FOR ALL TIME...the excuse "i was just following orders" i'd tell you to ask the germans after 2nd world war but we hung most of those. the few we missed we are still hunting up and deporting 60-70 YEARS later and i'm sorry they had a hell of a better reason for going alone...this govt isn't QUITE to the point of KILLING those who would refuse and quit...unlike the gestapo who would have KILLED YOU ON THE SPOT.
Posted by: rodsmith | Apr 12, 2010 1:18:52 AM
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose.
Posted by: Freedom | Apr 12, 2010 6:18:33 PM
What the feck? I dont understand people who try to protect sex offenders "rights" or their social life. Get a grip. There are different types of sex offenders, those who make stupid mistakes and those who clearly know what they have done and are willing to do it again. There have been too many incidents in which sex offenders have been allowed into society, given a second chance, and re-offended worse. I bet if your daughter or son (if any of you have kids) were sexually assaulted by a 30 year old man or woman you wouldnt want them to be released into society and protected.
Posted by: YeahRight | Dec 14, 2010 5:14:54 PM
