[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Lancaster
as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 1-20-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-01]
A.
This article
is a regulatory measure aimed at protecting the health and safety
of children in the City of Lancaster from the risk that sexual offenders
convicted of an offense against a child may reoffend in locations
close to where children congregate. Reducing opportunity and temptation
is important to minimizing the risk of reoffense; there is a need
to protect children where they congregate or play in public places.
Therefore, the City finds and declares that sexual offenders are a
serious threat to the public safety of children if regulatory measures
are not in place that prohibit their presence in specified areas designated
as places children commonly congregate. The City of Lancaster finds
and declares that in addition to schools and day-care centers, children
congregate or play at child-oriented facilities, such as parks and
playgrounds and other facilities.
B.
It is not
the intent of this article to impose a criminal penalty, but rather
to serve the City's compelling interest to promote, protect, and improve
the health, safety, and welfare of the children of the City by prohibiting
convicted sexual offenders from loitering or being present in specified
areas around locations where children regularly congregate in concentrated
numbers. It is the further intent of this article to recognize that
convicted sexual offenders must reenter the community, and the City
of Lancaster hereby accepts that it has a responsibility to convicted
sexual offenders and the surrounding area municipalities to ensure
that, in addition to promoting regulatory measures aimed at protecting
children, its regulatory measures are not aimed at prohibiting convicted
sexual offenders from being part of this society.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article,
shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except when
the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Any person who is required to register under § 301.45,
Wis. Stats.
In addition to the definition found in § 327-8, whether in a group, crowd, or as an individual, to stand idly about, loaf, prowl, congregate, wander, stand, linger aimlessly, proceed slowly or with many stops, to delay or dawdle.
Restricted zones. Any facility used for:
A public park, parkland, park facility, or golf course;
[Amended 11-17-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-05]
A public swimming pool;
A public library;
A recreational trail;
A public playground;
A school for children, including elementary, middle or high
schools;
Athletic fields used by children;
A state-licensed day care center; and
Any specialized school for children, including but not limited
to a gymnastics academy or dance academy.
Loiter-free zones: The two-hundred-foot radius surrounding all
restricted zones. The distance shall be measured from the closest
boundary line of the real property boundary line of the applicable
above-enumerated use(s).
A.
Restricted
zones.
(1)
Restricted
zone restrictions. No designated offender shall enter or be physically
present upon any real property upon which there exists a facility
identified in this article as a restricted zone.
(2)
Restricted
zone restriction exceptions. A designated offender may be physically
present on any day or time within a restricted zone if all of the
following are present:
B.
Loiter-free
zones. It is unlawful for a designated offender to loiter within a
restricted zone or loiter-free zone.
