UPDATE, SEPT. 24, 8:30 A.M.: Orange City Attorney Wayne Winthers has reportedly looked at the judge’s ruling in Simi Valley, negotiated with RSOL’s Janice Bellucci and decided to recommend the Orange City Council spike the sign requirement in its Halloween ordinance. The council is expected to take up the issue in closed session next week, reports the Los Angeles Times. State open meeting laws allow pending litigation to be discussed behind closed doors. Full Article
Read MoreTag: Halloween
O.C. city likely to drop Halloween law aimed at sex offenders
An Orange County city will probably toss out a law requiring registered sex offenders to post a sign in front of their homes on Halloween to discourage trick-or-treaters after it was hit with a federal lawsuit alleging the practice is unconstitutional. Registered sex offenders in the city of Orange are legally required to post a sign on Halloween, no smaller than 12 by 24 inches, that reads, “No candy or treats at this residence.” Violators face a $1,000 fine or up to a year in jail. The lawsuit, filed Wednesday…
Read MoreLawsuit Challenges Sex Offender “No Candy” Halloween Signs (NBC)
An Orange County city will consider a provision in an ordinance that requires sex offenders to post signs outside their homes that indicate they do not have candy for Halloween trick-or-treaters. The Orange City Council will meet Tuesday night to discuss the ordinance, which also bans sex offenders from displaying Halloween decorations, opening their doors to children and leaving lights on Halloween night. Part of the ordinance requiring sex offenders to post signs on their front doors that read, “No candy or treats at this residence,” is the subject of…
Read MoreCity of Orange’s Halloween law for sex offenders challenged in court
LA Times – A city law requiring registered sex offenders to post a sign in front of their homes on Halloween to discourage trick-or-treaters is unconstitutional and should be tossed out, a federal lawsuit alleges. Registered sex offenders in the city of Orange are legally required to post a 12-by-24 inch sign reading “no candy or treats at this residence.” Violators face a $1,000 fine or six months in jail. The lawsuit, filed Wednesday on behalf of the California Reform Sex Offender Laws group, alleges that the city violates 1st…
Read MoreCA RSOL Challenges Halloween Ordinance in U.S. District Court
A lawsuit was filed today in U.S. District Court challenging the Halloween ordinance adopted by the City of Orange which requires “sex offenders” to post a sign on the front door of their residence. Specifically, the lawsuit alleges that the city ordinance violates the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and places “sex offenders” as well as anyone living with a “sex offender” at risk for physical and emotional harm. “The City of Orange is the only city in California that requires registered citizens to post a sign on the…
Read More‘Operation Boo’ nets three arrests locally
ANTELOPE VALLEY – Dozens of parole agents fanned out across the Antelope Valley Wednesday night as part of “Operation Boo,” a safety initiative aimed at protecting young trick-or-treaters from sexual predators on Halloween. “This is a night where children are out and about, they’re knocking on doors, they’re introduced to strangers, they’re easy prey for somebody that’s looking to hurt them,” said Jackie Waltman, Administrator for CDCR’s Antelope Valley Parole Office. “That’s why it’s so important that we don’t allow them [sex offenders] to have anything that would lure a…
Read MoreSIMI VALLEY ORDINANCE CHALLENGED IN FEDERAL COURT
An ordinance recently adopted by the city of Simi Valley that requires registrants to post signs on their front doors and prohibits them from decorating their homes on Halloween is being challenged in federal court. The lawsuit was filed on September 28 in U.S, District Court, Central District, Western Division. It asserts that the Simi Valley ordinance is unconstitutional and requests that the court block enforcement of that ordinance. There are a total of 10 plaintiffs in the case, including five registrants, three spouses and two children. All are residents…
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