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Dyersville's ordinance expands on a 2002 state law that bans registered sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of a school or day care. The city's police chief said existing state law banned convicted sex offenders - there are currently none living in Dyersville - in 70 percent of the city.
Other cities have essentially banned offenders by applying the 2,000-foot rule to enough public places to make the entire city off limits. This city's ordinance is shorter and simpler: Sex offenders "shall not reside within the corporate city limits of Dyersville."
Some expressed concern that the ordinance infringes on constitutional rights, but "as far as I'm concerned, those guys gave up their rights to live here," said Councilman Ray Sauser. While we understand the concern of parents and the elected officials who represent them, we can't imagine that the courts will stand still for so callous an approach.
The measure was submitted by Police Chief Martin Botts at the request of the city's Public Safety Committee. Botts acknowledged that enforcing the law will be difficult. He said police will not do background checks on every new Dyersville resident, but will instead put the responsibility of following the city law on each sex offender.
"We can't sanitize the world," he said.
Dyersville residents can now feel secure for the safety of their children, knowing their community has a tough law on the books that police don't plan to enforce.
Dubuque County Attorney Fred McCaw said the law would likely not stand if challenged in court. We're not surprised.
