Westbrook initially OKs tough restrictions on sex offenders

[The Straight Story]

Westbrook initially OKs tough restrictions on sex offenders

August 14, 2007

WESTBROOK, Maine --A southern Maine city brushed aside an all-out ban on convicted sex offenders after being told it wouldn't stand up in court.

But an ordinance restricting where sex offenders can live and work -- even tougher than what was first proposed -- won the Westbrook City Council's initial approval. Several other Maine communities have adopted sex offender ordinances during the past year.

In Westbrook, the council Monday gave its unanimous OK to a law that would bar sex offenders from living or working within 2,500 feet of schools, day care centers, city parks and recreation areas.

The restriction also applies to many other private sites where children gather, such as playgrounds, sports fields, movie theaters, bowling alleys, libraries, gyms and places for musical instruction.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/maine/articles/2007/08/14/westbrook_initially_oks_tough_restrictions_on_sex_offenders/