Ordinance prohibits convicted sex offenders from living within 2,500 feet of a school, child-care center, bus stop, or park or playground
By: William Wichert
NEW HANOVER With little dramatic effect, the township became the first municipality in northern Burlington County this week to restrict where convicted sex offenders can live.
As neighboring municipalities continue to develop their own legislation, the New Hanover Township Committee unanimously adopted an ordinance at Monday’s meeting that will limit the residency of sex offenders who have been convicted of crimes against minors.
No committee members or residents commented on the ordinance, which prohibits convicted sex offenders from living within 2,500 feet of a school, child-care center, bus stop, or park or playground.
Sex offenders also would be banned from public parks, and unable to loiter within 300 feet of a school or other designated areas, the ordinance states. If convicted sex offenders move within the 2,500-foot restricted zone, they will have 60 days to relocate, according to the ordinance.
The penalties for loitering could be a fine of up to $500 and/or a prison term of no more than 30 days, the ordinance states. For living within this zone, a convicted sex offender could either receive a maximum fine of $1,250, a prison sentence of up to 90 days, or 90 days of community service, according to the ordinance.
There are no convicted sex offenders currently listed on the Sex Offender Registry on the state police Web site with known addresses in New Hanover, but officials have previously said this ordinance is meant to prevent such crimes from occurring in the future.
Sex offender residency legislation is currently on the table in Bordentown City, Florence and Mansfield townships, as well as in the state Assembly, where two bills have been introduced over the last few months relating to the issue.