Doylestown Supervisors Repeal Sexual Predator Ordinance

While Doylestown Township no longer has a law limiting where convicted sexual predators can live, Police Chief Steven White said residents shouldn’t be overly concerned.

On Tuesday night, a few minutes after the board voted unanimously to repeal the sexual predator law it passed in 2005, White said recent changes to the state’s Megan’s Law gives citizens easy access to the whereabouts of sexual predators.

Under Megan’s Law, people convicted of certain offenses - including kidnapping, indecent assault, sexual abuse of children - must register with local law enforcement agencies for 10 years following their release on probation or parole.

People convicted of multiple offenses or of any more serious offenses - including rape and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse - and offenders designated as "sexually violent predators" must register for life.

White recommended residents visit the Megan’s Law section of the Pennsylvania State Police website and search within the zip codes in their neighborhoods. A mug shot and the home address of every registered sex offender will appear, he said.

“Memorize the face and address of everyone,” he suggested. “They should know who is in their neighborhoods.”

The website currently lists 10 sex offenders living or working in Doylestown Township, not including those who are incarcerated at the county prison. A total of 295 sex offenders are listed as living in Bucks County, according to the site.

Passed in 2005, the township's law said convicted sexual offenders could not live within 2,500 feet of playgrounds, parks, schools or other facilities related to children.

In May, supervisors said they would begin the process of repealing the law after the state Supreme Court struck down a similar ordinance in Allegheny County. The court ruled the measure was unconstitutional because it violated the sex offenders' civil rights by too narrowly limiting where they could live.

Township Solicitor Jeffrey Garton said the township could be subject a lawsuit if they tried to enforce the ordinance.

In the 6 years the law was in force, the township never had to enforce it, said White. On one occasion, police discovered a sex offender had moved back home with his parents, but registered as soon as police made contact with him, White said.

In other business Tuesday night:

• Supervisors approved a contract with Reithoffer Shows to produce the Oktoberfest celebration September 8 - 18 in Central Park. The township will receive a guarantee of $50,000 for allowing the 10-day event, plus reimbursement for police overtime and any other expenses. 
• Presented an “Unsung Hero" award to Township resident Ernie Gash for his volunteer efforts on behalf of the township.
• Approved a partial waiver eliminating the need to install four street trees on a property along Ferry Road, near Limekiln and Pine Run roads. Ed Wilde, the attorney for Dr. Helen Eves, said his client preserved more trees than required by the development agreement and, therefore, shouldn’t have to install the four trees.
• Expressed concern about an audit report submitted by the Warrington Fire Co., which serves a portion of the township. Supervisors Chair Barbara Lyons said issues raised in a previous audit still have not been addressed. Doylestown contributes $20,000 from its fire tax to the Warrington Fire Co.
• Approved spending $12,000 from the Park and Recreation Committee’s Capital Reserve fund to buy equipment for the Game Grove.