With so much confusion and the potential for change before Halloween night, local law enforcement departments will likely take a conservative approach when patrolling this Friday night.
A Missouri law signed over the summer places a number of restrictions on registered sex offenders during Halloween including avoiding all Halloween-themed contact with children from 5-10:30 p.m. on Oct. 31, the time when most children will be going from door-to-door.
The law requires sexual offenders to stay indoors with the outside lights off and to post a “No candy or treats at this residence” sign.
On Monday, U.S. District Judge Carol Jackson granted a partial injunction, citing that the law was unenforceable and confusing.
However, many more are unclear as to whether the injunction applies to all sex offenders, only those who filed the lawsuit challenging the law or only those that live in the counties which the four sex offenders who challenged the law live in.
The Missouri Attorney General’s Office has said it would appeal quickly.
In the meantime, Lake Ozark Police Chief Mark Maples said the department is waiting for further guidance from the city’s prosecutor’s office as to how officers should interpret the law and injunction.
“The statute is very broad the way it’s written. It can be interpreted a number of different ways that will effect how we work that night,” Maples said.
Dave Severson, Osage Beach Police Chief, said between the relatively few registered sex offenders and the low numbers of kids who walk door-to-door, it won’t be that hard for his officers to drive by and check on those who should be following the basics of the law.
Contact this reporter at deanna.wheeler
@lakesunonline.com
Lake of the Ozarks, Mo. —
