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Officials Push for Ice Cream Driver Checks

By Jeff Martin,

USA Today

Posted: 2008-05-12 16:45:11

Filed Under: Law News, Nation News

(May 12) - A growing number of communities across the USA are moving to prevent sexual predators from becoming ice cream truck drivers.

Cases in which ice cream truck drivers have been convicted of crimes against children in New York and Florida, as well as concerns about a registered sex offender selling ice cream in California have prompted some state and local governments to consider banning criminals from selling ice cream or at least requiring background checks before licenses are issued.

•In California, where a convicted sex offender was found to be driving an ice cream truck in the city of Perris last summer, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors will consider an ordinance Tuesday aimed at stopping them from driving ice cream trucks, said David Zook, a spokesman for Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt.

•In Massachusetts, a bill that would bar sex offenders from operating ice cream trucks is under consideration in the Legislature. The idea stemmed from a New York state law that passed in 2005, said Michael Lawlor, an aide to Massachusetts state Sen. Michael Knapik.

•In Rapid City, S.D., an ordinance requiring criminal background checks for ice cream vendors is under review by the city attorney's office, Alderwoman Deb Hadcock said.

Efforts to keep predators out of ice cream trucks gained momentum in 2004, when Eduardo Grau of Troy, N.Y., 56, was arrested after police said he offered rides in his ice cream truck to children and abused a 9-year-old girl.

The case spurred the 2005 New York state law. Grau eventually pleaded guilty to first-degree sexual abuse in 2006, according to District Attorney Patricia DeAngelis. Since then, cities including San Antonio and Tucson have passed similar measures. New York appears to have the only statewide restriction, said Sarah Hammond of the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Florida Assistant State Attorney Harmon Massey prosecuted a 2005 case involving the driver of an ice cream truck who was eventually convicted of battery against a teenager.

Massey said Florida should consider an ice cream vendor law. "Can you think of a better kid magnet, if you were a sex offender?"

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Amanda Burnham of Perris, Calif., said that for a sex offender, "there are a bazillion things you could do for a living that don't involve children. It just seems like a very, very odd choice."

Burnham learned last summer that a man who drove an ice cream truck down her street is a registered sex offender. She and her neighbors put notices "on every single house" to warn residents, she said. The effort helped inspire the proposal in San Bernardino County.

Such laws can go too far, said Jennifer Ring, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of the Dakotas.

"If you're throwing everyone in the same bucket, you're really restricting these people who have paid their debt to society to go on and be productive citizens," Ring said.

Martin reports for the Argus Leader in Sioux Falls, S.D.

2008-05-12 14:20:27

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186 comments

hbbytry 10:13:04 AM May 15 2008

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What a waste, gov keep on making new rules but they cannot force the one already have. Clean up the cities. In LA there are plenty of street vendors just like a thrid world countries. You can tell these are Not vendors with permit, these are card boxes vendors

newjeff121 10:47:22 AM May 14 2008

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big brother doubleplus good - citizen tracking plus plus good

stargazer33154 11:00:43 PM May 13 2008

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to timrockosdad..lol..nah you wouldn't be worth it, so go smoke some more and get a clue..lol that isn't what child advocacy is about...

dshot59 02:46:47 PM May 13 2008

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no we are to busy starting wars and trying to shove aid down the throats of forign countrys that don`t even want it to worry about people in this country especially the little ones who can`t vote and don`t even pay our salarys no sorry that was suposed to be taxes

lawstenozden 02:16:30 PM May 13 2008

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Yje attorneys. CPS Workers. Cops, judges, and poloiticians don't need any more competition to lure kids away from their own predatory schemes in the school houses, jail houses, and your houses.
America--land of the predator people...SALUTE!

timrockosdad 01:11:13 PM May 13 2008

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HEY STAR GAZER WHY NOT JUST PUT A CHIP IN EVERYONES NECK AND WHEN YOU GET YOUR LAW DEGREE WE'LL LET YOU WATCH EVERYONE ...STOP THE LIES!!! LEGALIZE MARIJUANA!!!!! FREE MY PEOPLE!!!! T P G

timrockosdad 01:09:12 PM May 13 2008

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kreidy you are wise beyond your years..STOP THE LIES!!! LEGALIZE MARIJUANA!!!!! FREE MY PEOPLE!!!! T P G

kreidy5504 11:54:21 AM May 13 2008

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When I was a kid we had Jack N Jill, Good Humour and the best of the best Mr. Softee. Now all we have is some foreign guy with lousy ice cream and high prices.

wa0cal 11:45:04 AM May 13 2008

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A VERY GOOD IDEA

stargazer33154 11:29:09 AM May 13 2008

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I'm 20 and working towards a law degree as a child advocacy lawyer..anyone who is going to be around/or dealing with children should have to have an extensive background check done on them..yes it's time consuming, sometimes expensive and someone may get away with *flying under the radar*,but isn't a child's well being worth it?

1 - 10 of 186

186 comments