The Alexander County Board of Commissioners passed a Child Safety Zone Ordinance on Monday.
The board approved a proposal from Sheriff Chris Bowman to prevent registered sex offenders from loitering near school bus stops. Bowman addressed the board at their meeting on March 7th. The Sheriff said he had been contacted by a citizen concerning a registered sex-offender in the area of a school bus stop in the Drumstand area. He explained that N.C.G.S. 14-208.18 makes it a felony for a registered sex offender to be at or near schools, children’s museums, child care centers, and nurseries as well as libraries, arcades, amusement parks, recreation parks, swimming pools, etc. when minors are present; however, provisions for school bus and activity bus stops are not addressed.
The Child Safety Zone Ordinance will prevent a registered sex offender from taking advantage of a loophole in the State law . Specifics from this ordinance will be added to the acknowledgement packet that must be reviewed and signed by all registered sex offenders in Alexander County.
Meeting via Zoom on Monday, the board voted unanimously to adopt the Child Safety Zone Ordinance.