News 12 First at Five; September 18, 2008

AIKEN CTY, S.C. --- There are already restrictions on where sex offenders can live in Georgia and South Carolina. But the Aiken County Council is looking at some tougher restrictions.

Simply, they do not want to make Aiken County a safe haven for sex offenders from Georgia. So, leaders are trying to take a stand and say sex offenders are not welcome from Georgia into Aiken County. They're doing this by looking at some tougher restrictions than the state has right now.

Soon, Dwayne Clark could be checking and reporting if sex offenders are just hanging around at an elementary school right down the street from him.

"They should not be able to loiter," says Dwayne. "I would like to see stricter regulations on it, truthfully."

He's being honest and the County Council is listening.

"I don't want them close to schools," says Dwayne.

Now, that's the plan by the county. Sex offenders could soon not be allowed to work or loiter -- simply hang around -- within a thousand feet of a school, park, playground, rec facility or daycare.

"150 percent there's something that needs to be done about it," says Kimberly Powell. Kimberly lives right across the street from a park in Clearwater. She says the state law does not go far enough. That law restricts sex offenders from living within a thousand feet of the same places listed above.

But, the county attorney tells council members, they can have their own law, as long as they don't change the state's living restrictions.

"I'm glad Aiken County is actually trying to make a stand on sex offenders," says Kim.

A councilman says they may be setting themselves up for a lawsuit. That's a problem Georgia's been seeing a lot of lately.

"If there is a lawsuit, then, that would surprise me," says Kimberly.

Lawsuits or not, the council is looking at grandfathering in sex offenders into their proposed law. The plan could go to the council for a third and final vote in October.

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