Costa Mesa repeals law banning sex offenders from public parks
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The Costa Mesa City Council on Tuesday night agreed to repeal an ordinance that banned registered sex offenders from entering city parks without permission from law enforcement.
The council’s unanimous vote comes after state appellate court rulings against similar ordinances adopted by the Irvine City Council and the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Costa Mesa is facing its own lawsuit, John Doe vs. City of Costa Mesa, filed in 2012, the Daily Pilot reported.
Violators of the ordinance had faced fines and jail time.
The Orange County district attorney’s office has supported a ban and may appeal the court decisions to the state Supreme Court, according to Costa Mesa officials.
The John Doe lawsuit also targeted Huntington Beach, Seal Beach and Lake Forest and their police chiefs, as well as Costa Mesa Police Chief Tom Gazsi, and Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens.
Costa Mesa’s ordinance, approved in 2012, also banned sex offenders from city sports facilities.
Twitter: @bradleyzint
Bradley Zint is a staff writer for Times Community News.
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