Miami Beach votes to effectively ban sex offenders

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- Miami Beach city commissioners voted to keep sex offenders from moving within 2,500 feet of schools, day cares and parks. The ban covers nearly the entire city, and will be enforced in ten days. But city spokesman John Heffernan says it won't affect the 30 sex offenders already living on the narrow barrier island. More than 40 municipalities have requested information from Miami Beach about the ordinance, including two South Florida cities that have votes scheduled later this summer. Florida was shocked by the high-profile kidnappings and murders of 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford and 13-year-old Sarah Lunde. After that, some cities wanted to take extra precautions to protect their children. The Miami Beach ordinance provides exemptions for sex offenders already living in the city, minors prosecuted as juveniles and people who stay in the island city for less than two weeks.