BAKER COUNTY, Fla. -- One northeast Florida county is cracking down on where sex offenders can live.

A state law already keeps them away from places where children gather.

Now, Baker County has created a wider "buffer zone" after some residents got concerned about a sex offender in their neighborhood.

When it comes to sex offenders, they usually have to live at least 1,000 feet away from places where children tend to gather, like bus stops, playgrounds and schools.

But in Baker County, that 1,000-foot stay-out zone has been extended to 2,500 feet.

In fact, County Manager Joe Cone said commissioners wanted to do something even more drastic.

"The board discussed at length the possibility of eliminating them completely," Cone said. "That a sexual predator couldn't live in Baker County. But obviously they discovered that is unconstitutional."

Cone said commissioners unanimously voted in the new ordinance earlier this month.

He said they did it because they were contacted by a resident concerned about a recently released sex offender moving near his young victim and her bus stop.

Cone said the new changes only apply to the county, not any of the cities, and there are some exceptions for short-time residents.

There is a provision of timelines. If the residence was temporary, less than 14 days, it can be permitted.

"I think it should be further," Baker County resident Leon Martin said of the extension. "If you're a real sex offender, and you've been in prison for it, I don't think you should be around kids at all."

"Those kids are innocent," resident Ruby Belford said. "They're innocent kids, and they don't need sex offenders staying so close to them."

One important item of note: the measure only applies to sex offenders moving to Baker County. If you're a sex offender already living there, you're grandfathered in, and you don't have to move.