Summit County officials push for ice cream truck driver screenings

AKRON, Ohio - Summit County officials are considering tougher restrictions on ice cream truck drivers.

"It's been brought to my attention, some of them could be selling drugs out of them or be sexual predators and is in close contact with your kids. To me, it just didn't sit well," said Summit County Council President Jerry Feeman.

Feeman is behind the legislation similar to city of Barberton, requiring drivers to get a background check before getting behind the wheel of an ice cream truck.

The drivers would also have to be fingerprinted by the Summit County Sheriff's Office. Under the proposal, people with an offense against a child, a sex offense, recent drug, assault or weapons conviction, or a homicide conviction wouldn't be given a license.

"I'm not a big fan of legislating, legislating different things, but it just makes sense," Feeman said.

He said the proposal would cover only ice cream truck drivers and not affect other groups that fall under the solicitor category, like Boy Scouts or high school groups, selling door to door for fundraising.

Bob Tanner has been an ice cream man in Ohio for 20 years. He's now selling his ice cream truck to focus on his other food business, but he agrees something should be done.

"It would probably be a wise idea, especially no violent felonies," Tanner said.

Feeman told ONN the legislation should be passed Monday.