The following letter was sent from FAC to the FDLE.
———-
To Whom It May Concern:
Last year, the Florida legislature passed a series of laws governing sex offenders. Included in these laws are additional requirements concerning “Vehicles Owned”. These additions included a change in the definition of “Vehicles Owned” in F.S. 320.01.
FDLE had circulated an advisory to registrants informing them that they would be required to, “report in person to the sheriff’s office WITHIN 48 HOURS after any change in “vehicles owned” to report those vehicle information changes. {F.S. 943.0435(2)(b)3; 775.21(6)(a)1.c}”
The change in definition apparently required a registrant to report in person, within 48 Hours of any change in “Vehicles Owned”, which now includes the following:
Any vehicle:
- Registered
- Coregistered
- Leased
- Titled, or
- Rented to YOU
AND
- A rented vehicle that you are authorized to drive, or
- A vehicle for which you are insured as a driver.
ALSO included are all vehicles
- Registered
- Coregistered
- Leased
- Titled, or
- Rented
By a person or persons residing at your permanent residence for 5 or more consecutive days.
The Florida Action Committee (FAC) is a non-profit advocacy group. Our members are predominantly comprised of registered citizens and their family members. Part of FACs function is to provide information to our members in an effort to help them navigate the complex and confusing requirements of the registry.
The changes to the “Vehicles Owned” requirement has created significant confusion and the purpose of this letter is to solicit your guidance as to what would trigger an event that would require registration.
Below are some questions or scenarios and we would appreciate if you could advise whether registration would be required under these scenarios.
For ease of reference, I will outline and number these questions/scenarios so that you can respond referencing the number.
- Registrant receives a houseguest who plans to stay for a week and has a vehicle. Registrant will not drive the houseguest’s vehicle. Is Registrant required to report to the sheriff’s office in person to register the guest’s car?
- Under 1; would the 48 hour requirement be triggered within 48 hours of the guest’s arrival or within 48 hours of the guest’s staying 5 or more consecutive days
- Under 1; would the Registrant be required to report to the sheriff’s office in person again within 48 hours to report the change when the houseguest leaves, in order to remove the vehicle from the registry?
- Registrant lives with a non-familial roommate. That roommate receives a houseguest and has a vehicle. Registrant has no clue how long the roommate’s guest plans to stay. Is Registrant required to report to the sheriff’s office in person to register the roommate’s guest’s car?
- Under 4; would the Registrant be required to report to the sheriff’s office in person within 48 hours every time the non-familial roommate changes cars or receives a houseguest?
- Many Registrants are destitute or have difficulty finding housing and live in a shared living environment (ie: group home, halfway-house, transient living facility, etc.). Is Registrant required to report to the sheriff’s office in person to register every vehicle belonging to an individual staying in that shared living environment?
- Under 6; would the Registrant be required to report to the sheriff’s office in person every time a new individual owning/leasing/renting a vehicles moves into or out of the shared living environment?
- Since “Permanent Residence” can include a transient address and many Registrants live homeless at encampments throughout Florida, would the definition of “person or persons residing at your permanent residence” include other registrants registered as transient at the same location?
- Vehicles “rented to” a Registrant are now required to be registered. Registrant from Miami travels to Jacksonville for business. Registrant will be in Jacksonville for three days. While in Jacksonville Registrant will rent a car. Is Registrant required to report to the sheriff’s office in person to register the rented car?
- Under 9; would the Registrant be able to report, in person, to the sheriff’s office in Jacksonville to register the rented car, or would they need to return to Miami within 48 hours to register the rented car?
- Under 9; would the Registrant also be required to report, in person, to the sheriff’s office to report that the rental car has been returned and, if so, would the Registrant be required to report to the sheriff in Jacksonville or in Miami to report that the rental car has been returned?
- Registrant from Orlando travels to Tallahassee for business. Registrant will only be in Tallahassee for one day and plans to rent a car for the day. Is Registrant required to report to the sheriff’s office in person within 48 hours to register the rental car, even though the car had already been returned?
- Registrant lives with a spouse/relative/roommate. The spouse/relative/roommate is a “person residing at [Registrant’s] permanent residence for 5 or more consecutive days”. Would registrant be required to report to the sheriff’s office in person within 48 hours to register a vehicle rented to the spouse/relative/roommate?
- Registrant lives with a spouse/relative/roommate in Miami. The spouse/relative/roommate is a “person residing at [Registrant’s] permanent residence for 5 or more consecutive days”. Spouse/relative/roommate travels to Jacksonville (without Registrant) for work and rents a vehicle. Would registrant be required to report to the sheriff’s office in person within 48 hours to register a vehicle rented to the spouse/relative/roommate?
- If the answer to 14 is yes; if the spouse/relative/roommate is unable to recall the VIN and License Tag Number of the rental car or unwilling to provide that information, is there an exception that would enable the Registrant avoid committing a third degree felony?
- Registrant is employed by a company that operates a fleet of vehicles (ex: landscaping company, construction, etc.) and is insured through an umbrella policy that covers the entire fleet. Under the requirement of registering “a vehicle for which [the Registrant] are insured as a driver”, would Registrant be required to report to the sheriff’s office in person within 48 hours to register every vehicle in the fleet or anytime a vehicle is added to the fleet?
- F.S. 943.0435(2)(b)3/775.21(6)(a)1.c specifies the requirement to report in person to the sheriff’s office WITHIN 48 HOURS after any change in “vehicles owned” (emphasis taken from FDLE’s 2014 Registration Updates). May a Registrant report to their local sheriff’s office or are they required to report to the designated “registration office” for the county, which might be far, inconvenient, only open designated hours, require a substantial wait and could require a Registrant to take additional time off work?
- If the answer to 17 requires the Registrant to report to the county’s registration location, many registration offices require appointments or have set registration days that would make compliance with this requirement impossible. Is there any exception in the statute that would accommodate this situation?
Kindly respond to the scenarios/questions referencing the number your answer corresponds to. If the answer to any of the scenarios/questions is no, kindly provide the statutory reference to the exception so that we can share it with our membership.
I greatly appreciate your anticipated cooperation in providing this clarification.
Sincerely,
Gail Colletta, President
Florida Action Committee, Inc.
I don’t have a Drivers license does this law still apply?
I still think roommates or relatives having to register their vehicles should be unconstitutional and could cause them to be pulled over for no reason. I used to have roommates but when they started doing that, all my roommates moved out once I told them their cars had to be registered. That cost me over $800 a month loss by losing two roommates but I do not blame them.
[Moderator’s note: Thus far we’ve received no reports of any roommates or relatives pulled over for no reason other than driving a registered vehicle. But if this has happened to you, consider sharing that experience here].
It’s too bad that more roommates and family members aren’t raising hell to their elected representatives about this. Sadly, I think it’s largely because those roommates and family members don’t want to admit to anyone that they’re associated with a PFR. I know that’s true in my own family and limited friendship circle.
All this is so confusing.
Tony:
That’s why it’s unconstitutional. How can you abide by a law when even the police don’t know how to apply it or enforce it unevenly.
Well, I have been off probation and Judge stated I wasn’t a threat when he terminated me early of 2005 and have been WHAT I THOUGHT in compliance with the registry for over 19 yrs going twice a year just to get pulled over a tag light and find out the SAME DAY there was an active warrant for my arrest for 2 counts of not registering my sons car that I co-signed in October until he was able to refinance it- 2 counts 3rd degree felony, one for not doing it in 48 hours and the other not doing it on my birthday and there is nothing more scarier than this! I’m out on pretrial release and needless to say many sleepless nights when I thought I finally put as much behind me that I could and living a pretty normal life with a loving family and now grandbabies. To make it worse the investigator worded it on the affidavit I KNOWINGLY did this as if… and then he even said it’s registered to my MIDDLE NAME that I NEVER sign to ANYTHING to make it look even more sneaky! I’m glad I can at least prove that’s not true, what do you do other then pray for mercy and grace at this point? I really was looking forward to the light at the end of the tunnel of removal being that I’ve stayed out of trouble all these years, got married and moved on
Prob offer you 30 days. Id fight it. Still resets clock for removal.
Hopefully, the car was not kept at your residence
[Moderator’s note: Please note that Florida Action Committee is not a law firm. We are not attorneys and the information provided on this website is not to be construed as legal advice. The posts and comments are the opinions of the respective authors and should not be relied upon without seeking proper legal guidance from a licensed professional. For a list of qualified attorneys, please see our referral page].
This BS really pisses me off. All that BS talk from FLDE about not wanting to bust PFR’s for this kind of crap, and saying that we should only get busted if intentionally non-compliant after a verbal warning. This is just a matter of pure hatred from law enforcement.
Sorry, that other reply was supposed to be to your comment about the investigator,
If a sex offender resides on property in a separate dwelling from another person on same property does the other persons vehicle have to be registered with law enforcement
I really hope this question is answered because I have the same question. But also that the landlord wrote a statement that all the vehicles were hers. And stated that she would testify to it.
A SO is being released next month and living with a sibling who is an Uber driver. Will this most likely cause a loss of employment with the sibling through Uber? Once his car is registered to a SO. (Uber does not employ SO)
Does Uber not have a written policy? Like, is Uber’s policy a secret?
You do not need to register a houseguest’s vehicle, if that houseguest leaves their vehicle at their home and takes the bus to see you. Even if they are staying with you five or more consecutive days.
You do NOT need to register that houseguest’s vehicle, even though registration is the letter of the law here.
FAC/anyone disagree?
That’s not what the statute says. It says that you have to register any vehicle owned, leased, rented, etc. by anyone who resides at your residence for 5 more more days. Nothing in the statute actually says the vehicle has to be parked at your home:
“Vehicles owned” means any motor vehicle as defined in s. 320.01, which is registered, coregistered, leased, titled, or rented by a sexual predator or sexual offender; a rented vehicle that a sexual predator or sexual offender is authorized to drive; or a vehicle for which a sexual predator or sexual offender is insured as a driver. The term also includes any motor vehicle as defined in s. 320.01, which is registered, coregistered, leased, titled, or rented by a person or persons residing at a sexual predator’s or sexual offender’s permanent residence for 5 or more consecutive days.
As you can see, the law doesn’t state that the vehicle has to be anywhere near your home, which actually makes the law absurd.
Hello I thought maybe you have to register a Boat or Watercraft but under further review of the Florida Definition of Vehicle it seems it would need to be on the “Road”. I have a Family member who is buying a water craft that is in their name and stored at a different address. That person lives with me at my Registered address. Would I actually have to register the Vehicle and Trailer? Thanks
Yes, you must register all boats and trailers. The statute includes watercraft or as they say “vessels”
Hello Jed I tried and they said No and. Would not take my info so all I can do is document.
Thanks
Why would you risk 5 years in prison (and if you are eligible for eventual removal after 20/25 years post expiration of probation or sentence, ruin that chance too) just to not have to give them that little bit of extra information?
Just give them everything. It takes almost no extra effort to add internet identifiers, employment addresses, etc. I realize that right now, vehicle information has to be done in person, but soon that will be done online too. I don’t really think they even do anything with the information. I have at least 30 internet identifiers once you add up all the email addresses, websites, apps, games, etc., 4 telephone numbers, 4 work addresses, 1 institution of higher education where I take online classes, 2 vehicles, etc., and as far as I know, neither FDLE nor the Miami-Dade County Police have ever contacted anybody or checked the information other than the 20 seconds they’re on my property during semi-annual address verifications. Just give them everything they want. Especially in North and Central Florida, they just LOVE to trap people with unregistered vehicles. I don’t know why that’s such a big thing up there. I guess it’s the low-hanging fruit. Don’t risk 5 years in prison over something so silly.
Hello Rm,
They refused to take the info said its not needed. Can this be added on the porta? Havent seen it before
BE CAREFUL!!!! Its the trailer that needs to be registered
OK if u work for someone do u have to register there vehicles if u drive them
My landlord’s parked a vehicle in my driveway for over two years. I reported the vehicle to the sheriff and that in the near future I might by the car. The car had issues and needed to be fixed. I did odd jobs to pay off the car through my landlords and paid off the car. I signed the title and in June of 2020, my registration month, I called to tell them that I had gotten an appointment at the dmv on July. 7 to get in it registered. Yet my regular officer was on vacation and this is covid time, so I was told to just call in the new tag number when I got it registered. Yet, the belts on the car broke and the registration never happened. The car never got registered in my name. All I did was sign the title. Being on disability, I did not have the money to get it fixed, so I donated the car to charity. Yet, I never registered the car in my name, the tile was still in my landlord’s name. So. The car has always say in my driveway, the sheriff has always known about it, it did not run and I left it be. But after 2 years of stting, I felt that it was time to get rid of it and so I donated it. I got another vehicle, called and told them of the new one. And told them I donated the old one. My question being: because I bought the first car, never had it registered, and the always knew about the car, and then I donated it, did I do something wrong?
If you live in Florida, more than likely. I can’t say what, and odds are the arresting officer probably won’t be able to either. But if you’re a registrant in Florida, you always do something wrong.
FAC is a good place to compare notes on how best to remain in compliance with the law.
But if you suspect that you have ALREADY exceeded the law, then that should be shared only with an attorney and not on this forum.
What really is bad is i have to register as sex offender for a 3rd degree assault conviction. I have been doing it since 1994. I also got 10 years added to my registration for a dui. I been dealing with this since i was 20 now im 48. Kids bullied at school an a million other things. Lost jobs. Wife lost jobs cause of me. One thing i think could help turn the tide is all sex offenders apply for social security disability. I got ptsd from it. Plus whos gonna hire you? I got approved 4 years ago. If we cost them money it will take all the fun out of it for them.
I have been saying that the state has made us unemployable for years. They probably expect us to dig ditches for minimum wage. I’m too old for that crap. Also, I feel you on the ptsd. My heart jumps EVERY time the doorbell rings. I dread being pulled, over or even being in a car that’s pulled over.
How did you get the disability? Did you use being a registrant as the disability? It should be. LMK… Please!
I couldn’t even get that job in Volusia County.
What is the penalty for not registering a vehicle you purchased. I am 4 weeks late.
(1) the penalty is a third degree felony.
(2) I hope Allen is a pseudonym.
Hello can you clarify? I am very confused on this. My Wife who lives with me but also has another property purchased a Trailer to Pull a personal Water Craft. Everything is in her name. The Trailer and Vehicle at the other House. Do I have to Register both the Trailer and The Craft even though its not at my Registration address and titled in her name? Thanks
Here is the actual language from the statute WITH EMPHASIS.
(p) “Vehicles owned” means any motor vehicle as defined in s. 320.01, which is registered, coregistered, leased, titled, or rented by a sexual predator or sexual offender; a rented vehicle that a sexual predator or sexual offender is authorized to drive; or a vehicle for which a sexual predator or sexual offender is insured as a driver. The term also includes any motor vehicle as defined in s. 320.01, which is registered, coregistered, leased, titled, or rented by a person or persons residing at a sexual predator’s or sexual offender’s permanent residence for 5 or more consecutive days.
You can interpret the statute for yourself or get a formal legal opinion, but if the vehicle is registered to your wife and your wife lives with you for 5 or more consecutive days, do you really want to take chances if the statute says that it’s registrable?
Hello and Thanks. I did go spoke with 2 people including supervisor. Was told neither Ski nor Trailer needed to be registered. They wouldnt do it. Tge mai. Guy has always been strait with me so all I can do is document I went.
Hello I was going to purchase a Jet Ski this year and I have read 320.01 and it says nothing I can find about a Jet Ski or Boat to be defined as a Vehicle. I do see in the Offender Rules if you make a Vessel your Residence you must provide all the info. I cannot find anything that says I would need to register a Vessel except a spot exists on the Registration. Can anybody point me to any legal law that says we need to provide this info and why? I just cant find anything that says a personal watercraft simply owned needs to be registered. Thanks
You are right – it’s not in the statute.
I also wanted to buy a JetSki this year so I contacted my local Registration office here in TampaBay. I looked at the Law and it doesn’t say that a Vessel has to be registered UNLESS its your Residence. Orlando appears to have a County Rule that does specify so may others. What makes no sense to me is I was told my County does not HOWEVER the FDLE portal they use requires them to ask me so they can enter any Boats or Jetskis into the computer. Why is FDLE making this requirement when no law or Rule supports this request? I don’t want issues so once I get one I will comply but we should not have to provide this info if not mandated by the Statue or Law!!!! My office was very clear its FDLE asking as a requirement not them
Because they can. I registered my &@[] fishing license… just to be safe.
Any idea how we can be required to provide information beyond the law? Is this another example how the registry has gone too far and does not even adhere to its own conflicting rules? I am pretty sure this is only 1 example of stuff getting asked and not required. Has FAC ever asked for Clarification? Florida has a seperate and clear Statue that defines Vessels not listed on any of my paperwork. Would all these violations be a cause for another type of lawsuit on behalf of Registrants?
As long as there is no ownership by me..in any event..(any vehicles owned)
Does not apply to me…be mindful (p)…was self explanatory (any change in vehicles owned)…
I’m in Florida, They ask me every time I Register. I can not make my Family do it. So either you go get it from them or violate my Registration. I will take it before a Jury. My offence was over 30 Years ago. Pressing this issue could make me Homeless. I flat out refuse. My Family said NO WAY.
First of all , thank you Gail for the work that and the other folks at FAC are doing to advocate for us. I have two questions, fist did you ever receive an answer to this letter? Second, would this apply to an out of state rental?
We did not receive an answer. Speak to your local registration office to see if they require it. It would seem the answer would be no, since they have no jurisdiction, but get a response to CYA.
My boy was arrested for this and is looking at 20 months in Prison he went to register the car when his wife purchased it and he did not have the registration with him when he went so he called home and asked his wife to go and get the vin number and tag number and she did and gave it to the person at the sheriffs office and some how they did not put the information in the paper work so they came out to the house and asked him about it 4 years after the car was purchased and because he did not remember they arrested him over it. its terrible! He already suffered enough over this and has never ever gotten into trouble again. He has another truck and boat that was all purchased after this car he is very careful about all of this and has never ever missed getting them this information and I know that if he knew that they did not have the information that he would of taken it right over to them. they have been out to the house all the time last 4 years and has not ever asked about this . He has had these charges since 2009 and never been into any trouble before. This is going to devastate my grand children because he takes care of them so that mom can work I dont know what will happen if they give him time she wont be able to care for the kids herself. ruining babies lives also!
Cindy – did this happen in Polk County?
I have a car that I am having painted , when I registered it I put color as gray as it was in primer, 9 months later, it is being painted..I called the Sheriff’s department and they said I MUST come in and re-register car with in 48 hours of getting it back.. I can not find ANYTHING in the regulation that addresses color change.. did I miss something
I believe you may have:
943.0435(14)(c)1. “the make, model, color, vehicle identification number (VIN), and license tag number of all vehicles owned;”
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0900-0999/0943/Sections/0943.0435.html
Thanks JZ – that’s correct.
thanks !
What if those vhicles are owned by others and some don’t even run? One of those cars isn’t even registered in the State of Florida!it is mine and I’m not a sex offender..
if it’s at the location, running or not, it has to be registered.
IF a registered sex offender is living there.
What if there are more than one apartment on the premises? Is the person who is in his own apartment, required to register the vehicle information of a person in the apartment next door? Also, what if the person next door does not want his (or her) information on the website associated with a sex offender?
If it’s a separate address it’s a separate residence.
Here is the catch in this individuals case. The landlady never put any numbers or letters on each door to differentiate them. So the addresses were the same but they were different units that she rented out. She is making the correction now and is willing to go to court on the individual’s behalf. It just seems like splitting hairs on the States behalf.
I hope this individual doesn’t plead out. Make sure his/her attorney knows what they are doing.
The neighbor’s information will not appear on the website.
Mine wasnt registered just shows up without a plate online. Heres a question though: have a home in another state with a car: does that need to be on there?
Jack, this is where I believe people like yourself are missing the boat on this. Where do your rights to privacy begin? What gives the State (any State) the right to garner and file your personal information about your vehicles? Once they do this, your info becomes connected to the sex offenders info. I am waiting for people that are having this done to them to sue the State for the invasion of privacy. I believe that they are in violation of your rights under the first Amendment of the Constitution.
Vehicle registration and other provisions are being challenged by FAC in court on multiple grounds. In the meantime, those who are required to comply, shouldn’t put themselves at risk of a felony by failing to do so.
Agreed – if you join in on our Member call this Thursday, we will be discussing our 2019 legal challenge which will be brought on behalf of family members, cohabitants, neighbors, etc. who are subjected to the requirements of the registry even though they are not a registrant. For example, a roommate who has to have his car registered, a spouse who has to have a sign placed on her door on Halloween, a son who can’t have their father at a soccer game, a daughter whose father was banned from her graduation.
#2 covers your question. It specifies “color” within.
I will gladly file any law suit in federal court regarding the legality of the vehicle registration insanity. It is a clear violation of a law abiding citizens rights to be categorized along with those who have committed crimes. It no more than a money making scheme and system designed to rearrest and punish offenders. I personally have been pulled over because the police ran my plate…. car is not in my name for other reasons but I do drive it…. there are plenty of other restrictions that require attention too and I’d be happy to work with the Action committee in attacking these issues….
Brian T – are you a lawyer?
I guess FDLE never clarified this. Just had to give the local yocals info on my son’s car….doesn’t live with me, not registered to me, but co-registered to my estranged wife.
This is amazing in two respects— amazing in how clearly it’s laid out, and amazing that we have to ask in the first place.
One question I have is, what if FDLE simply is unable to come up with a response?
On # 16
I am employed as a dumptruck driver by a company with 11 dump trucks and 3 pickup i am currently homeless and sleep in the truck I drive. This morning my boss needed my truck to do a job that started at 5:30 so he left the pickup with me. Wouldn’t you know it probation shows up at 5:45 !!! I explained the situation and asked if I needed to have this truck registered since it belongs to the company. He said he didn’t know and that I needed to ask my po. But the way he understands it ANY vehicle I have access to I have to register that adds a whole new situation if I go to my moms house to visit I technically have access to her vehicles or anywhere else I go would be the same ! If you go so.where and someone leaves they’re keys in they’re car you would again technically be able to have access to they’re car where does it stop?
I believe not: if youre homeless the car doesnt act as the address its the closest or intersection address. Also if i remember if the veh is at your registered address for more than a certain time thrn you need to list it even if not yourso
Very good! here is another scenario for you – my son a registered citizen does not drive – he never has – he has a FL ID card but has never been a licensed driver in any state. But if his roommate gets a car he has to report it. One thing that has bothered me about this law also is that although the info is not public right now I can completely imagine the scorched earth of FL eventually adding it to the flyers.
Also, question – I keep hearing about this proximity law in Seminole (is that the City of or the county of?) and if it is the county what the heck is that law? I have searched for info on it since I first heard of it and cannot find anything about it? What is it and what does it say?
Seminole County
Sec. 228.2. – Restriction of certain activities of sexual offenders and sexual predators.
No sexual offender or sexual predator shall travel through or remain within the 1,000 foot buffer zone surrounding any school, daycare center, park or playground except to:
(a)
Attend a scheduled meeting with an attorney who is recognized as a licensed member of the Bar of the State of Florida;
(b)
Attend a scheduled interview with a social service provider licensed by the State of Florida;
(c)
Comply with a request or court order from the judiciary, a correctional facility or a law enforcement entity;
(d)
Contact criminal justice personnel at a criminal justice facility;
(e)
Attend a church service or function;
(f)
Attend a bona fide educational institution as a registered student;
(g)
Attend to medical or health care needs with a licensed physician;
(h)
Attend to familial or parental obligations;
(i)
Be gainfully employed or as part of duties imposed by gainful employment;
(j)
Seek refuge during times of impending natural disasters or acts of terrorism, if such schools have been designated by Seminole County or the State of Florida as a place of refuge.
A law enforcement officer shall, prior to any arrest for an offense under this Section 228.2, afford the person an opportunity to explain his or her presence in the area and the purpose thereof. No person shall be convicted of an offense under this section if the law enforcement officer did not comply with this procedure or if it appears at trial that the explanation given by the person is true and, if believed by the officer at the time, would have authorized the person to be in the area pursuant to one of the exceptions listed above.
thank you – unbelievable!!!!!!!!!!
How can this be applied to non-residents of $emenh0le County? If I drive down I-4 to Orlando, I am probably passing through a “no-go” zone. I-4 is a federal highway, how can they have jurisdiction?
Thank you Gail and FAC,
I have had this same discussion with the sheriff officer in my area. Although he is accommodating and helpful his “help” in this matter will not shield me from arrest for “failure to register by omission.”
We can discuss the common sense of each of these points, however, has legal counsel considered attacking the conditionality of law abiding, non registered citizens being required to have their vehicle information on a a sex offense registry?
Of course I’ve been told the information is “not public or searchable” but does this override the constitutional question?
Citizens who have committed no crime are now forced to register.
JR
Divide and conquer? It would seem that laws like these have the un/intended effect of driving away what remaining friends, family, and living options a registrant has. If you are lucky enough to be able to stay with friends or family, but now they are forced to further get wrapped up in this registration process, will some not tire? Increase the burden on those who care about a registrant and eventually some will cave in and distance themselves. It certainly makes group-home situations more difficult, and employment as well as exposed with the fleet vehicles example.
RSO laws approach Catch-22 insanity and almost guarantee that every registrant will, by absolutely no intentions whatsoever, be guilty of a felony at any given moment. Convenient status-quo when you have prison beds to fill, need to squelch dissent, or simply need a nice red herring to put on the headlines.
We question the constitutionality of these laws. As if we need to. What’s to question?? Cruel and unusual, ex post facto, freedom of speech, unreasonable search, debtors prison, the list goes on when it comes to sex offender laws. The presumption of constitutionality needs to be a thing of the past, and these laws are some of the most shining examples of why. When I was young I naively believed so much in our system that I joined the military. I’m sad to say I’d have had to given that decision much more deliberation had I known then what I know now. I want to believe we are leading the way to world peace and betterment of humanity, but those nagging facts keep destroying my delusions. We send our brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, neighbors, etc. to war to “battle extremism and defend freedom” when we are arguably as extreme in our own ways and, when you boil it all down, not much more at liberty than the citizens of our enemy states. The American citizen need only focus a slightly beyond the crimes of the registrant to see the horrid criminality of these statutes. But thus far, the powers that be have successfully kept our populace in a state of painful myopia.
Great commentary! Unfortunately so true.
These vehicle requirements (which are unfortunately already law) only cause further ostracism.
There are registrants in Seminole who are FORCED to break the law daily. They have a proximity ordinance there and some registrants live completely encapsulated inside a no-go zone. For them to simply leave their house they would be breaking the law!
The way I see it, the only thing left to do is to simply NOT follow any of these laws and just stand up for your rights. The more we bow down to these idiots and try to appease them, the more tyranny they will just throw on us and we just fall further down the slippery slope. They keep adding layer upon layer of law after law, year after year, legislative session after legislative session. I’m sick and tired of seeing their squirelly little faces on TV talking about how much safer they’re making Florida because they jumped on the sex offender bandwagon to pad their political careers. Enough is enough. That is the answer…..resistance!
Don’t go doing that. Nobody wants to be saddled with a THIRD DEGREE FELONY.
Fight first!
Inevitably someone WILL get popped for this stupidity (if not already) and then the PD will have standing to get involved and hopefully challenge the law on the taxpayer’s dime.
If anyone’s up to it, do a public information request to find out if anyone was arrested for a violation of the vehicle registration laws.
I was arrested recently on not registering a vehicle that isnt mine and I dont drive or have a drivers license
FAC admin is correct. A 3rd degree felony on top of original SO charges will get you A LOT of time.
Additionally, in Florida you can petition to be removed from the requirement to register after 25 years UNLESS you’ve been arrested for ANY reason following completion of sentence and probation.
It’s a small light at the end of a long tunnel… but it exists.
I appreciate your frustration but playing smart is better than playing hard in our cases.
Does ANYONE know of ANYBODY who successfully petitioned to be removed?
Absent some very defined cases, R&J and PRE-Jessica Lunsford Act cases, I know of nobody who successfully petitioned.
I understand there may be no successful petition. But the statutory option is stated. To play by the rules in regard to receiving these punishments then to not attempt the relief under the same laws due to lack of previous success is allowing these archaic laws to win in their punitive goals.
Well all I can say is, the police in Baltimore are on guard right now. Imagine if all 70,000 SO’s and their families converged on Tallahassee demanding change! Things would change.
This is excellent Gail. Thank you for doing that. My guess is that you will not get a response. Or if you do, it will be a generic one without any answers to any of the numbered questions.
If no answer – Public Information Request