A Reminder About Reporting Requirements: When in Doubt, Ask
Following our recent Weekly Update about increased enforcement activity in Florida, we’ve received a flood of questions from members asking whether specific events, changes, or circumstances need to be reported to law enforcement. We understand the concern. The registration laws in Florida are complex, often confusing, and subject to varying interpretations.
First and foremost, remember this:
FAC is not a law firm, and FAC does not provide legal advice.
We do our best to educate, inform, and advocate, but if you are ever arrested or accused of violating registration requirements, saying, “FAC told me I didn’t have to report it” or “I read on the FAC website that I didn’t need to report it” will not carry any weight with law enforcement, prosecutors, or the courts.
Another reality is that Florida’s registration laws are often interpreted inconsistently from one jurisdiction to another. What one registration office says may differ from another. Unfortunately, many violations occur not because someone intended to break the law, but because they misunderstood what was required.
That’s why our advice is simple:
If you have any doubt whatsoever about whether something must be reported, ask an authority. We know not everyone can afford to have an attorney write an opinion letter every time you have a question, but it costs absolutely nothing to ask the FDLE, local law enforcement, (or if you are on probation, your PO).
And most importantly, document everything.
If you receive guidance:
– Ask for the response in writing whenever possible.
– Save emails and correspondence.
– If the response is provided over the phone or in person, write down: The name of the person you spoke with, Their title or agency, The date and time of the conversation, What you were told.
Maintaining a paper trail can be invaluable if questions ever arise later.
Even better, if the issue is still unclear, use the Declaratory Statement Request Template that FAC previously provided. We share these resources so that you will have the tools to protect yourself. A declaratory statement can help obtain an official written interpretation regarding your specific circumstances.
You can find the contact information for the registration office in your county here.
You can contact FDLE’s Offender Registry Services Bureau at:
Offender Registry Services Bureau
Post Office Box 1489
Tallahassee, FL 32302-1489
Telephone: 1-888-357-7332 (Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. EST)
Email: [email protected]
When it comes to registration compliance, it is always better to ask one question too many than one question too few.
Discover more from Florida Action Committee (FAC)
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
I get that rules are rules. If someone continually breaks them, after they have been told then yes they should have consequences. The best outcome is no registry so we keep the fight going. However, if it’s something as simple as spacing out and forgetting to register or misunderstanding an expectation then some Grace should be given. But, this is all wishful thinking.
FAC: Thank you for sending this out.
I follow the principle of “If in doubt, add it to the list”. That way you are covered and the next time you go in, you can always ask. I too, like many others on here, live in a constant state of “Fight or Flight” or “Forever stuck in survival mode.” I do my best to live a ‘scorched earth” environment; I go to the same places, (Gym, Publix, Chick Fil A, my dad’s, and Church), I order the same thing every time, I take the same route every time, I get gas at the same 3 or 4 stations every time. My family can also always see where I am at. I think you get the picture. I have very limited online footprint, really only what is needed for work and eBay. Zero social media (but I never had this before they made the reporting of it law) it is just not my thing.
I am not saying anything above is illegal or you should not have, I just choose to live with a minimal digital footprint. I will be asking again July 1st about eBay and the vehicle that I am in no way associated with and if they choose to remove it then it will be them doing it. I constantly check FDLE for warrants and the clerk of the court especially in the weeks leading up to the report day: Not because I think there is any issue, but I think we all live in this constant state of “Fight or Flight” or “Constant “survival” mode.
Back to the beginning to end my post if you are not sure, report it first then ask.
Here’s a question: What’s the statute of limitations on reporting requirements?
i think it is 3 years if they find something if its been more then 3 it might be ok however im not a lawyer now if someone can just tell me how to get to the eu quickly w/out a pass port hummm
When you want to leave lol. My pop is 89 all my kids are grown and my wife of 33 years wouldn’t care if I moved. We can buy a boat, renounce our citizenship and sail the world. 🙂
There is no statute of limitations. Unfortunately each and every time you register an omission cand be a separate charge.
Ie. 3 years ago you bought a trailer. You didn’t report it. You will face 6 counts of failure to register by omission and one count of failure to register the trailer within 48 hours.
So if you bought the trailer six years ago instead of three, but only began properly registering it three years ago, is that also six counts of failure to register by omission? Or is it fewer counts due to a statute of limitations?
I thought Florida’s statute of limitations on a third-degree felony is four years.
3 years by Statute.