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.
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I tried to register both the temp tag and the permanent tag but the system doesn’t allow you to input the same vin number twice. I guess I will update the online system when the new tag arrives.
Issued new vehicle registration and tag on June 30th. Tag will not arrive until July 3rd. There is still a temp tag on the vehicle. Curious as how to handle this.
R-
Not sure if you can but I would try to have both the Temp and the New Tag registered. Try to put the vehicle on there twice. Better to do that than risk it.
I would register the tag that is affixed to the vehicle, then update that registration to the new tag once it arrives and is affixed.
I would not register a tag that is not affixed to the vehicle nor in your possession.
Hey all. Checked in today and no mention of the new law. It was the smoothest check-in I have ever had. Thank God for sure.
Tearfuleagle
Not un-common. When I go in, they do not tell us anything. No updates or nothing. They check us in, have us sign and send us on our way. They ask if we have any changes is about the only thing. I cannot remember a single time they have given us any changes to the laws.
If not for F.A.C I would not know 98% of what is going on with the registry laws, ordinances, rules, changes, updates etc. etc. The only ones that matter to me anyway are those that are retroactively applied. I think F.A.C stated that some of them only apply if you move, as otherwise you are grandfathered in.
For example, they changed the closeness to being to a school and I live walking distance to one but have lived here for 19 years now. It was 1000 feet. Its funny, we can live 1001 feet from a school but not 1000. I am sure that extra foot would deter someone LOL
Yea this time was quick. Told the guy is my 42nd time he asked me of any changes I said No, because I already do mine via the portal. Told him same house, same work two phones, two emails 5 identifiers no boats or Rv’s. He said thumb print and sign printer was behind him handed me my stuff said see you in January brother. That was it.
Next month is mine
Today is Saturday. I just got a new tag with a new number for my car in the mail today. I went ahead and used the online registration system that Judge Hinkle ordered FDLE to set up so that I could make the appropriate changes to my SO registry information. At first, I was pretty nervous about this because of some comments I’ve read in this forum about PFRs being arrested for not having the correct tag information in the registry system. Then I realized that the State sent the new tag to me using a USPS tracking number that shows the new tag was delived to my mailbox on the same day as my changed information. I went ahead and printed the tracking information and took a photo of the tag change for my records. I hope all this plus FDLE logging my use of their system with my user name is enough evidence to prove I registered the new tag within the 48 hr window. But does anyone know what I should do with the old tag?
You did perfect. You got the tag, you registered the tag, you put the tag on. I would call DMV or take it to DMV and turn it in.
Folks, never forget the rights you have whether you’re on or off paper. 1) You have the right to not incriminate yourself. This means you are not obligated to help any LEO with their criminal investigation against you, including registration requirements. 2) You have the right to counsel during any questioning by LEOs. If you feel they are going too far in their compliance checks like asking if you have any unregistered email addresses or YouTube accounts, you have the right to remain silent and to have an attorney present.
The human brain was never meant to deal with this cortisol-inducing scheme. Of course all this is punishment and terrorism as it creates an open-ended “fight or flight” circus performer type of situation. The don’t want us to have any quality of life or peace.
This is absolutely embedded punishment disguised as a civil and regulatory law.
Facts
I took responsibility for my incarceration and knew I would one day be released and always have a felony on my record. I made peace with that. What I did NOT make peace with, the day before being released, they came out with the registry and in 1997, I was the one of the first batch in Florida.
What they did not tell us, was it was for life with little chance to ever be removed. Moving into the future, a path off was made, but it is not a guarantee and less get removal than those who do. And on top of that, they try and state the registry is not punishment all the while they laugh with all the funding they get for that non punishment.
For now, I am blessed because I have heard several counties are doing registration fees that are pretty much the same as probation fees, which is punishment and I do not have those, yet the authorities deny, deny, deny that anything on earth related to the registry is punishment.
CJ, So you have been doing this longer than me. How do you cope? How do you prepare to go in for your reporting?
That’s just it— you are not required to prepare for re-registration at all.
Think of the number of times you have visited the registration office. Approximately how many of those visits resulted in a real problem for you or your family?
None
Tearful
I have to register 4 times a year and I get 2 home visits a year randomly.
My registration location has so many registrants that they use and assembly line to get us in and out. That is until some jerk comes along and pisses off the clerks and all chaos breaks out.
I am always pleasant with them and they always treat us fairly, they are just doing their job. But most of them quit (I cannot confirm they quit) or they got another position in the sheriff’s office. I say that because I rarely see the same person at the desk at any time I come back. It go so bad that actual deputies had to do the paperwork and when that happens, they are always professional.
I personally have never had a bad experience registering where I have lived for 20 years, but the last county I lived in, I left with tears in my eyes as they were total jerks and interrogated me for hours. That made me decide to move to another county which I have lived in for 2 decades now.
Currently the wait is the only bad thing where I currently go because I try and go the first of the month to get it out of the way and so many others have the same idea “Get it the Hell out of the way until next time”. The line sometimes wraps around the building as they do not have a waiting room and have to wait until they call you. Those that call you are the ones who come out when finished and let you know they are taking the next person. Only two allowed in at a time, so when 30 people are in line, it could be a wait of 45 minutes in line, then another 6 minutes to register if you do not have any updates or changes.
Registering is not really on my top ten list of things to do in Florida LOL
Little different where I go. Tuesday-Thursday only. But I get there 15 before they open. Chit chat with the other guy who gets there. 8:00 slide my license under the class, say good morning and sit down. usually called 5 minutes after I sit down and then am usually with the person 3 to 5 minutes and then out of there. I always Ask how they are doing. And then it’s you still living here, yes since 2003, still working here yes last 8 years. I have only added 1 new vehicle. Everything else is almost the same as Jan, and last July etc. etc. I have deleted the identifiers i no longer use and once my Microsoft account fully opts out, I will have 3 identifiers. and 2 are work and 1 is eBay.
Still extremely nerve wracking every time. Last time i was there i made the comment “This is my 41st time doing this.” The lady looked at the other lady and said, “That is a long time.” I replied, “Yes, your tell me.”
To think 15 to 20 minutes twice a year causes all this angst. Unless I am the only one who gets paranoid.