Florida bill would effectively ban sex offenders from vacation rentals.
Florida Bill Tries to Ban Sex Offenders from Vacation Rentals
A new bill concerning vacation rentals, HB 773, sponsored by Rep. Mike La Rosa, R-St. Cloud, is making its way through the Florida House of Representatives. (https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=768073.docx&DocumentType=Amendments&BillNumber=0773&Session=2018)
The bill, among other things, would require vacation rental owners to give 24-hour notice to residents who live within 1,000 feet of the properties that sex offenders will be staying at the rentals.
While it does not expressly ban sex offenders from vacation rentals in Florida, its effect would be that it would require vacation rental owners to inquire whether a prospective renter was a sex offender and then they literally have to notify every neighbor within a 1000 foot radius of their presence! Who would rent to a sex offender under those conditions?
AirBnBÂ offenses committed by individuals not on registry
As with most of these bills, there’s not been a swath of “issues” with sex offenders swarming on vacation rentals and the only reported instances of sexual assault relating to AirBnB or similar programs have been from people not on the registry.
Not sure what the purpose of this ill-informed legislator’s bill is, aside from another piece of “feel good” toilet paper that will give the public a false sense of security.
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The bill’s intent is clearly to banish registrants. There is absolutely no denying that is the intent.
the effect of the bill is to make it impossible for registrants.
But …… it doesn’t apply to hotels, motels, inns and resorts? Or are they required to inform all other guests staying in their facilities?
My reading of the actual current bill would include all Hotels and Motels
If I read the statute correctly,
“…must register at the sheriff’s office in the county where the sex offender is temporarily residing following the process set forth in s.13 775.21, 48 hours prior to arrival at a vacation rental…”
Does that state that the vacationer MUST register in the county of travel 48 hours before they actually arrive? The key word there to me is temporarily, meaning not the home county. That would be impossible. Did I miss something?
This is just a Bill, not a Statute YET.
Yes, it seems it requires you have to register 48 hours BEFORE staying at a vacation rental regardless of how long you stay there! This is insane!
Ok so we register before we get there ….. thats impossible if were not at the address yet so is falsifying as the address isnt ours yet until we begin the occupancy. Does anyone proof read these things before they put them put there for voting????
Guess its vacationing out of florida!! We cant cruise we cant disney we cant travel……. how is this anything but ridiculous?
We already couldn’t cruise Disney or stay on property unless paying cash because they cross reference all online bookings. THat was a corporate decision by Disney which I personally experienced when I bought online annual passes and was escorted off property with my children with a trespass warning. This however would be a state mandate, presumably with new felony sanctions. To make matters worse, they refused to refund our annual passes, even though we were never granted entry to the park.
I’d dispute the credit card transaction if paid by card. Or consider suing if paid with cash.
I did dispute with my CC. They eventually refunded my ticket only but because my children’s tickets were scanned and they weren’t turned away (even though I was their only parental supervision and I wasn’t permitted entry), the credit card company ruled with Disney and refunded only my portion of the ticket. I was out several hundred dollars but since my kids each had a non refundable, several hundred dollar annual pass, I just gave them to my ex wife so she could take them. At least the kids got something out of it, but being turned away with your small children is heartbreaking.
We ended up going to another major park nearby and had a great time. As far as I know Disney is the only one that screens any guest that buys tickets or lodging online.
If you want to visit Disney you cannot buy an annual pass. Only day passes. It becomes more expensive, but everything is more expensive for registrants.
I stayed at a 4 star hotel resort once with my family about 4 years ago celebrating my grandmas 90th birthday. We were only there 2 days – about 46 hours give or take minutes to the exact 48 hours. You know what happened ?? Nothing ! We all had a great time like a normal family. Beach, Pool, drinks and food, jet skis, dancing, meet and mingle with other families or people. etc. etc. It was great! because this is what generally happens when you vacation. This bill is ridiculous.
But if its less then 5 days we dont anyway. Im lost. This just may not go anywhere as itll just make a mess even for the legislature and law enforcement. If 5days we need to register location.
as of now it is 5 days, but if SB 1226 / HB 1301 pass, it would become 3 days
And if this bill passes it won’t matter if we rent the room for 5 minutes. 48 hour pre checkin notification with 24 hour community notification. The bill is so poorly worded it makes less sense every time I read it.
So if i live in lake co. i dont need to advise as im in my ouwn county?
If you are at a different address you would.
For more than the 5 days or instantly . Which rule supercedes? Then two days prior as well?
What would happen if a RSO just lied to the property owner?
Does the landlord have to do a background check on EVERYONE who tries to rent from him?
And, yeah, would this apply to hotels?
This is so crazy. What is the root of these dicision makings? These laws seem so random and unnecessary. Aggrivates me.
Florida just keeps getting better and better and make you want to pack up your bags and get out of this damn state between Governor Scott ,Pam Bondi, Ron book ,Lauren book and all these idiot lobbyist and people running for office and are in office in Tallahassee it’s a damn shame Florida needs to wake up and get with the times we as registered citizens need to stand up for ourselves band together just like the students are in this tragic school incident here in Florida and they need to hear our voice they are so worried about protecting our children which I understand but when you have the lobbyist & the people sitting in Tallahassee not wanting to Ban assault weapons what is wrong with this Picture ?? So as an 18-year-old here in the state of Florida can purchase a rifle but you need to be 21 to purchase a handgun what the hell is wrong with that? we as registered citizens need to wake up get off our asses let’s band together and let’s do something this is getting really really out of control I’m sorry for venting but I’m so tired of hearing about these stupid Laws they are wanting to pass. Makes no SENSE!!!
Exactly the problem Mona. Everyone wants to talk about doing something as a group but when it comes time to do it they either don’t show up or they have other things to do. If we don’t stand and fight for something, we don’t stand for anything except lip service. Everyone except FAC, Narsol and a few other groups are fighting for us, but we, as registered citizens and Americans, just sit back and let the government take away ALL our rights without doing anything. Most registrants feel as if they are broken by the system and I’m wondering what it’s going to take to light a fire under their backsides and do something about it.
hmm. so .. i wonder if ” vacation rental ” would encompass hotels as well??
Not all of us are subject to the 1000 ft restriction. How does that work then? Its also not up to a private entity to notify the community its the reason for the registry l.e. Is the only one that can use it to take an action. Surprised at this
This bill doesn’t restrict the temporary residence. It just requires the owner of the vacation rental to provide the notice. It’s a ridiculous bill!
Write your legislator!
What i mean is that if im not subject to the 1000ft rule why then notify those around that im there? As i read it it states if the unit is within the 1000 restriction it needs to notify and be notifies that im an rso. But if im not subject to it why notify? Been writing alot to these people based on ignorance…… we really need to keep this up its a small price to pay.
That’s what I am wondering as well. The intent does not seem to be to encompass hotels, but there is no definition provided for vacation rental in the text of the bill. I can certainly see some Gomer Pyle stretching the meaning to encompass hotels as well and, frankly, the way the bill is written, the argument is easy to make.