Grand theft auto… so naturally they lead with the registry.
A Florida man is accused of stealing a car and fleeing from law enforcement. If the allegations are true, he’ll answer for those charges. That’s what our criminal justice system is supposed to do.
So why do the flurry of stories to come out in today’s news have the headline, “Florida sex offender steals car, flees on foot, deputies say”
But what does the fact that he’s on the registry have to do with an alleged auto theft? Last we checked, grand theft auto isn’t a sexual offense. Yet the headline and story make sure readers know his registry status anyway — as if it somehow explains or aggravates an allegation that has nothing to do with a sexual crime.
Would a news outlet report that someone accused of auto theft committed tax fraud? Of course not! When someone is on the registry, however, it becomes the media’s favorite adjective, regardless of whether it’s relevant.
This isn’t journalism — it’s gratuitous shaming. Apparently, “Man Accused of Stealing Car” wasn’t clickable enough.
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I’ve always joked about this with my sister. We’ll make up headlines such as “Local sex offender opens up soup kitchen to feed homeless” or “Fatal car crash involving sex offender” obviously we’re just clowning around but it points out the exactly the way the media outlets like to spin their “news”
No end
Maybe not so much related but kind of is, after I bonded out and at the time did not see a judge yet or get sentenced so at that point I had not been proved that I committed a crime until a court hearing. And yet, once I was released on bond, the news surrounded our house and sat there all day.
My parents called the police, but they said all you can do is tell them they cannot come onto your property, but they can set up on the street and film you all day long. And what happens if someone is actually found not guilty? The news is most likely going to move on with no apology or retraction, and none is required by law unless except for few rare instances.
Dang dude, that sucks that happened to you. It must’ve been a small town if they were only focused on you.
It was WAY before the registry existed. It was in 1991 when I was arrested. And I had a high profile case at the time because I was a well known professional in the community so the news jumped on it. I felt safer in prison than that day I had to go out and tell the news people to get off my lawn or I was going to forcibly move you.
I could not make them leave the street though as I did not own the street. My Dad told me that all things will pass and he was right because after a few weeks I was old news.
You will always here about the arrest, see the “perp walk”, be called a sexual deviant in the press conference, but there is never coverage when someone is found not guilty or the charges are dropped.
One website in Florida, the Village News loves to shame registrants. Although for that site it doesn’t matter if a registrant committed any offense or registration violation, it’s that we exist.
It is not just with people who are on the registry. I am a news junky and I see reporters all the time live on air knocking on someone’s door who has not even been to court. The person who was arrested and is on bond awaiting a court date is already convicted by the news reporter with asking personal questions, not getting off their property when asked, and news vans parked in front of their house with the neighbors wondering what the heck is going on.
Ooh!! Ah!!! Noo?!! Really!? Whaat!?
Isn’t that what the media is all about??
Isn’t about the facts, its about the shock and the ratings, so this isn’t surprising.
Sample: ‘Florida sex offender steps on bug and bug is now dead!!’ Don’t miss story at 6 and 11!!
Also, a failure to register a trailer goes on the website as another offense.
The statute does not require registration of a vehicle one steals, only “vehicles owned.” The statute also does not deem a vehicle one merely operates to be “owned.” This is quite counterintuitive, because the statute does require registration of a vehicle not operated but owned by someone who lives at the same address.
Glen Frey told us all about it in the 80s with “Dirty Laundry.” Kick em when they’re up, kick em when they’re down.
Fact check: It was Don Henley.
I disagree, the statute is quite clear with the phrase “uses or has access to”. I hope I got the wording exact. If you borrow, or rent a vehicle or trailer you have to register it period. If you don’t you will be charged.
“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.