Member Submission: Information asked during address verification.
Members have been writing in letting us know that officers are asking interrogating questions during the address verification, including information that is not even registrable (see below). Remember to only identify yourself by showing your ID and that’s all. You do not need to answer any questions! We STRONGLY suggest not to.
Use common sense. If it’s something benign, like “how’s your day going?” it’s harmless, but if they start quizzing you on items you reported or ask for other information, politely tell them you provide all required information at registration and you are not going to answer their questions without an attorney present. If you don’t have the confidence to say it, prepare a card to leave by your door and hand it to them.
Below is what a member reported to us.
Hello. I want to pass on what happened to me. Maybe you can offer some help and send it on to the registrant community. Last night I was awoke by a loud banging on my door. It was 10:30PM; I go to bed early. It was the XXXXXX Police saying this was a check in. There were 2 cops, only one wearing a mask. I, unfortunately didn’t get their names. I went to wake up my wife so she could witness this and to get my ID. I also grabbed a notebook so I could write down what happened. We were both scared and very startled, being woken up suddenly. I handed them my ID and they asked the following questions:
What was a good time to find me? I told them earlier, say 8PM
What was my phone? At this point I told them, “You have that info.”
Was I on probation? I told him, “You know that.” He said, “You don’t have to be a jerk about this.”
What was my wife’s name and number? I asked why he needed that. At this point I was scared and angry. Every time I objected to answering the remaining questions he would say he didn’t have this info and they would just get it this time then next time it wouldn’t take so long, or he would berrate me, saying “don’t be a jerk about this.
Questions continued: Do I have kids? How often did they visit? What was their name? I can’t see how this is a question they’re allows to ask but, I’m sorry to say, at this point I just wanted this over with. My wife told me there was nothing I could do just answer the questions
What are your emails? I handed him my receipt from my last registration. He said “This is really helpful.” Again they said they didn’t have this info.
Who is my internet provider?
Do I smoke?
Am I right or left handed?
I feel almost ashamed that I couldn’t have pushed back more during this. But I don’t know how to deal with this level of stress. I’m not trained to handle being on the opposite end of these intimidation tactics. My question is: Did I need to answer any of these questions other than do I live here? Do I have to answer the registry questions. Has anyone else experienced this with XXXX Police? Do I have any recourse to complain about this. I’m worried they’ll now try and intimidate my wife and the parents of my grandchild.
Thanks for your help
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They’re just attempting to CATCH YOU IN A LIE to get probable cause for a warrant. Don’t even open the door for them. Take your phone off the hook before they can even try to dial your number. Don’t even acknowledge or engage them!
They asked all that carp at my last registration in Santa Rosa county. Thought odd then, but if asked at address verification (which twice they have shown up at 10pm when the office says they are supposed to stop at 9) I will supply my ID and be cordial but refuse to answer anything more. Nothing in the statutes requires that we supply this extraneous information.
Law enforcement terrorizing us is course for civil lawsuit. All of that information can be obtained by local authorities and simple surveillance. Answer nothing that isn’t simple small talk, and even than watch what you say. Otherwise plea the fifth until an attorney is present.
ARE YOU 100% sure these were REAL cops? I use to work in law enforcement and something smells REAL fishy about this. What the living Hell does you being a smoker have anything to do with your crime or if you are left or right handed.
Also it should raise some red flags that they said they had almost none of the info they said they needed. I would have politely asked their names and said Ill be right back after I call the police agency and verify who you are.
I know I got treated like this when I was on probation but now the law enforcement agent who comes by to check on me once a year is very straight forward but professional. Just asks if I am ok then says “The most important thing is to make sure to register on time”. Then I wish him to be safe out there and I don’t see him again for a year.
LOTS of red flags in your story. I am scared for you.
Those facts would be useful in a criminal investigation and nothing more.
I agree – a lot of weird things about that visit. I would call the agency and verify- if it was a real visit there should be a record of it. My son suggested it might be cops working for an HOA? Please be safe…..
Many years ago I had a similar experience with someone who knocked on my door and wanted a sample of my dna. The “Agent ” who did the ole badge flip and provided no ID told me he was here to get it and if I didn’t comply he would be back with a warrant to obtain my dna. I asked to see his department ID and he refused. I then told him he wasn’t getting anything and that if he didn’t show me his ID I was going to dial 911, he said he would be back tomorrow with a warrant and left but I never saw him again. Be careful when opening the door to anyone who is not wearing a uniform. The encounter could have ended very bad for him had he attempted to assault me as my gun was in my waistband under my tshirt.
I have always said I would never get tricked by anyone. I was a Master detective and solved my first case 2 weeks into my training in the Department. I am always suspicious of anyone.
Having said that, I came within seconds of being scammed online with Tech support for HP computers. I was having major issues with my HP computer (have since bought a new computer of another brand).
Out of the blue an IT guy from HP with an Indian accent called me and asked for me by name. He said they got a notice I was having issues. I was so frustrated and this was a God send. OR so I thought.
He stated “no problem, we got this” and proceeded to have me try different things. When all that failed, he stated he needed to remotely access my computer. We were going through the steps and we were just a second away from me hitting the keyboard key to grant him access.
As I started to do this, I got this weird feeling. Maybe God was looking out for me because at the last second before it was too late, I thought to myself, “MY warranty ended like 3 years ago and even when IN warranty, it was HELL to get any help”. BUT now all of a sudden HP was eager to help me ?
Well when I challenged him on this, at first he was still being polite and assuring me he was here to help. When I said I would hang up and call HP directly and ask for him, he started to cuss me out and call my lovely Mother names that I could not repeat in an Irish pub.
I was a paranoid person before that incident, but now I question everything to the point of insanity.
The same thing almost happened to me. Only he wanted to help me with my Apple computer. After I led him along for a while I let him know that I had never owned an Apple device. It must have burned up the lines between Florida and India. He cussed me and hung up. My response…”Thank you very much you…..”
Trust no one. Ever.
Sound like to me they are gonna get all the info they can make a spread sheet that somehow determines who they actually need to be watching and who not cause they probably have no clue there are so many of us. In Polk they ask at Registraion where you were born, married single divorced on the sign in sheet I wanta say religion. Maybe single guys more liable to commit crimes I don’t know they don’t know who the they are watching for the most part it’s a waist of time for them to have this info on us because we’re not doing shit beside struggling to make it to end of life with food and roof over our head and avoid them and the rest of the people that hate us for no good reason. I will say the sheriffs in Polk are very well trained, professional, respectful and never over zealous since the Crow days when they’d beat the hell out me as a kid take me to dead end roads and rough me up pin my throat down with night sticks and arrest me for fun. I was pretty free willed in those days but in 20 years reregistering and home checks never felt like the deputys were out to get me. Now winter haven PD used to stop by my house since I’m close to their city line and harass me leaving shit about Halloween on my door and one day stopped with the gentleman that was taking over his position and introduced me I told them get off my property or I’d sue him and never heard from them again. These other cops could learn from Judd. Other county’s are just making it more dangerous for everyone. So I’m getting outta Florida finally kids are grown college working but there is no relief here. Hot as shit too and the international builders are polluting the place with first time home buyers from other regions crimes up and roads congested what really helps are these tips about other states I read about on here. Florida has become too tough it’s outright punishment and when you slip on a harmless new law they want that pound of flesh with zero regards to you or your family, track record there is no escaping their law and order your just trash for thinking a zero was and O on one of your Vin numbers or your email you spell out and say 1909@foxmail and they write 19(letter O)9 and your gonna be taking a plea for jail because you take to trial your gonna get 5 years. Now keep in mind the judge after hearing your life can depart from this but what you gonna do? I fought them the last time sooner or later I will slip an email get put in wrong something…1 day past in your month parents leave car at your house or something. I’ve had emails completely changed on me before I don’t know how it happened I noticed it the following registration and begin sweating almost passed out because they had to call the detective and ask if He wanted to arrest me. Scary shit I’d have been out another 15k and shits taken a huge toll of my wife for my violation we live in fear and disgust and bitterness for the legal system. Really I think if they’d come to arrest me I’d end it that’s my plan cause there is no light reprimand for being forgetful next time I’m going to prison I’m an older guy now this shit looks horrible on me I’m sick of kissing peoples ass to look better than I feel like being. Glad to be leaving good luck sitting here “hoping” fellas I’ve had enough. Thank you for all the info will continue to watch the laws here so I don’t get cased up visiting my old parents more than 3 days etc..
Same situation here new PBSO Detective knocked and started asking me questions saying i was violating the local ordinance by living in my apartment i had been in for 6 years now. I tried explaining it to her but she did not want to listen. I immeaditaly called my attorney who contacted the FDLE which stated they know where i live and that i am OK to live there or they would have never let me move in to begin with. The ordinance she was quoting was made in 2008 i moved in in 2015 after checking with the PBSO & my Probation officer at the time. The FDLE also told my attorney the PBSO had on file that it was OK for me to live where i was living. Show your ID like F.A.C. says and if they want more questions direct them to your or an attorney that usually sends them away. They will continue to harass the ones who they feel cannot defend themselves. You cannot be arrested for not giving information they already have on file.
More specifically, you cannot be arrested for not giving information. Period. The only caveat to that is some states have “positive ID” laws, meaning you are mandated to give a Thin Blue Liar your name, address, etc. Beyond that, nobody ever is required to talk to a TBL for any reason…nor should anybody.