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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I’m on the Florida’s east coast. There is a two man squad that does the residency checks. They usually show up mid-afternoon with a hand full of face sheets. Will check at each apartment. Masks and social distancing. Never once ask to enter. I show them my I.D. and that’s that. They usually ask about my roommates. I tell them which one is at work, who is out somewhere, etc. They check off each name from the list and that’s the last we see of them for several months. They might ask if I have any issues to raise, but not that often. Pretty much “just doing the minimum required”.
*”just doing the minimum required.” *
You should do the same, i.e. not answer the door, not answer any questions (beyond any possible Positive ID requirement), etc. To repurpose a certain phrase: “What’s good for the swine is good for the sounder.”
I had my quarterly visit from Agent Mulligan, Brevard County, this afternoon. It was very pleasant.
Were visted evey 3 weeks by a police officer who calls me to set up a time for them to come for a house check, they come and say hi how are you doing, they ask if were being Harrased by anyone ( id like to say u-all ) but its left as casual and they ask if theres any changs on the white paper, i say no,and i tell them,if there is any it will be Reported to the Sheriffs office in Fort Lauderdale, where it’s supposed to be told, they tell me and my wife by and leave…i have a camera on in the home recording and we have a Ring door bell,shows time and date of each time they show up….
After talking to an attorney on a FAC phone call during one of there call ins, i know how to respond to them, Originally they would come an ask a slew of questions, Now we don’t answer any anymore…..
They have the original white paper, when they come,writing the date and time on it….
I cannot do anything about there house checks, they can do it every day if they want to…..i think every 3 weeks is stupid, ive been off probation 18 years,they started this 2 weeks after I Retired
If you are not on probation or parole then why answer the door at all? If they find you don’t answer the door they will eventually move on. Unless they have exigent circumstances I don’t think they can lawfully break down your door.
There is all kinds of crazy advice in these comments.
This should be the simplest part of being a Person Forced to Register (PFR). Just follow FAC’s advice. Show them your I.D., do no significant speaking, and do not let them in your home. That’s it. Guaranteed to make your life easier.
Personally, I don’t even do that. I live in Georgia but I expect it is functionally the same as Floriduh. The law enforcement criminals (LECs) here know that if they want to come by my home that they need to call first. Otherwise, it’s extremely unlikely that they are going to see me. Further, all they can ever do is see me. I don’t read anything they might bring. I sign nothing. I definitely would not allow the criminals to visit my home in the evening, certainly not after dark. Put up walls and good video surveillance. And don’t interact with them. That all will simply your life. The only thing the criminal regimes should ever have is whatever you’ve given them in writing at their offices.
I have an office but I have only seen them there like once every 5 years or so. They always ask when I am there and I NEVER tell them. I don’t tell them the days, hours, nothing. It is not legally required.
Georgia has a form that they use for Registration throughout the state. It contains a lot of things that are not required by law. LECs will ALWAYS try to operate outside of the law like that. Always. Georgia’s form asks if a person smokes or drinks. Not required by law. They don’t care. Criminals will do what they can get away with. Long ago I forced them to stop those crimes. But criminals often return to criminal behavior. NARSOL has threatened them with legal action. They don’t care. Not their money. They’re criminals.
There is a least ONE idea where all PFRs should be united and that is the idea that no one should ever be acting as if the Hit Lists are acceptable. These “compliance checks” are the easiest and simplest place to do that. All LECs in America should know that PFRs are not going to speak to them or allow them to get near them. That should be the minimal norm. They need to know that smart, normal, moral people are not going to aid and abet their stupidity and waste of limited public resources. The Hit Lists are an unacceptable act of war.
I might add that you should not step outside, even onto your porch. Your strongest 4th Amendment protections are at the threshold of your home.
Veritas.
I’ve seen what you are saying numerous times. It may be correct but it makes no sense. I own all of the land my home is on and around. All of it. The big government employees are trespassing on my property. They need to stay the F off. They aren’t invited or welcome. So why a distinction between a building and just dirt? I have multiple buildings on my property. All are better than the dirt?
You know your right Will Allen hey got the spelling right. Now I have to go register for a sticker for my car today and my sister heard from some of her girl friends that live in Florida that you don’t have to register your car. Course I’m not sure about that but some registration is once a year or things of that nature.
Guess registration of cars is a whole different circumstances. One can understand that a bit more but I’m sure they register folks for each offense but it seems Sex offenders are something of a different sort of facts. Course it can be a bit stressing at times to some in these ordeals.
You must register any vehicle you drive in Florida. Registration is done at the driver license office and they will brand your license with “943.0435 FS.” If you have access to a vehicle, it must be registered. You can also register your vehicle with FDLE and/or the sheriff’s office.
Any type of vehicle/vessel on your property should be on your SO registry. Even if the vehicle is not your, it’s not insured or registered with the DMV just to be safe. I have heard of some self employed home based mechanics getting hemmed up from having customers vehicles on their property and not having them in their SO registry
Tim
I had a roommate for 3 years. I didn’t know at the time you had to register someone else’s cars. The Deputy who checked on me never once asked me about it.
Only after they moved out did I find out you had to register ANY vehicle on your property, even if you never drive it.
I did find out though that if you register someone else’s vehicle, if they get pulled over, law enforcement will see them as someone who may be connected to the registry.
These Hit List “laws” are just one giant pile of stupidity, aren’t they? I mean, sure, if you truly think Hit Lists help “public safety”, advocate for them. But does doing so make a person stupid? Does it break their feeble brains? Do they really believe that Registering a roommate’s vehicle, or even dumber, vehicles that a person is repairing, does anything for public safety? Really? Hard to believe that very many people are that dumb. They are politicians and all, but still.
It is not fair, right, or moral to require that a person Register a roommate’s vehicle. Or a visitors. All that does is put those people in danger.
And truly, if I needed a vehicle that was not Registered, for whatever reason, I can rent one in an hour. Not even in my name. Or I’ve got 100 vehicles owned by friends that I could borrow. It’s just dumb. Not as dumb as the e-mail addresses, but dumb. That’s the Hit Lists.
I agree that the Hit list does very little to protect the community and definitely does more harm than good for both the registrant and the safety of the community. In alot cases, specifically in Miami Registered SOs are forced to be transient this never really giving a true address. Hypothetically let’s say one or two of those transient SOs are in fact a threat to society. How is law enforcement suppose to track them down if they are transient? Not to mention in most cases that the registration causes us to be denied successful employment, along with affordable housing. Soooooo if someone is truly having deviant sexual thoughts and behaviors, how does the registry stop that? It doesn’t. It only compounds it. Let society outcast someone who in most cases for the majority of their lives already felt outlasted. Leaving them feel theres no where to turn. Honestly I feel its definitely a system set up to fail both sides of the fence because the law makers focus is absent of how the tape actually plays out in the long run of how the registry doesn’t effectively work. Nor will it stop anyone who truly can’t resist or wants to reoffend. Nor does it deter someone from offending in the first place. My thoughts of how we are treated after paying our debts to society is rather lengthy. Especially as you get older it’s a proven fact people start having memory issues. Some more than others. Which from what I’m reading the court systems do not have any leniency of forgetting things on the registry no matter how old you are. So I imagine my resentments may rise again one day when my memory worsens
Tim P.
I concur. Don’t take any chances. Remember you can always call FDLE and ask.
You did get the spelling of my fake name correct! 🙂 It is not “Alan”, LOL. But you got “your” wrong. No matter.
Where I live if I buy a car I have to visit the criminal regime within 3 days to tell them about it. Because the idiots think if that time frame was 2 weeks that would supposedly be “dangerous”. They are liars. They are morons.
Stay safe. Keep the criminals away from you and don’t talk to them.
FAC, what jurisdiction is this? What State, County and/or City? Was this a deputy or police officer? So much information is missing in this case.
Florida and I removed the jurisdiction so that this individual does not get harassed for sharing the info.
I can understand the need to edit the member’s submission to protect them. No problem since we are all subject to threats of harm by other citizens and LE too. I just hope FAC is keeping track of these types of encounters. Maybe a spreadsheet list of jurisdictions with a rating system for good, fair, bad would help without exposing members. Just a thought.
So, if they are actually TPD as opposed to LCSO, Couldn’t you just tell them to go pee up a flag pole? They have no statutory duty and I would argue authority to be doing checks on you. Were they actually Leon county