New Sex Offender Bill in Florida
Just as we announced there was nothing too offensive in legislature, comes HB 1179 (which was filed yesterday). Among other things, this bill proposes to charge registrants a fee to register!
The relevant language of the bill follows:
(2) The sheriff of each county may charge criminal registration fees for sexual predators, sexual offenders, career offenders, and convicted felons for the initial registration, reregistration, and registration updates with that sheriff. Annual fees during a registration year, excluding the initial registration fee of a nonresident of this state, may not exceed $200 per sexual predator, $100 per sexual offender, $50 per career offender, or $25 per felony offender.
(9) Failure to pay a fee as required this section, unless waived under subsection (6), is a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
Visitors to Florida would have to pay $300!
The bill also imposes mandatory minimum sentences for repeat offenders and standard conditions of sex offender probation, which are equally important, but since the “fee” is a penalty imposed on all registrants, even those who are no longer on probation, you can be assured that FAC will be challenging it if passed.
In the mean time, please contact your State representative to oppose this bill.
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ALL STATES SHOULD BE THE SAME, STATE OF GA. YOU HAVE TWO REG. 1 TIME A YEAR ? & HAVE A PROGRAM AFTER SO MANY YEARS YOU CAN GET OFF IT ? IT COME DOWN TO PEOPLE BE MOVING ALL OVER THE USA , WILL NOT REG ???
Also the state of georgia passed a law in 2010 that you can be removed off the Internet. Read up on it. This should be in every state.
No Judge has the balls to call these laws illegal. It is in fact worse than being on probation. I have more restrictions now than I did on probation for charges stemming from 28 years ago.. A violent drug offender, murderer or home invader can have 100 crimes on their rap sheet but once their sentence is over, they are home free. Supreme court ruled these requirements are not punishment or an extension of our sentence, however no other group of people in the World have to obey made up laws imposed on us and created after we were sentenced. Let’s make a law that says all people who had a DUI in the past 20 years now has to surrender their drivers licenses. Crazy right? But the exact same principle. And they are not finished, some states have bumper stickers you put on your car to state you are an offender
My crime was committed in the State Of California in 1886 for indecent exposure to an adult.
After serving 6 months and 1 year probation I was released and was not required to register or anything as such.
I left California and moved back to Ohio in which I lived for 10 years. I moved to Florida in 2006.
One day the Sheriff came to my home while I was at work. My girlfriend answered the door.
They asked if I was home and she told them no that I would not be back until after 6. They told her that
I was suppose to be registering in the state of Florida and if not I would be arrested for not doing so. They then
asked if she knew anything about why I had to register. She said no and they then told her about it. They told
I was a Sex Offender. I was furious for one it is not their place to say anthing to her about my past. That is
on me when I decide to do this. Plus it was 10 years ago. After speaking with them they asked
me if I was ever required to register and I told them no not at all. They told me a new bill which I believe
they called “Meghans Law” had passed and I had 24 hours to get down to the Sheriff office and register..
I felt something just was not right. After doing some research
I found out that this was a law that was passed after my conviction.
Because of my having to register I have been denied places to live because the public does not understand
that their is a difference between sexual offender and sexual predator. They automatically assume you
molested a child. I have also lost and or past up for good paying jobs. I have been living with this
for my whole life. I agree completely with the comment that people that murder, robbery,
drug smugglers etc they do their time and then they are free again once again to live their lives.
As or us we have to continue to have this burden. I have heard situations close to where I live that
people have been forced out of their own homes.
We also have hurricanes here and I’m not allowed to go to a regular shelter if necessary.
They have a “Special” place that I’m required to report too. How is any of this fair. I think over 30 years is
long enough of a time to have to live with this. The cost to register etc. far more then what we should
have to bear. We all have done things in our past the we regret. . .
Agreed – we are organizing a lawsuit to challenge this. Search “Ex Post Facto” on our site.
Oh if they can do it they will…there are several states that charge for registration already. Insane – hey come here and register on a public hit list for the rest of your life – and oh BTW you have to pay us to do it or you are breaking the law!!!!!!