Special IDs for Sex Offenders: Safety Measures or Scarlet Letters?
The Supreme Court will soon consider whether to hear a First Amendment challenge to a Louisiana law that required driver’s licenses to identify sex offenders.
According to a Louisiana law, people convicted of sex crimes must use driver’s licenses with the words ‘sex offender’ in large orange letters below their photos.
It can make everyday encounters – with bank tellers, hotel attendants, supermarket cashiers, election officials, airport security officers and prospective employers – humiliating. Critics call the notation a contemporary blood-red letter. State officials said it protects the public from predators.
The Supreme Court of Louisiana hit the law last year and said it violated the First Amendment. State officials have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case, one that raises important questions about public policy and doctrines about the First Amendment.
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Since the State Dept. is so fond of printing passports without the mark, a perfectly legal alternative would be to show a passport instead of a driver’s license. If it’s good for airports, it should be good for the local convenience store clerk.
Even with the mark on the passport, it’s not on the same page as the photo, so there is a bit more discretion potentially than a marked DL.
If the Supreme Court hears this and agrees it is unconstitutional can we then fight IML because putting that on our passport would be compelled speech.
HMMMMMMMM – that’s a very interesting question.
There have been talks among the state organizations about IML because it effects us all. Primarily with ACSOL. This is something I’ll raise with Janice.
All of these documents need to be restored to their original purpose. Drivers license…show that one is qualified to operate a vehicle. Passport…show the citizenship of the possessor. If they are going to do otherwise, then they need to include the total failures of all possessors, not just certain selected failures. In some cases, these documents would have to be much larger.
Capt
Don’t give the powers to be any ideas. lest they come out with a dedicated Sex offender i.D Card that must be in our possession at all times. Even while you take a bubble bath or sitting on the toilet.
Jack, I was just trying to point out how ridiculous these requirements are and how original good intentions can morph into tyranny. It’s good to have these documents but not if they are going to be used to terrorize and control citizens.
Class C violent offender registration green cards or Id’s. For what its worth to many involved in all this registry and to the Capt, Will Allen, Cherokee and many more on here. Who is stepping out of line with all this Id” nonsense and and a scarlet letter on a drivers license or some special ID for safety measures. So their saying its for public safety or community safety or who runs over who with a DUI.
Guess Buffalo Springfield was right about stepping out of line or who is seducing who in this scarlet letter of pretend with much of this after thought. Sure we all can speak up and those in Florida should. Don’t be afraid to speak for truth and justice. One wonders were is bible ethics today that was so prevlent in the earlier days of America or what president or Government has the loudest voice in this corrupt Justice System of America today.
Should we all come together as equal or is the registry the epic of this scarlet letter for all involved. With all this registry equal justice is way out of balance and so is the liberty for many in much of this unjust way. Of course good always comes out of bad so justice is blindsighted in many ways but some states are seeing that much of this is unconstitutional for many in many areas.
All you need to do is visit a friend in a neighboring state and get an ID there. Keep your DL with scarlet letter only for police use. Rent cars by entering DL info online.
Be cafeful…under 6 CFR 37.29(a) An individual may hold only one REAL ID card. An individual cannot hold a REAL ID driver’s license and a REAL ID identification card simultaneously. … (1) A State must check with all other States to determine if the applicant currently holds a REAL ID driver’s license or identification card in another State.
DUDE
NOT A GOOD IDEA
BY MOST STATE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS, YOU WOULD HAVE TO REPORT THAT ADDRESS OF THE IDENTIFICATION IN ADDITION TO STATE IN WHICH YOU RESIDE…YOU CAN ONLY HAVE ONE STATE ID DOMICILE
SO, THIS IS NOT A CIRCUMVENTING CIRCUMSTANCE
Roger
You might want to run that by a lawyer. Most states have laws against owning more than one states I.Ds. I know that was the law when I worked in law enforcement and I just looked online now before replying to you. Almost everything I saw said the same thing.
I could be wrong but I just do not want anyone getting in trouble with bad information.
CherokeeJack
your right , and to be technical you get a DL in another state then you have the requirement to register there as well, VERY bad Idea
Protection of the public….bull shit. That’s the nicest that I can put it.
So are we hoping the US Supreme Court declines to hear the case? Or do we think there’s a chance the US SC will side in our favor?
I always wonder, just what do they want the cashier to do with this information? What is the hotel suppose to do? What is the bar tender suppose to do? They keep saying it is because me, the public, needs to know. Ok and now what do I do with this information? What does commissioner or state legislator voting this stuff in want me to do with this information? smh
Mp
Well I know what people do with the information on the registry. They spray paint your house, send flyers they made themselves to every address, they come and harass you, try and force you to move, slice your tires, throw dog shit at your house, I could type all night long about this. Supposed to be used ONLY to protect the public, well who the Hell protects US?
I do not even call the police anymore. Only ONCE did the police actually do something. I sent them to the house that two kids threw rocks at my house. After the cops went there, I never had trouble with those two again.