You should only show your ID!
When law enforcement comes to your door to perform an address verification, you should only show them your ID. We suggest registrants do not speak with law enforcement without having an attorney present. Casual pleasantries, such as “how’s your day going?”, “it’s going fine” or “think we’ll get rain today?”, “sure looks like it” is totally fine, but if an officer asks to review your registry information or starts questioning you about compliance, we strongly suggest you tell them you will be happy to answer any questions they have but only with your attorney present.
In this week’s weekly update we reported about a sting operation in Volusia where 16 people were arrested. After cross referencing the names in the article with the charging affidavits filed with the Volusia County Clerk of Courts (https://app02.clerk.org/ccms/) we found the majority were arrested for registration violations after volunteering the information or stating they didn’t know they were supposed to register something (and thereby admitting). In several of these recent cases, attorneys have filed motions to suppress the confessions, statements or admissions that were obtained illegally, but that would have been unnecessary if they said nothing to begin with, which is a right you need to know that you have.
Naturally, we recommend everyone reading this familiarize yourselves with all registration requirements and comply. But we also remind you of your rights under the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Article One Section 9 of the Florida Constitution, to not incriminate yourself. The best practice to avoid doing so is to say nothing and not allow yourself to be pressured into speaking! And above all do not let them inside your property without a warrant.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS!
If you need to, print out a copy of the ACLU’s Pocket Card on Police Encounters and keep it on yourself and by your front door.
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The last address verification I experienced here in Jacksonville was so over the top with intimidation and an insane barrage of questions I actually called the reporting officers boss and complained at length. The detective that conducted the verification got pissed because I closed my front door behind me when I went out to meet him. It was night time and my wife was on the couch in her pajamas. He wanted to see in and assumed a menacing posture effectively backing me into my front door. He also appeared wild eyed and lit up on red bull or something. He was trying to incite me I believe.
I had just received a call informing me that my Mom’s cancer was metastatic and she was dying. Then this Jack ass detective shows up like he’s investigating an active case. This is unacceptable!! I am strongly considering video taping my next address verification so I can officially submit this menacing behavior into the public record and / or contribute to an apparently much needed psychological evaluation for the offending officer. I have never been convicted of any crime ,been to prison or violated any terms of my registration for almost 23 years now. And to think that some hot head, wild eyed Jack ass can just show up and go nuts. Unacceptable!!!
Another strong recommendation – get a Ring Doorbell and buy the service that saves the recordings.
I’m strongly considering strapping a GoPro camera to my head. My house, my property and I’ll film as I please. What does FAC think?
That’s fine. Why not just get some Ring cameras?
I have cameras all the way around my house. When they talk to me at my door they can clearly see the huge camera staring them right in the face. I don’t play that shit. When they come by and I miss them I call the station before I ever get home and ask them what they want. I mean iv only told them for times a year for 20 years that I work during the day and yet every fn time they come by it’s in the middle of the day.
FAC…
Thank you always for your guidance and recommendations…however, I would NOT recommend such devices as many of them are TIED to the local Law Enforcement Agencies and, ‘they’ as We know, and As You have pointed out many times, never to ‘put Our Hands in ‘their’ Hands, ever’…a friendly reminder that Technology is like a Two Edged Sword….There are many great alternatives…google them….Android and iPhone accessible…in addition to your Pit Bull!
Ring put out a policy that they don’t share info with Law Enforcement unless user consent is given. We posted it recently.
You can also get D-Link cameras,
I have Arlo cameras all around my house, and two on the front porch that capture video and audio every time they come up, from 2 different angles. I’ve never had one officer complain about it, but they know the cameras are there.
You know. I been reading all these posts about how the police have been harassing people with residency checks all over Florida. But I have never once had them give me any shit. They come to my house maby once a year and never ask me questions or ask me to sign anything. All they ask for is an ID and leave. I’m not saying it didnt happen to others because I’m sure it does. But iv been fortunate to not have been harrased. I’m in Hillsbourgh County and they have been nothing but polite to me. And I’ve been on it since the day it started.
It’s not in all counties. Only certain counties are that way. Volusia and Polk are prime examples
I lived in Polk for 16 years , never had the first problem with verification, everyone was always polite, to the point, and on their way, maybe I just got lucky
Why was my comment deleted? What I said was true, you do NOT have to provide ID if you are not being detained. If you’re on probation however you have no rights (for the most part).
Howard – You are right – I’m going to address this in a weekly update and change the post title.
The Supreme Court has clearly recognized a 4th amendment privacy interest in not providing your name or ID or any other information to police when you are not being detained on reasonable suspicion of committing a crime or imminent commission of a crime. Stop and Identify statutes are approved by the Supreme Court on the narrow grounds that names and IDs must only be presented when a reasonable suspicion or probable cause has been established by police.
Howard – I agree with you. Please read this coming week’s weekly update and we will provide a clarification. I changed the title of the post to “You should only show your ID!”
Shoot dude what do you mean your an SO what you think they are at your house for they think everyone of us has kids hidden in there you are under suspicion. Who do you think you register to the SO unit of the state nope the sheriff. A cop that ask you a bunch of questions enters the computer humanly and makes mistakes then comes to make sure your telling the truth And your one letter or number off your now a criminal and on trial for your first charge cause that’s exactly how it’s gonna feel when they are all taking your money and time and talking to you like your this horrible being and they finally caught up with you and they prosecute you hard at they can assign 10x the points from your old charge vs what the new charge carries amen then they’re like hey your facing 4 years but you can leave your family and carrier and do 6 moths or goto trial and get 15 years I’m not kidding you guys this is the game now.
Just a clarification, If your a Driver and have an Active DL or a Florida ID you do have to show it to the PD. The reason is that they need to check 2 things:
If your address matches where your registered to live
If the indicators are on your DL / ID.
It’s part of the their compliance check duties. However, you do not have to speak with them or give them any other information.
But just to clarify since I am now having to deal with this for my husband, FAC stated further below that you do have to respond in all things to your probation officer but NOT to law enforcement. Law enforcement can ONLY ask for your ID, even if you are on probation. You do NOT have to answer their questions. Howard Ofner, are you disagreeing?
I just had my semi annual 4:45 a.m. wake up call from the OCSO he knocked on the door just hard enough to set off my home defence system by that I mean my pitbulls. I was semi awake anyway because I had to get up for work @ 5. I rushed to the door to keep him from knocking again and waking the entire house fully I could see a light as bright as the sun through my living room window I knew who it was. I only said good morning he replied and asked me if I had my I.D. with me I had to go back to my bedroom to get it but I completely closed the front door with him on the outside to prevent prying eyes. The answer to any question is NO because anything I needed to report to registration I already have or am going to within the allotted time frame
Dear Iservedmytym,
You mentioned OCSO. Are you referring to Orange County, Osceola County, Okeechobee County, or Okaloosa County? Thanks.
Orange County sorry I forgot about the others that begin with O
Good Day…
With all of ‘THEIR’ tactics to intimidate and INVENT new criteria, one solution is to go to an animal shelter and adopt a Pit Bull (who loves the outdoors) as I did after my nightmare months ago and have NOT had any ‘intruders since’….I have signs posted at the entry point of my residence that read, WARNING: This property is guarded by an attack dog, DO NOT ENTER PREMISES; Not responsible for Injury or Death
..My Dog Loves the Smell of Pork!
Brevard County Sheriff’s Office comes twice per year to verify my address. There’s never been any questions regarding any other data.
Most recent bi-monthly home check by my probation officer was interesting though. Came in the evening which isn’t unusual but said that they had a new procedure now that required 2 officers and handcuffing the probationer while one checked every building on the property. Took the one officer about 20 minutes to check the barn and outbuildings. I sat on the couch and watched TV until they were done. I’ve been very lucky that almost every one of the officers I’ve had to deal with over the past almost 8 years has been decent. Actually felt bad for the guy that had to walk around the property and buildings.