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
Never give any information at your door except your name! If they continue or get nasty ask for a supervisor or have someone in the home call the police and ask for a sgt on the scene asap! Refuse to answer anymore questions till a Sgt shows up and then some questions you are not required to respond to. No where in and sentence orders does it state you have to give up your right to remain silent. Name is all that is required. Film the event! In Washington State we have folks going to registrants homes acting as police and has even murdered some registrants. Judges here allow death threats, hate crimes, perjury and even planned murders only get second degree charges!
Be safe and if necessary go back to sentencing judge and get everything they can do to you in writing from him in an order. Can even limits time for checks. Next time waive at them from a window as its late and you are in bed.
Re: Tallahassee Police, specifically LSCO;
Last time they came for a verification, the paperwork of the visiting officer was incomplete making me think what was already submitted was less than accurate. He made me second guess myself and I had to call FDLE to verify everything. Not sure if tgese are head games or incompetence, but it is frustrating, especially when my info just doesn’t change. My advice is not to get testy with the visiting officer, because he doesn’t know you from Adam, and is just there to verify the info. Every officer is going to have a slightly different take on how to do their job and some are even going to come off as dickish. Nature of the beast. I usually give my ID and inform them there are no changes. They still run down a list of internet identifiers and vehicles, phone numbers, etc. Nods and uh huhs, then a solid have a nice day. Keep it pleasant and they won’t be so apt to become frustrated with you. It sucks for you, but this guy has to do this all day. It shouldn’t have to be done at all.
“My advice is not to get testy with the visiting officer, because he doesn’t know you from Adam, and is just there to verify the info.”
His ignorance and poor planning is not my problem, it’s his. Your statement is another way of saying, “he’s just doing his job.” Too f-ing bad he chose poorly at career day. Never be polite or helpful to any Legally Entitled to Oppress (i.e. LEO) who engages with you. Ideally you won’t even engage.
Hopefully there are advocates out there to raise cane about what these “officers” do – contact state legislators, federal representatives, criminal reform organizations, ACLU, etc….
Know that, without a warrant and not under supervision, you are not required to answer the door for any version of law enforcement… Ever. They have the right to huff and puff but only for what it’s considered a reasonable amount of time. Meaning, about 3 to 5 minutes then it’s time for them to leave. Get their actions on video, witness, audio, etc and when it becomes (blatant) harassment report that to either a superior or a lawyer.
Please, PLEASE remember that you are an American citizen and you still have rights while living here. Inform yourself, inform others. Be POLITE when you tell LEO’s to come back at a reasonable time.
We all need to know what jurisdiction this is. For some reason, that detail is all too often left out of these member submissions. Jurisdictional issues such as this need to be tracked and monitored.
Does the OP know for sure if they were actual law enforcement? Stuff like this makes me glad we have a locked gate at the end of our driveway.
Feel free to follow this protocol as well, but be sure to timely notify your probation officer about this exchange (and THEY are entitled to this information from you).
In my county, officers understand how to accomplish this in more of a gray area.
They simply ask, during address checks, “any changes?” In some cases, “any changes, such as phone numbers or e-mail?”
Why not just shake my head, FAC, rather than attract attention by lecturing them about having registered or about needing an attorney?
Because if you don’t push back, they continue to try to take more. It’s a nonstop battle of keeping the lying, harassing, SOBs at bay. Why make their lives easier? They certainly don’t care about their impact on your life!
AJ: Pushing back is also a way to draw ire. If they don’t like you, you’ll be on their “S list” until rapture. Sometimes, it’s best to let an overbearing officer or PO just say their piece or grill you and call it a day. Buh bye. You may have to take it in the moment, but you really do attract more flies with honey than vinegar. Let the guy walk off feeling swole and deal with it later. That moment could be a VOP and they know it. You can always submit a complaint, but wouldn’t you rather do that from home than jail?
Even though Im on probation here in Tallahassee myself I have heard from registered citizens who are off of parole/probation that the Deputies from the Leon Sheriff’s Office seem less interrogative than the Officers from the Tallahassee Police Department. To the gentleman who commented Im Joe Pratt and Im one of the local coordinators along with my Pastor Renee Miller from City Walk Church as she is too a local coordinator for the Florida Action Committee here in the Tallahassee/Leon Metropolitan. I can be reached at landline: (850)222-1083; mobile: (850)339-5805; email: prattjoseph7@gmail.com please do contact me, thanks.
Several years ago officers did a detailed address check like this, when I was new to the community. I naively answered all their questions. But there were NO consequences for my children or other family members, despite my having given out information about them. It came to nothing, and I continued life as normal.
Sounds to me like they are conducting an investigation of some sort. Which you have the right to ask why they are asking you these questions. Do you smoke? Are you left handed or right handed? Etc. Has nothing to do with the registry. I am almost certain they are doing some type of investigation for something other than registration requirements. I’m not to big on law but to me that is where you tell them to read you rights and that you want a lawyer present during any questioning for any type of investigation. Your address, place of employment, place of higher education, vehicles, vessels, social media apps, internet identifiers, Tattoos, Scars, everything on the registration should have been enough for them if was solely for registration requirements. How many kids you have? When they visit? What’s your wife’s name and number is? Etc definitely sounds like a whole different type of investigation and it is your right to know why they are asking those questions.
Sorry, but I think your advice is wrong. Answer whatever stupid questions they ask, as long as nothing incriminates you. A neighborhood cop can make your life miserable if you get on his wrong side. Unless you have lots of money to hire great lawyers, why take a chance on antagonizing them? When you answer your door, you have no idea what kind of person that officer is. Videos continue to show that too many police officers are ready to lie about why they arrest someone, or shoot someone, or beat them to death. Why do you think that they were there late at night in the first place? Less chance that there will be many witnesses around.
Respectfully, IMO, your answer is wrong. How do you know whether or not you are incriminating yourself when you say anything to them?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-7o9xYp7eE
DON’T TALK TO THE POLICE!
answer nothing. Show them your ID and direct them towards your attorney for any other information. They show up late at night to try and get you to say something they can lock you up for. In the covid time their arrests are down and they need to justify their salaries etc… say nothing if you need to record what happens tell them to wait one minute while you get something and get a phone or video camera etc… and record what goes down that way there is no justified beating or sooting. I have answered no questions in the 7 plus visits i have had in the last 6 years and i get no problems they just go away
However, sometimes answering stupid questions can incriminate someone even if they don’t know that. It is why someone has the right to remain silent
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.
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..
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.
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.
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.
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!
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
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.
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.
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.
I had my quarterly visit from Agent Mulligan, Brevard County, this afternoon. It was very pleasant.
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.”
How can they be doing a compliance check if they don’t have any info to compare to what you tell them? If they don’t have that info, it is now a fishing expedition. Clearly they were lying to you, as they love to do. (It’s why I call them the Thin Blue Liars).
I highly recommend everyone become well-acquainted with Florida v. Jardines (https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/569/1/). There is some good info in there about TBLs being on your doorstep (“curtilage”). In short, they can be there but there presence is automatically a 4th Amdt. implication. The moment you end the conversation, they must leave–and if they don’t, they’re now conducting an illegal search in violation of the 4th Amdt. (The non-TBL equivalent is we’d be trespassing once told to leave.)
Never open the door to TBL’s. Talk to them through the door, asking them to leave.
I think we can see part of the reasons why America has Hit Lists. Far too many people are kind of okay with it. Far too many people have told the criminal regimes that it is okay to come to my home and ask me questions to “monitor” me. Even random questions. I just think it sends the wrong message. It should be crystal clear to every decent, moral American that Hit Lists are not acceptable and no one is accepting anything about them, even something trivial, unless they are FORCED to do so at the point of a gun.
I honestly cannot fathom why some people allow law enforcement criminals (LECs) that have no statutory duties regarding the Hit Lists (e.g. city police) to come around their home and ever speak to them. I really cannot get it. I understand that people are in all kinds of different situations but there has to be some limits. I would never allow them to show up after dark.
If you are a PFR I think that you can keep all LECs from coming onto your property. The only exception (other than those all Americans have) would be if you are on probation or parole and those agents come to visit OR if they have somehow legally told you that you must allow “compliance checks” (even in that case I would make them clarify exactly what agencies/people must be allowed, when, and how).
You can keep LECs off of your property with a wall or fencing. If that is not feasible then an appropriate sign should certainly work. As has been discussed many times, all over the place, it cannot simply say “no trespassing” however because a person coming to your front door is not trespassing. But you can write verbiage that will work.
Based on Circuit and Supreme Court precedents, there seems to be no way to revoke someone’s license to knock on your door using only signs. Judge (now Justice) Gorsuch dissented in a case about this while on the 10th. He gets it but so many others do not.
There is one way that courts seem to uphold regularly, which is to have some sort of barrier at the edge of your property to block the common ingress/egress to your front door. Based on Justice Scalia’s writings in Jardines, even a locked chain or gate across one’s sidewalk or driveway is a sufficient legal barrier to entry. Keep in mind that anything the UPS driver, JW, or Trick-or-treater is allowed to do without your explicit consent, a leo can do, too. Thus spake Jardines.
In the Rockford Files Season 3 Episode titled: So Help Me God. James Garner’s character of Jim Rockford being a Private Investigator and a Fully Pardoned Former Convicted Felon says Under Oath in the Courtroom in Open Court that “‘I decline and refuse to answer the question on the ground that it may tend to incriminate me.'” Standing on his Fifth/5th Amendment Right To Remain Silent. So even in a fictional television show we can learn that the United States Constitution protects us in envoking/invoking our Civil Rights/Constitutional Rights.
Last month when the leo came to do my verification he asked me my place of employment which I have 2 he asked which vehicles in the yard were mine asked my work hours. Name and dob later I found out had I not told him both of my jobs I could have been in trouble so yes even seemingly innocent questions can get you in trouble
From a jan. ’04 sting operation I am on registry in Broward Ct with no probation since 2010 and want to move to Villages which covers parts of 3 countys. Lake county/lady lake seem’s very hostile and strict and even Sumter ct and Marion will not provide any map of living areas or restrictions and told me to hire a real estate attorney. Surely there is a better way as someone knows and has this info or they wouldn’t be able to say yes or no when you call with an address. Any help for me??
The best way that I have found to do this is to go to the most local GIS office you can find. Tell them the situation and give them parameters. For example, I told them that I needed a thousand foot buffer around every Park, School, and daycare in Leon County. Specifically the Tallahassee metro area. Within 10 minutes I had a map of Tallahassee in my hand with three different colors of thousand foot buffers around every park, school, and daycare in tallahassee. Two things about daycares: 1. You can live next to a registered daycare. You cannot live next to a licensed daycare. Nor can you live near a church that has playground equipment. 2. If you get a GIS map of your area, you need to keep in mind that day cares open and close all the time. The daycare end of the map is just a guide and you need to know ahead of time whether there is a daycare there or not. Honestly, your best bet is to live somewhere approximately 10 miles or so away from any city limits if you can. That will give you the most freedom. I hope this helps. If you can make a trip to Tallahassee you can go to the underside of the Leon County courthouse next to the elevators. They did not charge me for mine because I was a student at the time but I don’t know if they would charge someone for such a map or not. There may also be a GIS office in Brevard County or in a larger metro area like Orlando. Good luck. One more thing about GIS maps: it also serves as an official document. You understand that the information is not completely 100% up to date, but you can use it in court as far as what the state gave you that was technically accurate at that time.
Go back to Mrs Johnson, in the Broward sheriffs registration unit, and ask her, they know where you can and cannot live. Ask them if any RSO are living there, most cities in Broward have a Ban on all RSO living there,unless you were there before 2005…i wanted to move to a house, but theres no Place to go, where there is some kind of a Restriction on us….they basically want you to move someplace that’s 1 1.2 miles away from anything and anybody….. that’s just not possible in Broward,Miami Dade or Palm Beach
Rick
You brought up a good idea. You could actually check the registry and see where the most offenders live and pretty much that would mean it is ok to live in that area.
There is one spot about 10 miles from where I live that I call the offender village because so many SO’s live there. One guy actually bought an entire street of houses and rents out of people on the registry. It is not in my county but have talked to the guy before.
That’s not a perfect idea. Many are grandfathered into their areas.
My thought, too. Once SO concentration reaches a certain level, the powers try to break it up. Find a place outside of town and commute 20 minutes. More land, cheaper housing, fewer neighbors in your business. What could be better?
True
Was just trying to help. Things change so much that it is hard to know what the rules are anymore 🙁
Keeping up with the ever changing rules, laws and ordinances , is Like in Vietnam. Navigating through fields of landmines without any knowledge of what your next step could lead to. Death or safety.
Glenn
It is just sick and saddening that WE are responsible for figuring out where we can and cannot live. We did not create the law. It seems like #1 The authorities do not even know and #2 it is a trap to get us back in jail.
From the OP:
Was I on probation? I told him, “You know that.”
Wait … that tells me the OP is on probation, unless I’m reading it wrong. If that’s the case, you DO have to answer their questions, correct? You have to jump through the hoops whether you like it or not.
Not necessarily. Before the registry, when I was green on probation, my first PO would stop by my apartment every day at 5:30 a.m. rifling through my cabinets, looking through my closets, etc. A few months later, I met someone who lived WAY at the other end of the county. He forbade me from visiting her. So…I went to his boss. Boss was now my PO. Visit as often as you like. On house arrest, officers wanted to enter my home. I ask him why. He said he didn’t need a reason. I told him to get a warrant. Judge denied the warrant and said to leave me alone. On probation: PO wanted to come in my house and search my car. Wife said both were her property and in her name, so he needed a warrant. He tried to jimmy the lock on the car, so she called the cops and charged him with trespassing, destruction of property, and attempted B&E. He didn’t like that at all. So no, you have no obligation to “jump through hoops,” regardless of your status.
This is good information, and I like that, expecially in the situation I am in right now. Here’s my situation as of now.. We have this covid issue going on. My old PO officer that I was with for 8 yrs of my 10 yr. sentence has left & went to retirement they say, and now I have a new PO. During this pandemic I haven’t been to the PO office since Feb of last year. They assigneed me a new PO. that just happened to knock on the door around Nov to meet me as he and I had never met since this pandemic. I had never met him only by monthly check in calls. So I really don’t know much about him.
He I’m sure has my records from my old PO but PO’s can be somewhat tricky as many of you have given me a view. So when things get back to visitations at the office level One doe3sn’t have to talk. Would n’t that be in non compliance. I mean I’m already in Non compliance if they consider I didn’t sign that paper saying I knew I was talking to a teenanger. Sure I pled guilty to my foul cybering tone and yes the Officer said since your public attorney dropped out if I pled guilty I would talk to the DA and Judge for you so you didn’t go to prison or jail.
Sounds a bit funny to me like a redress of greivence is about due for justice purposes. What do you guys think.
You have to choose to play the game or not. This can be based on what you have to lose, or gain, from doing so. On probation, you have less wiggle room, but you can always use the chain of command. If you don’t like his decisions on your life, go to his boss. If you don’t like that, petition the judge. If you have the means, you should keep an attorney on retainer. Preferably one who doesn’t like you, as counter productive as that sounds.
Simple for me,record,record,record….have a camera recording,they sell cheap wifi cameras at walmart…have one pointing to your porch front door from window…it records audio too…pull out sell phone for everone’s safety am recording this visit etc
I see what your saying Ben and it has been a long time since my Marshall days in Huntington,WV and yes it just so happened that one of my grandmothers, brothers had a daughter that her and her husband were bail bondsman. Wow I can see her coming into jail with papers to bail me out.
My grandmother never liked her but my mother did a bit of family history can be a bit compound also with this registry also. Sure we had coal mind wars back in those days, even a buffalo creek flooding disaster. A lot of coal miners lost their families and life’s and even a coal company was sued. Lot of killings and liablity suits also. Course we had a good football team and baskball team in those years and their was not hardly any of this registry stuff like it is today or anything like this.
Oh and while I am on PO I wanted to do some telephone marketing for Trump to find out why people wanted to vote for Trump in the first place, got in a bit of troble for that. Sort of a mixxed review of Trump and how his comments on Planet didn’t set very well with a lot of women and yes I had to sign up to do that.Stupid was I but Will Allen always and many already knew that. So I couldn’t give them a fake name ….. got ya Will.