FLORIDA: It’s a madhouse, an absolute madhouse! All this panic in America due to COVID-19. Stocks are falling, fear is everywhere, there are new rules and new laws in Florida and across the country. We don’t know where we are allowed to go or what we are prohibited from doing. The freedoms we took for granted are disappearing rapidly. In a strange way, folks are getting a taste of registration!
Nearly 930,000 on the registry go through fear and panic everyday. I've been going through it for 17 years! But now those on the registry, and their family members are getting double the pain....if not more.
All Florida DMV's have closed. All registrants are required to report to the DMV within 48 hours of an address change and, by law, renew their expired IDs as well. Those on the registry are not allowed to do either online. So how can they follow the law under such circumstances? This is not a time to relocate but if you must, and are on the Florida registry please contact your county tax collector or local sheriff’s office for information; and check the website below for FLHSMV closures.
Please note: some driver license and motor vehicle services are offered by county tax collectors of license plate agents and may not be impacted by the FLHSMV office closures. For information related to county tax collector office or license plate agent closures, please visit their respective websites.
And what about checking in to register? I have seen rows of people in line waiting to register at the local sheriff’s Department. That’s not distancing! It's a higher chance of contracting this virus! Will they provide mask, gloves, hand sanitizer to those that register?
And by the way, that is only if you can register. Some county sheriff’s departments are closed to the public. Will they allow those on the registry to enter and fulfill their obligations?
And as this virus erupts, there will be more burdens placed on the shoulders of registrants. State emergency management officials are negotiating with hotels to provide quarantine for people who are not sick enough to require intensive care. Will the decision about this type of care be altered by this person’s status as a registrant? Might this person be turned away to infect their family because of an unjust label that creates unfounded fear?
We don't know what’s going to happen next but are certain there will be more changes. We will try to stay abreast of current information and post it to our website https://womenagainstregistry.org/Florida. This is a good time for our nation to wake up and end this registry.
Broward County Courthouse is closed to the public. You will not be able to register at the Broward location. However, per Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), you can register in any FL County. The registration offices closest to Broward are:
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Miami-Dade Police Dept 1701 NW 87th Avenue, Suite 222, Miami, FL 33126 305-715-3333 (34 miles)
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Palm Beach County, located at the Stockade Jail, 673 W Fairgrounds Road, West Palm Beach, FL 33411 561-688-4990 (51 miles)
But having to travel 34 miles, or 51 miles, to register is an extreme burden. What about people who don’t have a car? What about the homeless?
A list of all county registration offices, along with their telephone numbers are published here (but be aware: the list has not been updated. The Manatee County registry location has changed to: 3500 9th Street West, Bradenton 34205.) Please call to verify the registry location if you're not sure).
https://offender.fdle.state.fl.us/offender/Documents/REREGISTRATIONLOCATIONS.pdf
