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05-04-2010, 05:31 PM
Protect your privacy. Remove your protected information from all government files. This includes the Clerk's Office, Property Appraiser, Tax Collector, etc...
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From tdo.com
The state may not prohibit irate citizens from publishing a police officer's home address, phone number and other personal data on the Internet, a federal judge ruled in a Tallahassee case.
The American Civil Liberties Union hailed the ruling by U.S. District Judge Richard Smoak as a victory for free speech Monday. State Attorney Willie Meggs, who was named with the city as a defendant in the ACLU suit, said the ruling won't make much difference for law enforcement.
"It cannot be a crime to publish truthful information," said Randall Marshall, legal director of the ACLU in Florida. "With very rare exceptions, courts protect the publication of truthful information that is already available to the public."
Robert Brayshaw was arrested for posting information about a Tallahassee policewoman on the website Ratemycop.com.
"I'm glad that we still have federal judges in this country that actually follow and uphold the law," Brayshaw said. "We have a serious problem in America when someone goes to jail for the publishing of any address in our democratic and free society."
The ACLU said the officer had investigated a trespassing allegation, but no charge was filed against Brayshaw. Brayshaw posted the officer's address, cellular phone number and age, along with other information that was publicly available on the Internet.
Meggs, a former police officer, said the Miami district court's ruling might be appealed. He said he didn't think it would lead to widespread harassment of cops, noting that he keeps his own home number listed in the telephone book.
Smoak said the state has a legitimate interest in protecting law-enforcement officers from acts of retaliation or "true threats." But, he said, criticizing their handling of a case was protected by the First Amendment and that publishing accurate information that could be obtained from various public records did not constitute a threat.
Mod 1
From tdo.com
The state may not prohibit irate citizens from publishing a police officer's home address, phone number and other personal data on the Internet, a federal judge ruled in a Tallahassee case.
The American Civil Liberties Union hailed the ruling by U.S. District Judge Richard Smoak as a victory for free speech Monday. State Attorney Willie Meggs, who was named with the city as a defendant in the ACLU suit, said the ruling won't make much difference for law enforcement.
"It cannot be a crime to publish truthful information," said Randall Marshall, legal director of the ACLU in Florida. "With very rare exceptions, courts protect the publication of truthful information that is already available to the public."
Robert Brayshaw was arrested for posting information about a Tallahassee policewoman on the website Ratemycop.com.
"I'm glad that we still have federal judges in this country that actually follow and uphold the law," Brayshaw said. "We have a serious problem in America when someone goes to jail for the publishing of any address in our democratic and free society."
The ACLU said the officer had investigated a trespassing allegation, but no charge was filed against Brayshaw. Brayshaw posted the officer's address, cellular phone number and age, along with other information that was publicly available on the Internet.
Meggs, a former police officer, said the Miami district court's ruling might be appealed. He said he didn't think it would lead to widespread harassment of cops, noting that he keeps his own home number listed in the telephone book.
Smoak said the state has a legitimate interest in protecting law-enforcement officers from acts of retaliation or "true threats." But, he said, criticizing their handling of a case was protected by the First Amendment and that publishing accurate information that could be obtained from various public records did not constitute a threat.