FL Sheriff used state records to hunt down LTTE critic

[Rose Siding]

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Orange County's sheriff used driver's license records to contact a woman who wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper criticizing his staff's use of Taser stun guns and describing him as fat.

Some say Orange County Sheriff Kevin Beary violated federal privacy law when he had his aides use the records to get the address of Alice Gawronski. He sent her a letter accusing her of slander.

It is illegal to access a driver's license database to obtain personal information, except for clear law-enforcement purposes, under the U.S. Driver's Privacy Protection Act of 1994.

"I recently read your slanderous remarks about the Orange County Sheriff's Office in the Orlando Sentinel," Beary wrote Gawronski on March 23. "It is unfortunate that people ridicule others without arming themselves with the facts before they slander a law enforcement agency or individual."

Gawronski said, "I thought I was exercising my First Amendment right of free speech - expressing an opinion in an open forum about a paid public official." She considered Beary's letter a form of intimidation.

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20050406/D89A3E600.html

via patriotboy

[paineinthearse]

1. Nominated for conservative idjot of the week!

And for greatest, too!

[alittlelark]

3. Doing the same.

[whistle]

2. Can a public figure be slandered......

[dsc]

4. Yes but the standard is very high

You have to a) write something untrue and b) know it is untrue when you write it or show no attempt to verify the truth of the statement. To sight one successful example Mary Rose Ockar sued the Cleveland Plain Dealer for libel and got a settlement.

[Kingshakabobo]

9. You are both missing the point

"It is illegal to access a driver's license database to obtain personal information, except for clear law-enforcement purposes, under the U.S. Driver's Privacy Protection Act of 1994."

I have friends who are cops and they can't even access unlisted phone records without a court order.

The sheriff violated her privacy and should be held accountable.

[dsc]

11. Well yes

Slander or no, he had no business doing what he did. But I answered the question asked.

[whistle]

12. Well, Sheriff Barry Kenny is fat and so are a lot of southern sheriffs

....why should the guy be upset about that, as for looking up drivers licenses, the police have total access to drivers permits and licenses.

<snip>

Can People Look Up My Driver's License on the Internet?

Now, here is a home page that would seem to confirm our worst fears about the Internet.

"Welcome to the National Driver's License Records Bureau Website," it boasts, "where you can search our online database of over 220 million U.S. driver's license photos and driver's license information currently on file, absolutely FREE."

http://www.license.shorturl.com/


How can that be?

"Under the American Driver's License Identification Information Act (ADLIIA - enacted on July 9, 2000)," the blurb continues, "every state in the union is required to make available to the public a digitized copy of each and every valid driver's license in their respective state."

<more>
<link> http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bldriverslicense.htm

[peekaloo]

13. *giggle*

you know why.

:D

[whistle]

14. Know why what?

[peekaloo]

16. I was giggling at that first link.

We use it as a goof in my workplace.

[bvar22]

18. Hey, they got me!!!!

[whistle]

20. Ohoo, ok

[progressoid]

22. Hey, I've tried that url before and it never works for me ......hmmm

[strategery blunder]

5. I would like to see a copy of the letter, but...

there is nothing slanderous in arguing that Tasers shouldn't be used. And while the definition of "fat" is subjective, I would have to say that 5'10" and 290 pounds qualifies.

[Rose Siding]

10. Many of us have written LTTEs that could have ticked off "officials"

It's one of the best ways that the individual is able to enter community dialogue. This kind of intimidation is horrid and frightening.

[Cleita]

6. I guess she shouldn't have called him fat.n/t

[Swamp Rat]

7. I bet that's why he got pissed.

Someone should send him a 'fat' box of donuts. :D

[fishnfla]

8. where's the beef?

He's torqued because she said he appeared to be under duress

'cuz 5 ft 10 inches and 290 lbs is 'bout right for males in this country, right?

[peekaloo]

15. It seems the "too overweight" Sheriff apologized.

His ample booty may be in some hot water.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/orl-locbeary07040705apr07,1,6867366.story?ctrack=2&cset=true

[mopinko]

17. they're both idiots

a bush voter that thinks she still has a right to free speech is an idiot.

[Rose Siding]

19. Why do you think the woman was a bush voter?

[mopinko]

21. mike malloy did a big rant

about this case.