Experienced Legal Advocacy in Florida

Tampa Lawmaker Seeking to Stop "Mugshot" Websites From Keeping Up Your Images

A Tampa area legislator wants websites to delete arrest photos if the person is later found not guilty or if the charges are dropped.

Rep. Carl Zimmerman, a democrat from Palm Harbor, filed a bill that requires all websites to delete arrest photos -- or "mugshots" as they are often called -- within 15 days of being notified that the charges did not result in a conviction.

The bill (HB 677) would subject the website operator to fines and even a defamation lawsuit if they did not comply with the request. The website could not charge anything to remove the photo.