Be VERY careful about the Address Confidentiality programs. They are like a power tool but without instructions, nor the power cord. What they never tell you is that nobody who needs to know about the program knows about it. You will spend much energy thinking of ways your abuser can find you and developing ways to use the ACP to avoid it. Then you will spend huge enrgies advocating for yourself because the DV counselors have had no training on it.
For example, I moved away and entered the ACP to avoid death by stalker. I called the utility companies and asked for an anonymous name account, knowing that accounts are public record and end up on search engines in 60 days. When these requests were unsuccessful, I asked the DV center counselors and they did not know. I suggested we call our state regulatory board for utilities to see if they had any ideas. The DV counselor said, “What is that?” From her desk, I dialed them. Within seconds, I was on line with the top people at the utilities that would honor the reasonable request.
PHONE: Even unlisted numbers can be found by hacking or just asking. If your stalker knows your identifying information: SS# and birthdate, they can usually talk the company rep into giving information.
DRIVERS LICENSE: It took me two months and intervention from the head of the Department of Transportation to get a DL renewal with my safe ACP address. DL addresses are public record.
LIBRARY CARDS: It took a month of huge effort and assistance from a county commissioner to get them to realize I am a supporting member of their community without any documentation of such. I finally got a library card – after a month of self-advocacy.
CAR INSURANCE: It is a felony to misrrepresent the garaged address to an insurance company but when I told State Farm my real address, they recited it to an unidentified caller upon her request (my friend did a test for me). I had to move AGAIN and only give State Farm my ACP address. But the stalker probably could have also bribed any State Farm office worker to give my address also. State farm turned me into a felon – just to survive!
VOTING: Althoug the state ACP statute is very clear on voting procedures for ACPs, the election offices chose to remain ignorant and out of compliance. It took months and calls to the governor’s office with complaints that I am being denied the right to vote to get the elections offices to comply with current state law.
ELECTED OFFICIALS: One cannot call elected officials if you are not in their jurisdiction. But calls to them are public record, including your address. Providing your ACP address puts you out of their jurisdiction. You become a non-entity.
MAKING POLICE REPORTS: Again, your address is public record. And although the state law exempts your address from public record, if law enforcement is ignorant, as I have experienced, you become dead.
I could go on and on with other critical issues, but I am exhausted just trying to survive in the ACP. Of course it would be nice if the Attorney General Pam Bondi here would do her job and administrate her office with Integrity and make sure her program works, but to date, she very obviously does not give a hoot if we live or die. I know, because I have asked her. She does not respond.
But, if you take on the huge project of figuring out how to use the power tool (ACP) and provide the power yourself, you will survive!
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! BE SAFE!