Florida Supreme Court Reviews Sexual Predator License Requirement

The Florida Supreme Court is set to review the constitutionality of a state law requiring convicted sexual predators to have the words "SEXUAL PREDATOR" on their driver's licenses. This legal challenge was initiated by Michael Crist, who was accused in 2019 of attempting to cover up the designation with a sticker on his license, leading to his re-incarceration for possession of a license without the required label and attempted evidence tampering. Crist's attorneys argue that the requirement violates First Amendment rights by constituting compelled government speech. However, the 5th District Court of Appeal upheld the law, stating that the label is clearly the state's message, similar to other identifying information on a license such as birthdate or physical characteristics. The case raises important questions about the balance between public safety measures and constitutional free speech protections. The Supreme Court's upcoming decision will have significant implications for how states can label and manage identification of convicted sexual predators.