Scam alert: cons are calling people, advising them that the homeowner’s router alerted the caller [insert phony agency name here] that the homeowner’s computer has a virus, Trojan or other security risk and then advises the homeowner on how to enable remote desktop (so the con can access your computer).

PORT ORANGE — If a city employee works more than 15 minutes to provide a public record, some cities add a charge above the 15 cents per page copying rate.

Other cities add a charge after 30 minutes.

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Florida’s Sunshine Law requires open access to government records, as well as open meetings. However, some fees are allowed for public records.

“Basically, the law allows agencies to charge an extensive-use fee when the nature of the request requires extensive work by a clerical person,” said Adria Harper, director of the First Amendment Foundation, a Tallahassee-based Sunshine Law watchdog group.

Local governments that want to enact an extensive-use charge must base the fee on the actual cost to produce the record.

“They can’t be generating revenue with public records requests,” Harper said.

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East Volusia News – newsjournalonline.com.

DNA database

Proposed by Snyder, requires those arrested for certain felony offenses to provide DNA samples.

via Here’s what the Florida Legislature did over the past two months : State News : TCPalm.

Seat belts

Florida is now poised to join a majority of other states that give police the power to stop motorists solely for failing to buckle up. Seat-belt tickets would be $30, with most of the money going into state coffers. Also, passing the law will make Florida eligible for a one-time, $35.5 million payment from the federal government.

via Here’s what the Florida Legislature did over the past two months : State News : TCPalm.

Local governments’ adoption and use of new technologies is refreshing and commendable, but there will be growing pains in many areas, including the Florida’s Sunshine and Public Records laws.

CORAL SPRINGS – There are still some technicalities to work out, but after a nod from the Florida Attorney General's Office, the city plans to debut on Facebook within months.

snip

“It might wind up being the best way for us to communicate regularly, easily and efficiently,” he said.

While Coral Springs isn’t the first city to have a Facebook page (Tamarac and Pompano Beach already beat them to it), it is the first city to ask the state for a legal opinion about the social networking tool, said Sandi Copes, communications director for the attorney general.

The city still must work out how to retain copies of Web pages for public inspection, to comply with the state’s open records law, said City Attorney Sam Goren. “It has to be retained in the computer system,” he said.

The question is how to make the Facebook page comply with state law, said City Manager Michael Levinson. “And to what extent. That’s what we’re looking at now.”

The rest is easy: The state said commissioners can’t talk to each other on Facebook since that would violate the Sunshine Law requirement that politicians discuss city business in the open. And comments posted to the city’s page by its “friends” will be public, too.

Florida’s public records and Sunshine laws safeguard the public’s right of access to government records and proceedings. Memos and e-mails, for example, are public records that must be disclosed to residents upon request.

via Coral Springs getting set for Facebook debut after state gives its OK — South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com.

You don’t often hear of ethics complaints being filed against school personnel, but that is precisely what happened in this case. Although this particular case was not dismissed on the grounds that school personnel are not liable under Chapter 112 of the Florida Statutes, or that issuing false diplomas isn’t actionable, but because the case was brought apparently against the wrong person.

The Florida Commission of Ethics said this week that it does not believe that former school superintendent Grady “Sam” Markham misused his position in the issuance of three fraudulent diplomas in 2007 and dismissed the complaint against him.

via Lake City Reporter > Archives > News > Markham cleared in diploma scandal.

Sometimes election activities can lead to complaints in other arenas, such as the Judicial Qualifications Commission.

A 3-year-old ethics complaint against Judge Terri-Ann Miller was dropped late last week by the Judicial Qualifications Commission, the group that investigates claims of unethical conduct against judges.

Miller was accused of misleading voters into thinking she was a sitting judge when she ran for election in 2006. The complaint said Miller distributed campaign materials implying she was the incumbent when she was not. Her campaign material also included a photo of her wearing a judicial robe, according to the complaint.

Miller was a judge for eight years in Miami-Dade County but did not seek re-election there in 2000.

Six years later, she was in private practice when she ran successfully for election to the Broward bench. At the time, Miller said she used yard signs left over from her 2000 campaign. She said she put small stickers saying “former” before the word “judge” on the signs.

Ethics complaint against judge stemming from ‘06 campaign dropped — South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com.

All three suspects were charged with False Report of a Bomb Threat, a 3rd degree felony, and Disruption of School Function, a 2nd degree misdemeanor.

via Three Juveniles Arrested by Lakeland Police for Bomb Threats | theledger.com | The Ledger | Lakeland, FL.

OCALA – Marion County sheriff’s detectives arrested Marlin X. Walker, 35, of 4608 N.E. 21st Court in Ocala, Friday on 100 counts of possession of child pornography.

The arrest was the culmination of a five-month investigation, according to a Sheriff’s Office news release.

In November detectives with the Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force – which includes representatives of the Sheriff’s Office and Ocala Police Department – determined that a computer at Walker’s home was offering to share files containing child porn.

In January detectives seized computers from the home. On them they found 100 files containing suspected child pornography.

via Marion County sheriff’s detectives arrested Marlin X. Walker, 35, of 4608 N.E. 21st Court in Ocala, Friday on 100 counts of possession of child pornography. | Ocala.com | Star-Banner | Ocala, FL.

Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested two for allegedly causing $1,500 in damages to Meadow Park Elementary School in Port Charlotte on April 24.

Detectives are still looking for a third person who was involved in climbing on the roof of the school and breaking off 50 lightening rods.

The investigation led to two suspects who live across from the school at 670 Beeche St. and resulted in the arrest of Blake Reginald Flynn, 17, and 20-year-old Charles Ernest Nelli-Casias. Detectives said they also found several broken beer bottles on the roof that are being processed for fingerprinting.

Flynn and Nelli-Casias were taken to the Charlotte County Jail on charges of felony criminal mischief over $1,000, and trespassing on school property. Flynn was released to his parents after booking and Nelli-Casias' bond was set at $3,500.

via Two arrested for allegedly damaging Charlotte County school | news-press.com | The News-Press.