Our organization Class Action Against Mugshot Websites.com is requesting that Georgia law be changed. We request that no mugshot website, the removal services associated with them, or any website published on the internet be allowed to use information obtained from Georgia government, court and law enforcement agencies websites for financial gain through advertising and or by specifically requesting payment for removal of pictures and information that are damaging to the person targeted.
The mugshot websites take public information from law enforcement and court sites that are not available to the search engines. They then post it on their websites with html code insuring that it is pushed to the highest visible point when searched.
These mugshot sites refuse to remove the information they obtained free unless the person who is affected pays a high fee for removal, usually starting at 399.99 to remove from one site. Although the sites are legal, it is by a very slim margin. This is simply legalized extortion.
Of the people who have been arrested and or committed crime(s) who find their posts online on these sites, many have paid all their Attorneys costs, paid their fines, and completed their sentence or what their judgment required of them by the court. They are trying to rebuild their lives. And without notice find themselves being extorted for an average of $399.99 per post removal.
Many sites will post the same mugshot and information on multiple pages on one website or on additional websites owned by the same person or company which can raise removal costs to one vendor close to $2500.00. This does not included guarantee removal from all sites online. Thus, requiring payment to multiple vendors.
Mugshot websites post the mugshots of anyone ever arrested. They do not fact check if the person was ever actually charged or found guilty. Many innocent Georgia residents as well are listed on these sites. The actions of these websites have damaged the reputations, relationships and employment of many people who have found their information posted.
Complete information can be viewed: http://classactionagainstmugshotwebsites.com/
We the under signed request that the law be changed now.
Updates
Reached 100 supporters
May 20, 2013
11 Comments
These predators are extorting money from good honest citizens through mug shot publishing, even when the arrest was dismissed and never made it to court. This has resulted in irreparable damage to me, my family and loved ones. I will not list the damages here, but urge you to immediately address this important issue which is affecting many lives each and every day.
This is defamation of character. It is not just 'a matter of public record' to optimize your website so that mugshots appear first in the search results. This is what makes these scammers different from the sheriffs website.
Please stop this. No charges were filed and this has followed around for 10 years!
STOP THE EXTORTION. My husband was never even convicted of anything but his face is all over google and we cant afford to pay these goons to take it down. fix this GA!
its total blackmail plain and simple. why should these people make bank off my mistakes from 5 years ago? let ppl move on with their lives already.
Thanks.
I have personal experience with this. After being arrested May 17 for missing a traffic court appearance; I had changed addresses and didn't get the notice to appear. The charge will likely be dismissed in my upcoming court date. My mugshot is posted on several of these websites, which also will remove your mugshot from their site for several hundred dollars. When you search my name, my mugshot comes up first on search engines (Google, bing, Yahoo). I am a professional and have my own business. I've never been arrested before and this potentially will have a major impact on my business, professional life and good standing in my community. It's also personally humiliating. Georgia's new legislation 150 states that if you are found not guilty or the charges are dismissed, you must write to the mugshot website and request that it be removed and they have 30 days to remove. Georgia law is better than in a lot of states, but 30+ days is a lot of time for your mugshot to be out there for family, friends, prospective employers and everyone else to see.
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Our organization Class Action Against Mugshot Websites.com is requesting that Georgia law be changed. We request that no mugshot website, the removal services associated with them, or any website published on the internet be allowed to use information obtained from Georgia government, court and law enforcement agencies websites for financial gain through advertising and or by specifically requesting payment for removal of pictures and information that are damaging to the person targeted.
The mugshot websites take public information from law enforcement and court sites that are not available to the search engines. They then post it on their websites with html code insuring that it is pushed to the highest visible point when searched.
These mugshot sites refuse to remove the information they obtained free unless the person who is affected pays a high fee for removal, usually starting at 399.99 to remove from one site. Although the sites are legal, it is by a very slim margin. This is simply legalized extortion.
Of the people who have been arrested and or committed crime(s) who find their posts online on these sites, many have paid all their Attorneys costs, paid their fines, and completed their sentence or what their judgment required of them by the court. They are trying to rebuild their lives. And without notice find themselves being extorted for an average of $399.99 per post removal.
Many sites will post the same mugshot and information on multiple pages on one website or on additional websites owned by the same person or company which can raise removal costs to one vendor close to $2500.00. This does not included guarantee removal from all sites online. Thus, requiring payment to multiple vendors.
Mugshot websites post the mugshots of anyone ever arrested. They do not fact check if the person was ever actually charged or found guilty. Many innocent Georgia residents as well are listed on these sites. The actions of these websites have damaged the reputations, relationships and employment of many people who have found their information posted.
Complete information can be viewed: http://classactionagainstmugshotwebsites.com/
We the under signed request that the law be changed now.
Updates
Reached 100 supporters
May 20, 2013
11 Comments
Another racket at the expense of average citizens. Slimy smear-merchants in bed with our tax-funded police and prison system to our detriment. Extortion merely for arrests (including wrongful ones) that do not result in convictions. They will let child predators and murderers pay to remove these things, so no public interest is served by it. Just greed. Shame. More stuff new day.
These predators are extorting money from good honest citizens through mug shot publishing, even when the arrest was dismissed and never made it to court. This has resulted in irreparable damage to me, my family and loved ones. I will not list the damages here, but urge you to immediately address this important issue which is affecting many lives each and every day.
This is defamation of character. It is not just 'a matter of public record' to optimize your website so that mugshots appear first in the search results. This is what makes these scammers different from the sheriffs website.
Please stop this. No charges were filed and this has followed around for 10 years!
STOP THE EXTORTION. My husband was never even convicted of anything but his face is all over google and we cant afford to pay these goons to take it down. fix this GA!
its total blackmail plain and simple. why should these people make bank off my mistakes from 5 years ago? let ppl move on with their lives already.
Thanks.
I have personal experience with this. After being arrested May 17 for missing a traffic court appearance; I had changed addresses and didn't get the notice to appear. The charge will likely be dismissed in my upcoming court date. My mugshot is posted on several of these websites, which also will remove your mugshot from their site for several hundred dollars. When you search my name, my mugshot comes up first on search engines (Google, bing, Yahoo). I am a professional and have my own business. I've never been arrested before and this potentially will have a major impact on my business, professional life and good standing in my community. It's also personally humiliating. Georgia's new legislation 150 states that if you are found not guilty or the charges are dismissed, you must write to the mugshot website and request that it be removed and they have 30 days to remove. Georgia law is better than in a lot of states, but 30+ days is a lot of time for your mugshot to be out there for family, friends, prospective employers and everyone else to see.
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Another racket at the expense of average citizens. Slimy smear-merchants in bed with our tax-funded police and prison system to our detriment. Extortion merely for arrests (including wrongful ones) that do not result in convictions. They will let child predators and murderers pay to remove these things, so no public interest is served by it. Just greed. Shame. More stuff new day.