Updated October 9, 2026
Florida Mugshot Removal Law and Free Removal Requests
- Subject
- Florida arrest booking photograph removal
- Controlling authority
- Florida Statute § 901.43
- Who may request
- The pictured person or that person’s legal representative, subject to the statute’s publisher-focused scope
- Formal delivery
- Written request sent by registered mail to the publisher’s registered agent
- Removal period
- 10 calendar days after receipt of a compliant request
- Removal fee
- No charge; covered publishers may not solicit or accept payment to remove the photograph
- BookingBrief request channel
- contact@bookingbrief.org — voluntary and free
I. Question Presented
What does Florida law say about removing a mugshot or arrest booking photograph from a privately operated website, what must a formal removal request contain, and how can a person ask BookingBrief to remove a photograph without paying a fee?
II. Short Answer
Florida Statute § 901.43 prohibits a person or entity engaged in the business of publishing arrest booking photographs from soliciting or accepting payment to remove them. A pictured person—or that person’s legal representative—may send a qualifying written request to the publisher’s registered agent. The statute says the request must be sent by registered mail, include sufficient proof of identity, and specifically identify the photograph. After receiving a compliant request, a covered publisher must remove the photograph without charge within 10 calendar days and may not republish or redisseminate it.
III. Formal Removal Procedure
The official statutory procedure has three express requirements. Missing one may affect whether a request starts the statute’s 10-calendar-day period.
- Send a written request by registered mail.
Address the request to the registered agent of the person or entity that published or disseminated the arrest booking photograph.
- Include sufficient proof of identity.
Provide enough information to confirm that the requester is the person pictured or that person’s legal representative. Limit the material to what is reasonably necessary and redact unrelated sensitive information when appropriate.
- Identify the exact photograph.
Include the specific page URL, booking ID, or equivalent information that allows the publisher to locate the photograph without guessing.
Within 10 calendar days after receiving a compliant request, the statute directs a covered publisher to remove the photograph without charge and not republish or otherwise redisseminate it.
Read Florida Statute § 901.43 on the official Florida Senate website →
If you are unsure how these requirements apply to a particular publisher or set of facts, consider consulting a licensed Florida attorney. BookingBrief does not provide legal advice or recommend a particular lawyer.
IV. Enforcement
If a covered publisher does not remove the photograph within 10 calendar days after receiving a qualifying request, the pictured person may bring a civil action seeking an injunction against continued publication or dissemination.
A court may impose this civil penalty for noncompliance with an injunction requiring removal. The court must also award reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs related to issuing and enforcing the injunction.
If a photograph that was required to be removed is later republished, the pictured person may seek another injunction. A court may impose this civil penalty for noncompliance with that injunction and must award the related reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs.
The statute also says that refusing to remove an arrest booking photograph after a written request, or republishing it after such a request, constitutes an unfair or deceptive trade practice under part II of chapter 501.
Important: the statute ties the stated daily civil penalties to noncompliance with a court injunction. It does not say those daily penalties automatically begin on the eleventh day after the publisher receives a request.
V. Scope and Limitations
Section 901.43 does not apply identically to every person or organization that publishes information relating to booking photographs. Under subsection (5), the section does not apply unless the publisher solicits or accepts payment to remove photographs, or the publisher’s primary business model is publishing and disseminating booking photographs for a commercial purpose or pecuniary gain.
The statute’s written-request language does not condition the process on whether the underlying case ended in a dismissal, acquittal, sealing, expungement, or conviction. But the law’s applicability can still depend on facts about the publisher, its business model, the publication, and the request itself.
This page provides general public information, not legal advice. It does not create an attorney-client relationship or predict how a court would apply the statute to a particular dispute.
VI. Frequently Asked Questions
Does BookingBrief charge to remove a booking photograph?
No. BookingBrief accepts removal requests without a removal fee. Use the free email request and include the BookingBrief URL or booking ID.
Does a conviction automatically eliminate the statutory request process?
The text of § 901.43 does not condition the written-request process on dismissal, acquittal, sealing, expungement, or conviction status. The statute’s publisher-focused scope and the facts of a particular situation still matter.
Is an email the same as a formal statutory demand?
No. BookingBrief offers email as a voluntary, no-charge request channel. The formal procedure described by § 901.43 is a written request sent by registered mail to the publisher’s registered agent, with sufficient identity proof and information identifying the photograph.
Will removal immediately erase a result from Google?
Not necessarily. Removing a source page or photograph does not control how quickly a search engine refreshes an older result or cached information. Search engines may provide separate outdated-content or refresh tools, but no particular indexing timeline or outcome can be guaranteed.
Arrest booking photo removal policy and identity verification
Please read carefully before submitting a removal request.
Our website is committed to reviewing legitimate removal requests, protecting individuals from fraudulent submissions, and complying with applicable Florida law, including Florida Statute § 901.43.
Identity verification is required
To protect individuals against impersonation, fraudulent claims, and unauthorized removal requests, we require sufficient proof of identification to verify that the request is being submitted by the person depicted in the arrest booking photograph or by their legal representative.
Requests submitted without sufficient identification or appropriate verification may be subject to additional review before they can be processed.
Written removal requests must meet Florida law
Under Florida Statute § 901.43(2), a qualifying written request for removal must:
- Be submitted by the person depicted in the arrest booking photograph or their legal representative.
- Be sent by registered mail to the registered agent of the person or entity that published or disseminated the photograph.
- Include sufficient proof of identification of the individual depicted.
- Include specific information identifying the arrest booking photograph for which removal is requested.
Each request will be evaluated according to the applicable legal requirements.
We will remove the photograph within 10 calendar days after receipt of a qualifying written request and will not republish or otherwise redisseminate it.
No payment for statutory removal
We do not solicit or accept a fee or other payment to remove arrest booking photographs. Qualifying statutory removal requests will be processed without charge.
Please exercise caution when dealing with third parties who promise guaranteed removal in exchange for payment, claim to have special access to removal services, or request payment without proper authorization. Our team will respond to every email sent to us.
Incomplete, unverifiable, or unauthorized requests
Requests that lack sufficient identifying information, fail to identify the specific photograph, or raise legitimate concerns regarding identity or authorization may require additional verification.
A preliminary inquiry or incomplete submission should not be treated as confirmation that a removal request has been accepted, completed, or denied. Any request that qualifies under applicable law will be handled in accordance with the statutory requirements and deadlines.
We will not use verification procedures to delay or avoid compliance with a valid statutory removal request.
Important legal notice
Nothing in this disclaimer is intended to waive, restrict, or diminish any rights provided under Florida law. This notice is intended to explain our verification procedures and the requirements for submitting a proper removal request.
For additional information, please consult Florida Statute § 901.43, or seek advice from a licensed Florida attorney regarding your individual circumstances.
Protect your identity. Submit accurate information. Use the proper legal process.