Texas

From the 50 State Visitor Guide:

Tex. Code Crim. Proc. 2020 §62.001 through 62.408

Registration Triggers and Deadlines:

Registration required for residence of “more than 7 days,” and must register by the 7th day.  Updates after 7 days.  §§62.051, 62.055.

Transient registrants must report every 30 days. §62.051.  Resident registrants making three or more visits of 48 consecutive hours duration to a TX municipality or county other than place of permanent registration must report to local law enforcement. §62.059.

Visitors must register by “the 7th day after the person’s arrival in the municipality or county.”  §62.051(a).  Per the Texas SOR office, this means a visiting registrant who never remains in any one locality more than six consecutive days isn’t required to register. This SOR office info confirmed April 2021.

Residency/Presence and Other Restrictions:

No state-wide restrictions, but local residence and presence restrictions, where applicable, do apply to not-yet-registered visiting offenders. For example, San Antonio has a presence restriction applying to parks.  This means you will not be able to set foot in the Riverwalk during your visit.

Duration & updates:

10 years to life. Annual updates.

Most recent visit: April 2025

There is a quirk in the way Texas (or at least the Texas state SOR office) interprets its law that registered travelers should be aware of.  Texas is one of quite a few states whose registry laws are written to say that visitors must register by “the [insert # of days here] day after the person’s arrival in the municipality or county.”  §62.051(a).  Quite a few states have this type of language because, as you can imagine, state legislators don’t invent their own statutes out of whole cloth when writing registry laws. No, they look at what some other states are doing and copy what they like best.

In reading this language you might feel justified in believing that what starts the clock ticking towards your obligation to register would be your arrival in a specific municipality or county, rather than the simple act of crossing the state line.  But NO.  Every state (other than Texas) that has this type of language interprets it to mean the clock starts ticking when you arrive in their state, and continues to tick for as long as you are in the state no matter what municipality or county you happen to be in.  That’s why, for every other state, my advice to you is to assume that the number of days stated in the statute applies statewide.

However, I have called the Texas SOR office to ask this specific question twice, nine months apart, and spoken to two different people (I know they were different people because one was a man and the other was a woman) who both gave me the same answer:  Texas interprets its statutory language exactly as written. The clock starts when you arrive in any given county or municipality. Partial days count.  If you move on to some other county or municipality before your six days are up (because as I always say, you should avoid using that last day), the clock starts again.

Texas has no statewide presence or residency restrictions, but like so many other states it has local residence and presence restrictions, and where applicable they do apply to not-yet-registered visiting offenders. At the 2023 NARSOL Conference (in Houston) one conference participant pointed out that San Antonio has a presence restriction applying to parks.  This means if the conference had been in San Antonio none of us registrants would have able to set foot in the Riverwalk during our visit.

Oh well! You can't visit Riverwalk while you're in San Antonio.

Near the end of April 2025 I entered Texas from Louisiana where I’d just finished my Mardi Gras reconnaissance mission to New Orleans (see Louisiana blog post below).  I had two destinations – Houston, where I would spend a day with an old friend of mine (we first met in 6th grade) who now lives in its northwest suburbs; and Mineral Wells (west of Ft. Worth) to have lunch with my son (Note: He neither lives nor works in Mineral Wells, that’s where the restaurant was).

Houston, we have a problem

At my old friend’s suggestion I had made campsite reservations are a local county park and began my Houston time clock there.  I went out to dinner with my old friend but when I got back they kicked me out of the park – NOT because of a registry issue, they had a “no car-camping” rule and as always I had no tent.  I have only run into a rule like this once or twice in the past, and always at a local park, never at a state or national park.  Nevertheless I had to check in at a local Motel 6.

As a courtesy to my old friend I had turned Day 2 of my Houston clock over to him and said, “Show me something in Houston.”  But I knew in advance he’d squander that opportunity because he really hates Houston.  Instead (believe it or not!) he took me to Padre Island National Seashore which is way down past Corpus Christi, which meant we spent the entire day in the car driving back and forth and saw nothing (he is a terrible driver but I’m relieved to say I’m still alive). 

Padre Island National Seashore. I was there just long enough to take this photo. 

A whole lotta seaweed, eh?

My old friend had his chance and he wasted it.  Next time I will visit Houston the way I have started to visit other cities this year – reserve a (reliable) motel room in advance, arrive to spend an afternoon and evening seeing the real Houston, then go out to lunch with him as I’m leaving town.  I’ll invite him to tag along with me on that day before but there’s way he’ll go.

Comanche, TX – The town that made me go Hmmm

The following morning, Day 3, was the last (partial) day of my Houston clock.  Lunch with my son wasn’t until the following day so I decided to strike out across Central Texas for a day and get myself someplace close to Mineral Wells by that evening.  From Houston I followed US 190 northwest until it became SR 36 which is a country highway. Eventually that would take me to SR 16 north to Possum Kingdom State Park fairly close to Mineral Wells.

I’m going to say this and I don’t care you think – Central Texas is not an inspiring place.  Many of the ranches do not seem prosperous.  Instead I drove though mile after mile of rolling hills and overgrown prairie.  There are no points of interest here, neither on my Rand McNally map nor in reality.  I drove through the downscale towns of Gatesville and Hamilton.

And then I came to Comanche, TX, at the junction of SR 36 & 16, where I needed to gas up and get supplies.  I actually had some trouble finding these basic things there which caused me to drive around this little town for a while in search of my needs.

Wow! – and not in a good way.  Still, as a retired city planner I couldn’t help being impressed by this example of how a failing agricultural economy can kill a small town.  As I have said before about Indian reservations, where the agricultural economy is good the towns will usually prosper too.  Otherwise they’re in trouble.

Comanche, TX's empty downtown. Why do they even bother with a traffic signal?

For some reason I took a photo of Comanche’s stark and lifeless downtown before heading north on SR 16, all the while pondering what I had seen.  I forgot all about this photo until I was downloading the rest of them for this blog entry.  De Leon was the first time I said to myself, hey, I wonder how bad off this town is? (BTW I took no notes and can’t remember so there’s no judgement here) and took a little spin around town that has become my new small town calling card (see my “Big Cities and Small Towns” blog entry below).

I will say this – the further north I went the better things got and by the time I crossed I-10 it was much better.  Yes I mean you, Breckenridge and Mineral Wells (there’s an actual mineral spring with a big health spa there but I didn’t go).

According to the information from the TX SOR office, my Houston clock had stopped at three days (including partials) and my Stephens County clock now started.  However, when I woke up the next morning from my restful night’s sleep I was starting (partial) Day 5 since entering the state, and the question still arises whether you or I should believe anything two random people at the Texas state SOR office told me.  Do you or I really want to be the first registrant to test these statements and risk getting a much different interpretation from the next Stephens County sheriff’s deputy that pulls you over for having a blown taillight?

My answer to that question is definitely not.  That’s why, after having lunch with my son I wandered northwest toward Wichita Falls before leaving Texas that day.  They say there’s an actual falls there but I didn’t see it – the observation point was flooded due to heavy rains!  Then I headed northeast on SR 79, jumping from the frying pan of Texas into the fire of Oklahoma before the afternoon was over.

An Eclipse Epic Fail: April 2024

One thing I and my old friend agreed upon was that we should go together to see the solar eclipse in April 2024.  I let my old friend take charge of finding a hotel room for the night before and the viewing site itself – which turned out to be Uvalde, TX.

On this trip I flew from Orlando to Houston, and while in Texas my friend did all the driving (see comments about his driving above).  NO, I was not required to give my sheriff’s department in Florida any flight info at all.  That only applies to international travel.  Also NO, I was not required to give them any information about my friend’s name or his car.  It’s out of state so it’s none of their business. 

However, YES I had to register my friend’s Texas address as a “temporary address” and destination.  Some registrants I speak to are concerned about the consequences of registering this information.  In the case of Florida’s registry, his address temporarily appeared on the FL SOR public website on my day of arrival, and then magically disappeared when I left.  The good news is my old friend didn’t freak out about that.

The bad news was that on eclipse day it was cloudy and threatening rain all over Texas! Where we were in downtown Uvalde the sun peaked out momentarily just about 30 seconds before totality.  It was impressive but not total, and then it was gone and a few seconds later it got dark but we couldn’t see anything.  Uggh!

Bruce Hossfield, Atwo Zee Registered Traveler

 Louisiana

From the 50 State Visitor Guide

La. Rev. Stat. 2023 §§ 15:541, 15:542, et seq., 15:543, et seq., and 15:544.

La. R.S. §§14:91.2, 14:91.5, 14:91.9, 14:313, 14:313.1, 15:551, and 15:553

La. R.S. §§40:1321(J) and 32:412(I)

AWA Compliant

Registration Triggers and Deadlines:

3 business days for Initial reg. and updates. La. R.S. §15-542.  New residents to the state have 3 business days to register and to provide information to police and the community as required by §§15:542.1.3 and 15:542.1.  Residence defined as: “a dwelling where an offender regularly resides, regardless of the number of days or nights spent there.” Added Aug. 2024.

Resident registrants planning to acquire “temporary lodging” for 7 consecutive days or more must register within 3 business days before establishing temporary lodging. §542.1.2(F)(1).  Employees and students must register within 3 business days of beginning.  §542.1.3(C), (D). 

Visitors: Per Louisiana SOR office, visitors must register if in state 7 consecutive days (no limit per year).

Residency/Presence and Other Restrictions:

Residence and presence restrictions apply to registrants convicted of offenses involving victims under the age of 13, including parks and libraries, youth centers, public pools, video arcades, etc. with few exceptions.  §14:91.2

Use of “social networking websites” by registrants with computer-related crimes or where victim was a minor, is prohibited. §14:91.5.  Registrants must obtain and possess “special identification cards” from the DPSC, and branded drivers licenses.  §§40:1321(J), 32:412(I).

Registrants may not wear “masks or hoods” or disguise their identity in public during holidays (including Mardi Gras). §14:313 Candy or other gifts may not be given by offenders to persons under 18 on holidays, with exceptions. 14:313.1  Certain occupations prohibited to SO’s. 15:553.  Updated Aug. 2024

NOTE: Per Louisiana SOR office, these restrictions DO apply to not-yet-registered visitors.

Duration & updates:

15 years to life based on tier. §15:544.  Updates based on tiers:  TI – annual, TII – 6 mo., TIII – 3 mo. §15:52.1.1

Most recent visit: April 2025

This is the first time I am posting about Louisiana.  I have been to New Orleans several times but that was before I ruined my life, and it was usually on business.  I have driven through Louisiana without stopping many more times but that’s because I and my ex live in Florida and our son lives in Texas, and we have to go through Louisiana to visit him.

If you scan back through Louisiana’s ridiculous registry restrictions set forth above you’ll see the two most problematic items are: (a) if your victim was under 13 (and why do I have to keep reminding people that includes CP images?) you can’t go to any of the usual suspect locations but in particular the parks where many of the events you may be interested in are taking place, and (b) you can’t wear masks or disguise your identity in public and you can’t give candy or trinkets to anyone under the age of 18.

It’s pretty obvious where this stuff is coming from – the good citizens of Louisiana are terrified that an army of criminal perverts is invading to take over Mardi Gras.  But wait – aren’t perversions what Mardi Gras is all about …?  Anyway, just be on your toes and mindful of these rules.

Since I began travelling I’ve wanted to visit Louisiana, and of course the time you’re supposed to do that is Mardi Gras.  However … it so happens that Mardi Gras usually occurs very close to March 3, the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s infamous (to us PFR’s) Smith vs. Doe decision that legitimized America’s disgusting registry system.  Since 2023 ACSOL and NARSOL have cooperated to hold DC conferences and vigils on the Supreme Court steps to mark this anniversary.  Every registered person and their loved ones need to be in DC every year to participate – we will never get anywhere with public opinion until we can have 10,000 PFR’s vigilling at the Supreme Court and get some actual press coverage.  Even that would be just 1% of everyone on America’s registries today.

New Orleans

That makes it kind of hard to go to Mardi Gras.  However … it recently occurred to me that if I was a business owner in the French Quarter I’d definitely want to turn Mardi Gras into a season, so I’d have more time to sell beads and trinkets and alcohol.  So in April 2025 as part of my South Central US tour I made an “off-season” exploratory trip to New Orleans to see how it all works. 

I made an advance motel reservation, arrived mid-afternoon and wandered around the French Quarter until the evening to see what it was like on an off-season Saturday night.  Then the next morning I stopped at the new New Orleans Welcome Center to ask them whether Mardi Gras is a season (the Welcome Center has moved – my gps took me to the wrong place).

Small brass band, off-season Saturday afternoon

The answer to that is Yes, of course it’s a season, but not as long as I had supposed – only about a week and a half.  Evenings start cranking up on that weekend before the weekend before, with at least one parade every day usually late afternoon.  From that point the excitement builds day by day until you get to actual Mardi Gras Day, when the partying and parades start around 9 am and go until they scrape the last drunk off the sidewalk Ash Wednesday morning.  There are no special events like scheduled jazz performances on a stage like you might see on Beale Street in Memphis, for example (I asked).  It’s all Mardi Gras all the time.

Street performers, off-season Saturday afternoon

One positive about this arrangement is that you as a visitor get to choose your desired intensity level.  I’m an old geezer and a real stick in the mud too because I don’t drink or gamble.  But even I can go stick my toe into it let’s say about a week before, have as much fun as I can stand and say I did it.

When I do go for my Mardi Gras road trip I think I’ll add a day of other New Orleans site seeing a couple of days exploring Cajun country.  Those should come before the day I do Mardi Gras so I can run from there to DC in plenty of time for the Vigil.  That would be about four days in Louisiana all together, well within the 6 available consecutive days we’re allowed (no limit per calendar year).

Bruce Hossfield, Atwo Zee Registered Traveler

 Visiting America’s big cities and small towns

I have been traveling for about four years now, and up until now I have mostly visited national parks and other wonders of nature.  I have visited comparatively few of America’s cities and towns, which is kinda odd for me because I am a retired city planner and you would think that I’d want to do that. Also, there are special considerations that arise for registered people when visiting cities. One that I have reported on is Chicago, where because of Illinois’ disgusting presence and residency laws we aren’t allowed to be in Millenium Park or see it’s beautiful waterfront.

Well actually I do want to visit cities. Starting this year I have a plan for doing so, and I will report on what I could do and couldn’t do in those cities due to my registry status.  That way you can have a better idea of what you can do if you go there.  I don’t know about you, but I have reached a point in my life’s journey where if there is a thing nobody can stop me from doing or a place they can’t keep me from going, these are things I definitely will do and places I will go. 

I have also decided to stop ignoring America’s small towns.  They are after all another place nobody can stop me from going while traveling.  I prefer to get off interstate highways and see the countryside when I travel. Of course that means I pass through a lot of small towns, but until now I’ve been just zooming through and completely ignoring them.  

Starting this year I will randomly pick some small towns to take a look at as I go along.  Generally speaking I’m talking about towns with a population of less than 1000.  I will drive their Main Street and see their town square.  Then I will drive a few blocks into a residential area or two.  I have actually done this on my first trip of the year which was South Central US with the most time spent in Texas.  Each small town takes no more than 10-15 minutes, and yet you can see quite a lot in that short time.  

Is the town prosperous or poor?  Is the town square empty and falling into the ground or filled with local businesses?  Are most of the residential streets paved? If so how well?  Are the homes occupied or rotting? What kind of homes are they and how old?  What kind of people live in the town?  Do they have a public park or is it a VFW park? That could make a difference if you want to stop at the farmers market being held there on a Saturday morning.  

If you are inclined to say hey Zee, 10-15 minutes is nothing, all I can say is that’s 10-15 more minutes than any other traveler is giving that town, and it’s short enough that you can do it and still stay on your travel schedule.  I found these little towns fascinating and yes I’ll definitely be reporting on them.  I’m hooked!

Bruce Hossfield, Atwo Zee Registered Traveler

 Thought for the Day testimony

I am Bruce Hossfield, a law abiding citizen of Florida.  I begin with a Thought for Today (and every day):

We who are on Florida’s offender registry understand that we were originally placed on the registry because we committed a sexually related offense. But that’s not why we are on the registry today.

We are on the registry today because we have NEVER reoffended. Because obviously if any of us had ever re-offended we’d be in prison right now instead of being in the community on the registry.

I say to you the fear of re-arrest has nothing to do with my reasons for wanting to “go straight” and never re-offend, but still, anyone who thinks they can re-offend and not get caught is kidding themselves. The fact that we are on the registry today should be your guarantee that we have NEVER re-offended.  In America we have a name for such people:  law abiding citizens.

So I say to my fellow law abiding citizens: When you are home tonight – go to the FDLE website, look at the map of your neighborhood, and realize this is a map of people in your neighborhood who have NEVER re-offended. They are also fortunate to have not been scooped up in a weaponized law enforcement registry sweep and imprisoned for a paperwork error.

If any of those people had ever re-offended they wouldn’t be on that map.  They’d be in prison today.  This is a map of law abiding citizens.

And remember – FDLE is providing no information at all about the drug dealers in your neighborhood, the carjackers, embezzlers and home invaders in your neighborhood.  There’s no map of them on the FDLE website. Instead, they are showing you a map of law abiding citizens and telling you these are the people you should be afraid of.

I say to my legislators to to law enforcement – law abiding citizens should not be treated as criminal suspects. 

Therefore I urge you to tell FDLE to establish a policy whereby if any error or omission is found in any registrant’s file, he will be notified and provided an opportunity to correct that error before any further action is taken.

This requires no legislative action.  You’ll never have to publicly say anything good about any of us.  It only requires an internal FDLE policy change to allow law enforcement to act more humanely towards law abiding citizens.

Thank you.

Bruce Hossfield, Atwo Zee Registered Traveler

 The perils of moving to another state – even after you’re removed from your own state’s registry

By Atwo Zee, Registered Traveler

Originally posted at NARSOL.org

A recent NARSOL Digest (Oct/Nov 2024) “Legal Corner” article (Page 5) discussed the case of a man who successfully had himself removed from Michigan’s registry, then moved to Alabama.  Three years later he was arrested in Alabama on a failure to register felony. Now he asks from his prison cell, how can this be? “I should not be in prison for failure to register because I have no registration obligation.”

The Digest’s answer is on point: “Unfortunately, when you left Michigan, that state no longer controls your plight …”  Since many former registrants mistakenly believe there will be no consequences from moving to a new state, this example should be an object lesson that this really can happen to you.

The problem is that state registry laws contain language saying one of two things. Either:

(A) (paraphrasing) If you are required to register in the state where you offended, then you have to register with us if you move to our state, or

(B) (paraphrasing) If you were EVER CONVICTED of a registrable offense in another state, then you have to register with us if you move to our state.

The bad news is Option B is by far the larger group--38 states and all five territories.  Option A includes only 12 states.  Even here there’s no way of knowing how much mischief state and local law enforcement can do to throw roadblocks in the way of exercising your right to travel.  You should consult an attorney specializing in registry issues in your destination state.

Within the larger group of 38 states and five territories, it turns out there are subgroups.  The two largest are: (a) states which have a stated time period after which a registrant is (supposedly according to statute) AUTOMATICALLY removed, AND this includes out-of-state offenders (16-19 states depending on how you count them), and (b) states which have a stated time period after which a registrant is (supposedly according to statute) allowed to PETITION for removal, AND this includes out-of-state offenders (15-17 states).

In an ideal world, a person who has served the requisite amount of registry time in the state of conviction should be eligible to petition a court in the destination state that he/she has fulfilled the registration period and that there would be no registration obligation. The reality is that this option is not likely to be successful because courts generally do not render advisory opinions. They view such endeavors as a waste of judicial resources when there is no actual ongoing controversy to be resolved. In Option B you have the right to petition after the stated time period, but there’s usually no guarantee.  I can only imagine that few of these states would allow you to swoop in at the airport and head for the nearest courthouse to get off their registry.  Some laws state a time period for out-of-staters to establish residency before you can apply.  Again, consult an attorney specializing in registry issues in your destination state.

If you have been removed from the registry in the state where you offended, you are “free to go” - but ONLY in that state.  If you travel out of your state for business or pleasure, you still have to conduct yourself as if you were still on the registry, because unfortunately most states will view you that way. 

If you have been removed from the registry in the state where you offended and you choose to move to another state, you will immediately become subject to the registry laws of your destination state, which in most cases means all your previous hard work getting yourself off your home state’s registry will be lost and you’ll be back to square one.  Your best option is to stay put, no matter how disgusted you may be with the state where you suffered on the registry for so long.

More information about state SOR laws applying to out of state former and long-term registrants can be found at this website, on the main page, Chart #2 - "State & Territorial Visitor Registration Laws for FORMER & LONG-TERM Registrants."  However, for anyone considering a permanent move to another state, any information you find online - including at this site - should only be the starting point for further research in consultation with an attorney specializing in registry issues in your destination state.

Bruce Hossfield, Atwo Zee Registered Traveler

  Navajo & Hopi Nations: 

First Nations tourism in the Southwest

From the 50 State Visitor Guide: Arizona

A.R.S. 2019  §§ 13-3821 through 13-3829, 13-3727

Registration Triggers and Deadlines:

Visitors must register if staying for more than 72 hours excluding weekends & holidays (per statute). §13-3821(A). SOR office refused to answer whether return visits allowed per month or year. “That’s determined by local sheriff.” NOTE: AZ SOR office defers on many questions to local county sheriffs for interpretation. Updated Aug 2024.

Initial reg. required “within 72 hours excluding weekends & holidays of entering and remaining in any county.”  §13-3821. Updated 8/2022.  Registrants working in state must report in any county where present for 14 consecutive days or an aggregate of 30 days/yr.  Address change etc. required w/in 72 hours (business days only).  §13-3822.

Residency/Presence and Other Restrictions:

Residence restriction:  1,000 ft. restriction applies to Level 3 offenders. §13-3727. Local governments are pre-empted from adopting more restrictive requirements. §13-3727.

Duration & updates:

10 years to life. Transients report every 90 days.  All others annually.

From the 50 State Visitor Guide: New Mexico

N.M. Stat. Ann. 2019  §§29-11A-1 through 29-11A-10

N.M.A.C. §1.18.790.157

Registration Triggers and Deadlines:

5 business days for initial registration & updates. §29-11A-4.

State law requires “sex offenders” to register, which includes one who: (1) establishes a residence [not defined] in NM; (2) “stays in multiple locations in NM,” or (3) is enrolled in a NM school, or (4) is employed in NM for more than 14 days or an aggregate period exceeding 30 days in a calendar year. §29-11A-3.

Visitors:  NM State Police say: “If convicted prior to July 1, 2013 you will need to register if in the state of New Mexico for longer than ten (10) days. You will need to register within five (5) days if convicted after July 1, 2013.” §29-11A-4 says business days.

Residency/Presence and Other Restrictions:

State pre-emption: Cities, counties & other political subdivisions are prohibited from adopting any ordinance, rule, regulation, resolution or statute on sex offender registration and notification and from imposing any other restrictions on sex offenders that are not included in the state SOR Act. §29-11A-9.

Duration & updates:

10 years to life. Updates are every 6 mo. or every 90 days depending on offense. §29-11A-4.

From the 50 State Visitor Guide: Utah

Utah Code Ann.  2019 §§77-41-101 through 77-41-112

Utah. Code Ann. §§77-27-21.7 through 77-27-21.9

U.A.C. §§R251-110-1 through R251-110-5

Registration Triggers and Deadlines:

“Sex Offender” is defined to include any out-of-state SO who is in Utah for more than 10 days in any 12 month period. §77-41-102(17)(b).

Visitors must register “within 10 days of entering the state, regardless of the offender’s length of stay.”  §77-41-105.  

Updates required within 3 business days. §77-41-105.

Residency/Presence and Other Restrictions:

Presence restriction: May not be on premises of a day care or preschool, public swimming pool, school, community park open to the public, playground that is open to the public.  Exceptions for access to schools when carrying out “necessary parental responsibilities” and day care center or preschool when in building for other purposes. 

Residence restriction: w/in 1,000 ft. of victim, with exceptions. §77-27-21.7.

“Sex Offender in Presence of Child Law:”  Registrants w/ convictions involving minors under 14 years old cannot invite the minor to accompany him or her absent parental consent, with exceptions.  §77-27-21.8.

Because “Sex Offender” is defined to include only out-of-state SO’s in Utah for more than 10 days in a 12 month period (see Registration Triggers & Deadlines at left), visitors not meeting this definition would, in theory, not be required to register & thus not subject to these restrictions during their visit. However, this theory remains untested.

Duration & updates:

Lifetime. Petition 10 years.  Updates every 6 mo. §77-41-105.

Most recent visit: October 2024

Native American nations can be fascinating places to visit, but make no mistake – you might tell yourself you are entering a sovereign nation when you cross the reservation boundary but you aren’t.  You’ll still be bound by the registry laws of whatever US state you’re in.  

Nor should you get any funny ideas if you are of native ancestry that you can somehow escape your registry status by moving to the reservation of whatever tribe you belong to.  You can’t.  As you must already realize, the oppression of the registry will follow you onto the reservation whether you’re a visitor or become a resident.  That’s why I have placed the registry laws of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah at the beginning of this blog entry, rather than any tribal registry laws.  There may be some local tribal laws, but the state laws are the ones to pay attention to.

Another point that must be clearly made to anyone planning to travel to Indian Country is that you are NOT going to a tourist attraction.  This is not Pennsylvania Dutch Country where you as a tourist are invited to gawk at the locals driving their buggies and eat at an expensive smorgasbord.  To the contrary, you are about to enter upon a place where quite frankly you don’t belong.  Your visit is merely tolerated, and as far as I’m concerned that is as it should be.

If you have read my previous blog post “A Medical Emergency While Traveling,” you know that in October 2024, on the night I arrived at Page, AZ to begin my journey through the Navajo Nation I had a very serious medical emergency that landed me in the Page Hospital emergency room.  

When I left there the following morning I was recovering but in no shape for the reservation deep dive I had planned.  Still, my fastest way home to Iowa was to get myself to I-40 in New Mexico and stay in interstates from then on.  Driving through the Navajo Nation wasn’t the shortest route to I-40 – in fact it added about half a day – but it fit better with both Arizona’s registry requirements and with the travel I’d reported in Iowa before leaving.

Arizona’ SOR law includes a visitors grace period of 72 hours not including weekends and holidays.  Since I was planning to re-enter Utah to camp in Bears Ears the following afternoon, that would be about 32 hours in Arizona on that first leg of my journey.  The next morning (Wednesday) I would return to the Navajo Nation, where I would be in Arizona until the following afternoon before exiting at Window Rock, so that would have been 32 hours or so. As you can see, this neatly split AZ into two equal pieces so I’d never get anywhere close to the 72 hour limit, while making use of the last two partial days available to me in Utah.

I decided to follow a truncated version of this original route and at least drive past the attractions and natural wonders I was to visit in my original plan.  I did spend the night at a Utah campground such that my hours in Arizona were about as originally planned. I even took a few photos, mostly from my driver’s seat.

From Page I drove southeast on State Rd. 98 to US 160 east.  From here it’s not far to Black Mesa and Navajo National Monument, which I’m sure are spectacular but I had to hurry past.  Instead I continued on to the town of Kayenta where US 163 splits off to go through Monument Valley.

Monuments in Monument Valley, Navajo Nation, as seen from my driver's seat

US 163 takes you right through Monument Valley and I could see many of the monuments from my driver’s seat (see photos). There is also Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park which is open to outsiders and according to my AAA Indian Country map includes buttes and mesas and arches and viewpoints and a visitors center. I’m sure it’s magnificent but I couldn’t stop for any of it.  Instead I continued on US 163 into Utah and the Navajo border town of Mexican Hat, which is named after a rock formation that I saw from the highway that looks a bit like a sombrero.  

About 15 miles after that I found one of the last campsites at Sand Island Recreation Area at about 5:00.  It was a weekday late in the season, and that campground was full up by dusk.  I wonder if the motels in Mexican Hat filled up too?

The next morning I followed US 191 south to my destination of Window Rock and Gallup, NM which took only about 10 of the originally planned 32+ hours, but I did make one side trip, turning off at Tribal Road 12 to the town of Tsaile, then Tribal Road 64 which let me drive by Canyon de Chelly National Monument.  There are several points of interest and viewpoints along TR 64 and I was feeling well enough by that time to walk about 50 yards to one viewpoint to get a few pictures (see photo).  Unfortunately I was unable to go on the scenic drive or stop at the visitors center.

A typical canyon view at Canyon de Chelly National Monument 

By late afternoon I was at Window Rock, where there is a Navajo Nation Museum which I was unable to go to, and a casino of course.  The casino has a faux Navajo restaurant, and I was well enough to go in there and order (to go) what everybody says you’re supposed to order in the Navajo Nation, a Navajo Taco.  But guess what?  I didn’t like it.  

That night I decided from that point on I was going to treat myself to motel rooms along the interstates to get better rest and heal, which I eventually did do.  Oh well – maybe I’ll get another chance to experience this magical land.

One other point about reservation tourism – turn on your radio!  Most First Peoples have their own radio stations these days, often NPR affiliates, and there is nothing like driving through the American Southwest with authentic Native war chants blasting on the tube!

Previous visit – October 2023

Oddly, and I’m sure uncomfortably, the Hopi Nation is located within and entirely surrounded by the Navajo Nation.  Having been to the Grand Canyon before, in October 2023 I knew I’d be skirting the edge of the Navajo Nation while driving up U.S. 89 so I decided to devote just a couple of hours to poke my head into these reservations.  

This didn’t allow enough time to drive up U.S. 160 as far as Navajo National Monument, and I regretted that, but I did get as far as Tuba City and Moenkopi, the two opposing tribal towns.  I also drove a ways down State Road 264 just to be able to say I had entered the Hopi Nation.  Tuba City and Moenkopi were the very picture of reservation poverty.  The only adobe architecture I saw were a totally fake looking gas station (see photo) and a motel next door in Tuba City (or was it Moenkopi?).  

Totally fake, inappropriate "appropriate architecture" in Tuba City / Moenkopi.

Hey, I'm a retired city planner so I've seen inappropriate "appropriate architecture" before.

Years ago my then wife and I visited perhaps the Navajo Nation’s best known tourist attraction, Antelope Canyon, which is outside the town of Page, AZ.  It’s beautiful and the Navajo tour guide played a wooden flute that echoed all over the canyon walls.

If you only want to dip your toe into the Navajo Nation, you can stop in the town of Cameron on U.S. 89 just outside of the Grand Canyon entrance road.  There has been a lot of recent road improvements and tourist construction there – now they even have a roundabout at the intersection of SR 64.  It looks to me like the Navajos envision trapping you there so you won’t be tempted to go deeper into their territory … like I did.

 A medical emergency while traveling

Yes, on my October 2024 trip to Utah and the Navajo Nation I encountered a medical emergency so serious that I might have died if I hadn’t made it to a hospital emergency room in time.  But what I want to emphasize here is the very serious registry implications arising from this medical emergency that you should be aware of if anything similar ever happens to you while traveling.

If you are a man – and let’s face it, most registrants are – as you age you will likely begin to have prostate problems – enlargement, difficulty peeing etc.  Like me, you may take a medication like Flomax to reduce the swelling.  But also like me, you may not realize your prostate can suddenly swell up and cause what doctors call “retention,” i.e. you cannot go even as your bladder gets ready to explode.

Upon returning to my “bunkhouse” after my second day at Zion National Park (see my blog post “Utah’s National Parks & Monuments”) late that night I suddenly began to experience “retention” but I didn’t know what was going on. At first it was very very difficult and painful to pee but not impossible. 

I was unable to sleep much of that night but told myself surely this is temporary and would go away in time.  The next morning was my Day 7 in Utah of the 9 days allowed per 12 month period (not the 10 days specified by statute because as I always say, you have to assume that the 10th day would trigger an obligation to register and that all partial days will be counted).  If you look at my Utah blog post you’ll see that I was planning to leave Utah to enter the Navajo Nation but re-enter to visit Bears Ears National Monument for two partial Days 8 & 9, so I was using up every Utah day I was allowed in 2024.

It so happened that my plans for that day were simple – drive from La Verkin, UT to Page, AZ about 175 miles away, which was to be my gateway to the Navajo Nation. I took the more southerly route (U.S. 89A) so I could at least pass by Vermillion Cliffs Nat. Mon. which, yes, is spectacular. In doing so I entered Arizona at about 11:00 on a Monday morning.

Arizona’ SOR law includes a visitors grace period of 72 hours not including weekends and holidays.  Since I was planning to re-enter Utah to camp in Bears Ears the following afternoon, that would be about 32 hours in Arizona on that first leg of my journey.  The next morning (Wednesday) I would return to the Navajo Nation, where I would be in Arizona until the following afternoon before exiting at Window Rock, so that’s another 32 hours or so. As you can see, this neatly split AZ into two equal pieces so I’d never get anywhere close to the 72 hour limit, while making use of the last two partial days available to me in Utah.

By the time I arrived in Page AZ my “retention” was worse than ever.  I knew Page was a big enough town to have a hospital, but instead of plugging it into my GPS and heading for the emergency room I did the stupidest thing imaginable.  I continued to wish it would go away and actually showed up at the Antelope Canyon tour place and signed up for a canyon tour the following morning.  Then I headed off for a nearby campground. 

It’s a darned good thing I stayed nearby because by midnight I was heading for the Page Hospital Emergency Room driving in great pain.  And then I ran into another medical emergency when the hospital staff – in my opinion – botched the catheter insertion that drained my bladder.  So by about 2:00 am I left the hospital with a painful catheter in me to try and sleep in my minivan (which as always had a comfortable bed in the back) in their parking lot.  I even went back in when I woke the next morning (Tuesday) to discuss everything before deciding how to proceed.

When I looked thru my photos later I couldn't believe I'd taken a pic of the emergency room entrance - even then I guess I knew I'd be blogging about this

What were the registry implications of what had happened so far?  For one thing, if either (a) I had been much stupider than I actually was that night, or (b) if the hospital staff had botched my catheter much worse than they did, I could have ended up hospitalized in a state that only allows me 72 hours of which I had already consumed about 13 when I arrived at the hospital.  The clock was ticking.

As an out-of-stater I don’t know Arizona’s procedure, but I can only assume that initial registration must be in person and must happen before the end of the 72 hour grace period.  And where would I have to go to do this?

Now you see the urgency of all this.  If I was laid up in a hospital for more than 2 days I could be committing a registry violation, which, if Arizona is anything like Florida or Iowa, could mean prison time!  I am so fortunate that this didn’t happen.

Then there are the Iowa registry travel reporting considerations.  If my itinerary changes enough to make a difference to them I can call in that change.  I believe they’d care about a 2-3 day hospital stay because it would delay my previously reported return date.  And making this change would necessarily document my time in Arizona.

Taking all this into account, including the fact that in the hours and days that followed I really did feel better as the hospital staff had promised, and considering how disappointed I was to have my Navajo Nation tour totally ruined, I decided on a truncated version of my original route through the Navajo Nation wherein I camped in Utah as originally planned.  From there I drove straight south to Window Rock and Gallup, NM where I got on I-40 as originally planned. 

By the time I got home to Iowa the Page Hospital had sent all my records to my urologist and I had an appointment with her.  But the most important message of this story is – DO NOT be stupid like I was.  We’re all getting older and some kind of medical emergency is coming.  When it does, recognize it and don’t try to wish it away.  Get help.