Are you legally required to show a police officer ID when asked?

[Armueller2001]

Originally Posted by Jazz Ad

It's your right as a citizen to be stubborn.
What you must remember is that the cop too has the right to be stubborn.

The difference is that the police only have the right to be stubborn to a certain point before it becomes illegal detainment. I don't care if a cop is going to be stubborn to me, no matter what he does he's not searching my car or possessions without a warrant or probable cause. Maybe things are different in France.

Originally Posted by Jazz Ad

You won't win at this game. There's something to be said about choosing your fights.

I've read numerous articles about people winning lawsuits against police departments for illegal searches and detainment. Makes other departments think about if they want to "stretch" the law or not. If you don't stand up for your rights, don't be surprised when they're not there in the future.

[Jazz Ad]

Choosing your fights. Think about it. Of all threats above your head, you choose to go against cops asking for ID ?

[Armueller2001]

Originally Posted by Jazz Ad

Choosing your fights. Think about it. Of all threats above your head, you choose to go against cops asking for ID ?

Not yet, I was just curious as to what the legal grounds were when an officer asks for identification. Depends on the situation I guess. However, I will refuse all searches and seizures that do not come with a warrant or probable cause, that is a fight that I would choose.

[MAJOR METAL]

ok.

[Armueller2001]

Originally Posted by MAJOR METAL

ok.

Ok.

[Happynoj]

Originally Posted by Armueller2001

Not yet, I was just curious as to what the legal grounds were when an officer asks for identification. Depends on the situation I guess. However, I will refuse all searches and seizures that do not come with a warrant or probable cause, that is a fight that I would choose.

Or, just don't put yourself in a situation where a police officer might have a reason to ask you for ID, or attempt to search you or your vehicle. It is something that has been working out nicely for me - stay out of their way and they'll stay out of your way (up to a point of course - there are always exceptions).

[armywalaby]

I know something that the Wildlife Officers or Park Rangers or whatever the hell they are, they'll have dogs for sniffing out animal carcasses to see if you've been hunting/fishing without licenses or out of season, whathaveyou...but some kids that are just cruisin out and around the country smoking a doobie don't know that, so he'll scare the kids by taking the dog out. There are also ways that cops can make their dog produce a false positive so that they can search your car. It's something they teach it when they are doing the training or the get-to-know-you if they switch officers or whatever...some other good things to know for you there.

[Mike N]

Originally Posted by Armueller2001

Just curious as to what the law is on this...

Unless you have something to hide I fail to see the problem with showing ID when asked to.

[RWP]

Originally Posted by Todd Stanley

Best sentence to know when dealing with cops is as follows......"I do not consent to any searches." Plain and simple, the cop will still do whatever he is able to do that doesn't require your consent, so anything with probable cause is out. But this covers all your basic rights and lets the cop know where you stand. A cops job is to find what he can, it includes manipulating and tricking you into waving your rights and consenting to anything they want you to. They do a great job at it, and it does a good job finding a lot of bad things. If you have things to hide, flex your rights and you'll probably be okay. It's not being rude, and they wont see it as rude. They are trained to uphold the law, if you have the law on your side (basic rights) then they USUALLY respect that.

Wouldn't any cop think you are hiding something if you refuse to be searched; making him more likely to hold you until you can prove otherwise? Yeah I know, innocent until proven guilty but I suspect they think just the opposite. I would.

[Muusers]

well, the dutch law states that you do not have to show your ID when a police officer asks for it, exceptions though are:

- when you are in violation of the law (for example, biking in the dark without light, yes it can be that silly) or when you are in an accident of any kind

- when you are witness of someone violating the law or when you are a witness of an accident of any kind

of course you should also show your ID boarding a plane or something similar

[Joey3313]

Wow, I didn't realize that it was so difficult to open a wallet.

Huh. Good to know.

[armywalaby]

Originally Posted by Joey3313

Wow, I didn't realize that it was so difficult to open a wallet.

Huh. Good to know.

Apparently you live in an area where police don't randomly mess with people to make themselves feel important/they're bored. Bravo, sir.

It's good to know these sort of things. I never got into any trouble as a minor myself, but I know people who got busted for stuff when the police were just messing with them and had no probable cause whatsoever. Correct, they were in the wrong, whatever. It's still good stuff to know.

[cassanova]

Originally Posted by Todd Stanley

A cops job is to find what he can, it includes manipulating and tricking you into waving your rights and consenting to anything they want you to. They do a great job at it, and it does a good job finding a lot of bad things.

I do not think they should be allowed to lie and manipulate people to obtain the information. When we lie its obstruction of justice/perjury. Fortunately I'm pretty honest and I'd level with a cop, but I feel if we can't lie to them, then they shouldn't be allowed to lie and trick people either. Sounds ethically wrong to me. But because it catches really really bad people we the masses tend to over look it and allow it.

[cassanova]

Originally Posted by RWP

Wouldn't any cop think you are hiding something if you refuse to be searched; making him more likely to hold you until you can prove otherwise? Yeah I know, innocent until proven guilty but I suspect they think just the opposite. I would.

I would think they would believe you're hiding something if you don't consent to a search. But what grounds does he/she have to further detain you even if you refuse to be searched. Then again, some cops don't care.

When I was 22 I was told by 2 female cops "we'd like to search you for our safety and your own." I was like, can you give me a better reason than that because there are 6 of us here and i'm the only one you wanna search and respectfully declined. That didn't stop them. Even lost that one in court when I sued them.

Originally Posted by Mike N

Unless you have something to hide I fail to see the problem with showing ID when asked to.

This seems to be a very standard response. No offense to you, but I really hate that mentality. I have nothing to hide, but if a cop just randomly came up to me and asked me for ID, then I'd have a problem with that. I also have a problem with them wanting to search my vehicle every time I get stopped. Its not always about having something to hide. Sometimes it's about making sure the power stays in balance and your rights are not infringed upon. If you have nothing to hide then you wouldn't mind or stop cops from coming to your house and randomly searching it at 3 am for no reason at all.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, that mindset leads to abuse of power and deterioration of rights and civil liberties.

Originally Posted by Armueller2001

If you don't stand up for your rights, don't be surprised when they're not there in the future.

Big +1 on that.

[PRUNEFACE]

Originally Posted by Armueller2001

Not yet, I was just curious as to what the legal grounds were when an officer asks for identification. Depends on the situation I guess. However, I will refuse all searches and seizures that do not come with a warrant or probable cause, that is a fight that I would choose.

If the police officert feels "endangered" (which can be manipulated so that you HAVE to submit to their search) they can stop and frisk you. They can actually search your home or person if they see, or hear anything that could be related to criminal activity. Like if a police officer knocks, you open the door and they happen to see what appears to be a switchblade/drug paraphenalia on a table they can go right in and arrest/search you. The same applies if they hear a child screaming (not like crying "I didn't get my cany bar...) or someone sounding like they are in pain they can head inside.

[fdeck]

I am not a lawyer, but... I don't think that I am even legally required to have an ID, except under some narrow circumstances such as driving. So far as I know, I am obligated to identify myself to a police officer, but this simply means giving my name and where I live. I often go out walking without my wallet.

[PRUNEFACE]

Originally Posted by cassanova

I would think they would believe you're hiding something if you don't consent to a search. But what grounds does he/she have to further detain you even if you refuse to be searched. Then again, some cops don't care.

When I was 22 I was told by 2 female cops "we'd like to search you for our safety and your own." I was like, can you give me a better reason than that because there are 6 of us here and i'm the only one you wanna search and respectfully declined. That didn't stop them. Even lost that one in court when I sued them.




This seems to be a very standard response. No offense to you, but I really hate that mentality. I have nothing to hide, but if a cop just randomly came up to me and asked me for ID, then I'd have a problem with that. I also have a problem with them wanting to search my vehicle every time I get stopped. Its not always about having something to hide. Sometimes its about making sure the power stays in balance and your rights are not infringed upon. If you have nothing to hide then you wouldn't mind or stop cops from coming to your house and randomly searching it at 3 am for no reason at all.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, that mindset leads to abuse of power and deterioration of rights and civil liberties.




Big +1 on that.

Well, I'd much rather have someone have their "rights infringed upon" than have them break into my house with a firearm. I think the "I don't have anything to hide" mentality is what most Americans should have (unless they DO have something to hide...) becasue it encourages not comitting crimes. I also think that firearms should be more regulated than they currently are, such as requiring the person applying for a permit to undergo pyschological exams, drug tests, and submit a complete medical/legal history. The government should be able to search cars etc. when on public roads if they feel that it is prudent.
If police officers or anyother govermental official acts unethically or (what you percieve to be) unfairly you should take legal action.

[PRUNEFACE]

Originally Posted by fdeck

I am not a lawyer, but... I don't think that I am even legally required to have an ID, except under some narrow circumstances such as driving. So far as I know, I am obligated to identify myself to a police officer, but this simply means giving my name and where I live. I often go out walking without my wallet.

if someone is drinking, gambling, or purchasing/partaking in services that require you to be a certain age you need to have an ID.

[bobba66]

Keep playing your little games with the cops. Sooner or later you'll regret it.

[cassanova]

Originally Posted by PRUNEFACE

Well, I'd much rather have someone have their "rights infringed upon" than have them break into my house with a firearm. I think the "I don't have anything to hide" mentality is what most Americans should have (unless they DO have something to hide...) becasue it encourages not comitting crimes. I also think that firearms should be more regulated than they currently are, such as requiring the person applying for a permit to undergo pyschological exams, drug tests, and submit a complete medical/legal history. The government should be able to search cars etc. when on public roads if they feel that it is prudent.
If police officers or anyother govermental official acts unethically or (what you percieve to be) unfairly you should take legal action.

For some reason i dont thnk any of what you said will stop someone from breaking into your house with a firearm. If someone wants in your house, they're getting in no matter what rights you take away and how difficult you make it to obtain weapons. I dunno, maybe you'd feel more comfortable if they broke into your house and had a huge butcher knife instead of a firearm. Those can't kill ya I guess and they're no where near as hard to obtain as a firearm.

I myself think nobodies rights should be infringed upon. Just because you or anyone else might have same beliefs that you listed does not give you the right to take away or infringe upon my rights. That's why they are called rights, I am entitled to them even if people don't think I should be.

I'm not even gonna touch the firearms stuff you mentioned as thats no where near relivent to the OP and there are other threads that deal with that.

Originally Posted by bobba66

Keep playing your little games with the cops. Sooner or later you'll regret it.

I'm sure that's similar if not identical to what people said to those involved in the civil rights movement of the 60's. It might have even been said to Ghandi. Look where that got those no good trouble makers.