Forgetting ID

[Klasanov]

I understand that it's lawful to furnish ID to police when requested, but what are you supposed to say if you forget/don't have it on you when asked for it?

I carry mine about 99% of the time, sometimes not (either couldn't find wallet and have to go, or just couldn't find it and didn't need it. Either is rare because my wallet has my credit cards and other stuff, etc). I've been thinking that in either situation where I'm on foot or pulled over I would explain to the officer that I don't have it on me, but would be more than glad to answer any of his questions so that he can verify who I am.

Would this be the correct approach? I understand I would get a citation to provide proof of driver's licence if I get pulled over and don't have it on me. I'm not asking "how do I not carry ID because I hate the police blah blah", but simply, if this situation were to happen, how do I allay the officer's suspicions that I might be trying to provide a false name, etc.

[marinepilot]

Truthfully I'd say don't really worry about it. If you're on foot, and you're a law abiding citizen, your chances of coming in contact with an officer who wants to see your ID are negligible. If you're driving and law abiding, chances are the same. Now, should you get pulled over and don't have it, just be polite and explain that you have an ID, just that you don't have it on you. I get it all the time with people when I ask for their ID, and they say they don't have it. That leads me to have to pull teeth in my questions asking do they HAVE an ID just not on them? Or do they NOT have an ID at all? Don't worry about explaining that you'd be more than happy to answer any questions, because if it's progressed to the point where the officer is asking for your ID, you don't really have a choice in the matter anymore. Again, be polite, answer all questions truthfully, and your encounter will go quite smoothly.

[Klasanov]

Thanks. I do obey the speed limit and I know the chances of me being approached by an officer while I'm on foot are pretty slim (i'm not suspicious, don't break into stuff, etc), I just wanted to know in case, well, I can just see it being one of those freak occurances where I think "I don't need to bring this" and then get questioned by police about something.

It's just that a few months ago there was a six week period of time where I got pulled over 4 times. The last time was because I ran a red light (was trying to make sure the driver ahead of me was actually a drunk before calling dispatch about it, and I got distracted). I calmly informed the officer of the three firearms in my trunk and handed him my insurance and driver's license. He asked if he could search my trunk, saw the firearms, and asked if they were stolen and if they were registered, and where I got them.

Looking back, this stop could have gone a lot differently had I decided to be an *** because not only did I run a red, I also turned into the wrong lane and my tags are in the wrong spot on the vehicle. While the guns are registered, I don't have the paperwork, and while legal to own, one of the firearms is an AK47 which can (and most certainly did) raise a question about why I had so much firepower in the trunk. I have no idea what I told him but he calmly explained that I should put them in my house in case my car gets broken into. I think my showing of respect really saved me from a ticket here.

And I think part of that respect is being able to communicate to the officer that you're not going to try and pull a fast one.

Also unlikely, but what if I am at home and an officer answers the door, asks for ID, and my wallet is in my bedroom? What would be the proper procedure for me to retrieve it here be? Invite him in, ask him to get it for me? I keep my guns in my closet so I know it would be a good idea to let him know where those are. I do leave them unloaded although I doubt that makes any difference.

[Gutwrench]

If you're driving try to remember your license but if you forget it and are stopped, don't sweat it. The officer knows how to handle it so just answer his or her questions and you'll be fine.

Otherwise, in America you aren't required to carry identification. If you're detained for investigation of an offense you are required to provide adequate evidence of your identity. Just like driving without your license there are ways to do this. Just answer the officer's question, he/she knows what to do. In the rare cases where identity can't be adequately determined it can get a little inconvenient for the citizen. But it's unlikely that would be you.

[CPL1897]

I think the traffic stop issue has been answered and based on what occurred when you were stopped with the guns in your trunk you must have been honest and respectful to be released without a citation. I also would be VERY curious why you had an AK in your trunk if I stopped you. An AK's sole purpose is to Kill PEOLLE, its what it was designed for and is very effective. I agree, unless you are going to a gun range etc., then leave it at home. If its for protection, one gun is "explainable" but if you were to use the AK for defense outside your home, you would be "open" to get sued by the dead bad guys family claiming that you intentionally killed their son etc. instead of stopping the threat since it was a "assault rifle" and not a hangun. Both are designed to shoot people but the AK would "scare" the jury a lot more than a handgun similar to what they see LEO's carry.

As for the encounter with LE at your home and your ID is in a room etc. The safest way for you and the Officer would be to explain where your ID is and tell them you have firearms in the house and where they are. You should also "invite" them to escort you to the ID or allow them to retrieve it for you.

[Klasanov]

Yeah. If I was a cop I would have been pretty suspicious of anyone owning as much firepower as was in my trunk that day (12g shotgun, ak47, .22 rifle).

The reason I own it is because of its reliability and firepower. Not to kill anyone (I think my weapon of choice for home defense would be the shotgun). Not that any of this is relevant in this thread but my practical reason is more akin to collection than anything nerfarious. I take it to the range maybe twice a year. Ammunition for it is bloody expensive.

I also didn't have any ammunition in the car for it nor was it loaded either, which I'm sure helped, and I think whatever reason I gave (i was on total autopilot when he asked me why I had that gun there) also communicated to him that while i had no real good reason for it to be there, I also wasn't up to something. If that makes sense. Yeah, I got lucky, and I was also 100% cooperative and respectful. I think not looking like a banger helped, also.

I think the respect towards the officer is what helped, a lot. Honestly. Which is why I just laugh now whenever I hear of someone getting arrested for talking back/not following orders because I'm sure that there is a lot of times where the officer really just wanted to chat for a minute and let the other guy know that "hey, what you're doing is unsafe." As someone who is not able to tolerate bull**** very well I can certainly understand a cop deciding to arrest or cite (whatever would be appropiate) someone when they were originally intending to give a warning.

Like I was biking home one day and saw a guy pulled over, out of his car. He had his hands pointed at the cop, or something, I have absolutely no idea. The suspect (or would this be the wrong term in this case, it looked like a simple traffic stop at this point) was facing away from his car, standing by the trunk of it. He then turns around and tries to get into the trunk. The cop becomes enraged and starts walking towards him, yelling at him, pointing at him and shouting "DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?!?!" I have no idea what was going on but it looked like up until that point the officer was pretty calm. I'm not trashing the cop, because its obvious the guy who got pulled over had no business getting into his trunk, and I stopped wathcing after around ten minutes or so because I realized if the **** totally hit the fan I was better off not being around (have a family) but I imagine this is a case that ended in arrest that otherwise would have not.

There was also a shoplifter at freds where I worked who got arrested when all loss prevention wanted was to tell him to give the $5 dollar pack of trading cards back. Like he gets out of the store, they confront him, he gets all mouthy and try to run and a few employees take him down and the loss prevention guy (who moonlights as an leo . . . or is it the other way around) literally puts the guy in handcuffs. Over $5, over what would have otherwise been them telling him to "get lost."

So, yeah. Thanks for the answers. This will help me out if I ever find myself in such a situation (unlikely, but you just never know).

[txinvestigator1]

OP must not be from Texas if he thinks THAT is a lot of firepower. lol

Here, one must only carry ID if engaged in a licensed activity. Driving, hunting, carrying a handgun under a CHL are examples.

[ET109]

Make sure you have it when you're driving, or you can get hit with a citation for not displaying it... at least here. Also keep it with you if you're doing anything criminal. I know that sounds dumb, but we have people here who are drinking underage, or drinking in public... not serious crimes, but it's a real headache if they don't have their ID. If the officer is unable to identify you to a reasonable degree of satisfaction, you can be arrested.

[Klasanov]

Hah! I was born in texas actually :-P