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[EasternPromises]

Have you ever encountered anyone that didn't have ID and either didn't have, or refused to provide a Social Security Number when asked?

How did you handle the situation?

[SnapShawt]

Encounter people with no ID on them all the time. How I handle it depends on what I'm doing, why I'm asking for their ID, the circumstances, etc. Failure to ID to a peace officer lawfully asking for it is an arrestable offense.

SSNs are irrelevant. No one is required to divulge that information to me. Unless they don't have ID and I need to establish who they are by name/date of birth/SSN (usually don't need the SSN, but sometimes we need it to verify in a few situations). If they give me wrong info, then it's a false ID charge.

Just depends.

[Aussie George]

Well, we don't have SSN as such here, but if I can't ID you, then you get arrested.

A few times I have had people that stated they did not have ID and/or refused to produce it when asked. When I explained that if they can't prove to me who they are (and I don't take the word for it) they get locked up until I can prove who they are.

[Wolfman]

We run into people with no ID all the time. We try to confirm their identity via other means, warrant-check, NCIC, DMV, etc. I will ask people for SSN, but they are under no legal obligation to provide it.

I was writing a citation the other day, and asked someone for it for the "SSN" blank; he asked "is it safe giving it to you?" I told him "yeah, but don't worry about it" - dashed the line, and issued the cite.

The only big thing the SSN is important for is booking and so forth.

[TX-LEO]

Have you ever encountered anyone that didn't have ID and either didn't have, or refused to provide a Social Security Number when asked?

How did you handle the situation?

Nope. SSN is for taxes, not criminal law. I've used SSN's to help verify a warrant but if i get it or not it dosent matter. The jail will identify them with their fingerprints. If it's not the person i have in custody, I let them go.

Dont think that refusing to provide a SSN will keep you out of jail.

I've never had to let one go yet.

[Johninaustin]

Don't really care. What would I need it for when they have fingers? ;)

[Darin]

If I have a reason to stop you or am investigating a crime and you refuse to ID yourself or I can't positively ID you then I can take you forthwith before a Magistrate.....

[phantasm]

if I stop someone for a violation (even something as minor as jay walking or an open alcohol container in public) and they do not provide me with a valid form of ID, then they can be placed under arrest in order to "determine true identity"

[DeltaV]

If someone is identifying themselves to me verbally and claims that they don't know their SSN, that sends up red flags. It would lead me to believe that the name they're giving me is a false one. If they truly don't have any ID or a SSN, that usually means (around here at least) that they aren't in the country legally.

Like others have said, refusing to ID yourself will result in an arrest, as will giving false names/dates of birth/SSNs. Simply not being able to verify someone's identity can also result in their arrest depending on the circumstances.

[mcsap]

We haul them downtown and put them on the 10 printer and if they were EVER fingerprinted...we'll know their ID in a few minutes.

[kels]

Everyones answer will be just a little different.

But if as an LEO we have a need to know your information,
we will probably get it. Just a hint, when you get into the jail,
you dont get released until we get the paperwork done.

Playing games is a bad idea, but go ahead and try, I get fast food when
we get to the jail in the next town. Play games with the jailer and you can
sit til the judge orders you to identify yourself.

[mcsap]

In PA , it is part of the info I get when I run their drivers license , it is not on the license itself though.

[Group9]

Have you ever encountered anyone that didn't have ID and either didn't have, or refused to provide a Social Security Number when asked?

How did you handle the situation?

We've had people we arrested and locked up who still refused to tell us who they were (back in the days before JABS could check who someone was throught their fingerprints so fast).

The judge would just leave them in jail until they told us or we figured it out.

[EasternPromises]

Rest assured I have no intention of playing games or causing trouble. I know you guys get a lot of questions with people fishing to get out of trouble, that's not me. Best way to get out of trouble is not to get into it in the first place.

Laugh if you want, but the question largely comes from several "COPS" segments where LEOs asked for the SSN. Being a privacy advocate I was just curious if it was necessary in that circumstance.

The judge would just leave them in jail until they told us or we figured it out.

Group9 - So it would turn into Contempt of Court??

We haul them downtown and put them on the 10 printer and if they were EVER fingerprinted...we'll know their ID in a few minutes.

MCSAP - I thought PA was NOT a "stop and identify" state? Am I wrong?

[Group9]

Rest assured I have no intention of playing games or causing trouble. I know you guys get a lot of questions with people fishing to get out of trouble, that's not me. Best way to get out of trouble is not to get into it in the first place.

Laugh if you want, but the question largely comes from several "COPS" segments where LEOs asked for the SSN. Being a privacy advocate I was just curious if it was necessary in that circumstance.



Group9 - So it would turn into Contempt of Court??



MCSAP - I thought PA was NOT a "stop and identify" state? Am I wrong?

It would become contempt of court later, but you would first just be held without bond for your original offense.