Coping Strategies

Clarify: Is this Voluntary vs Coerced?

Police will intimidate people into “voluntarily” giving up their ID when it is not required by “asking/telling” them to give them ID in an intimidating way. In states that are “Stop and ID” states, the police may require ID if they have RAS (reasonable articulable suspicion of a crime). In states like Pennsylvania, people are not required to provide ID unless they have already been lawfully arrested.

But police will usually pressure the public for ID even if they aren’t entitled to it.

Solution: One way to clarify whether an action is voluntary, tell the officer than you will give them ID under threat of arrest. This way it is clear that that your action was not voluntary and if they can be charged with violating your 4th amendment rights if they did not have sufficient evidence to authorize their demand.

(Note: If you’re driving you usually need to provide ID)