Can Police Ask for your Social Security number?

Question

I had campus police, who apparently are real police, confiscate my motorcycle plates because they had expired. They then asked for my name and social security number. Can they do that? I asked him, and he said he can easily get it, so i suggested that he do so. He then tried to confiscate the entire bike.

Yes, they said I would get it back when I renewed it. Unfortunately, I'm at school in Boston, and its registered in NY. So i have to wait for it in the mail. All I have is a confirmation page as of right now. I'm waiting to see if that is good enough or if I need to wait for the sticker to arrive before they return the plates to me.

Apparenty, they cops here ARE real cops. They are licensed by the county, carry guns, can write citations the same as any other police officer, and they can do that anywhere in the county, on or off campus. Its a little different in Boston, because the school's campuses are inner city. Not like a university out in the middle of no where.

Answer 1

Yes, they can ask for your social security number. Anyone can ask for it.

Technically you do not have to give your social security number (Federal Privacy Act); but you do have to positively identify yourself if you were operating a motor vehicle. You need to provide your driver's license (campus ID might work if you are on campus) or your full name and date of birth.

You have to identify yourself well enough so they are confident they are actually dealing with the right person.

In some cases where people are driving a motor and do not positively identify themselves (IE. the name/DOB they provide does not return in the system) they are arrested for no operator's license and put in jail until they post a bond or show proper identification.

Answer 2

Most colleges do have a real police department. And yes, cops can ask to see your social security card, to make sure you are a legal citizen and to verify identity. It is your right to know why he/she is asking for it tho. Also, if you are not sure if he/she is a real cop, if they have a badge, not a patch badge, and are carrying a gun, they probably are a cop.

In response to those that think campus cops are not real cops, yes they are! You might see cadets at your college doing most of the parking lot checks, and they are not cops.

Answer 3

Yes, in most places campus police are real police, they are POST certified and you will actually be sent to state court not city if they arrest you.

They are actually and normally higher paid, and better trained than many of the other local police.

And yes, they can properly ID you by your social security number. If you don't provide it, if there is another person with a simular name, they will merely arrest you, since it could be. So yes you are required to give them proper ID, I will assume you did not have a drivers license to provide them, so you have to give them name, address, birthdate and social security number. But yes they can find it, by namd and birth date, but they will make it harder on you if you are a smart ...... to them.

You would always want to be arrested by city police instead of college police, honestly, alot of city charges go to city court, but all of the campus police charges go straight to state court.

Some colleges do just have securityofficers, some have both. But if they have police as part of thier name, they are real police

Answer 4

They can ask but it's not something that you're actually required by law to give. We ask for it in my PD because the database is populated by clerks and it's used as an identifier. Being honest here now we use it for no other reason than to ensure we have the right person listed in the report as a complainant or in the event you may be arrested, so we can enter it as an identifier into NCIC. Granted anyone can use anybosys SSN but its strictly for ID purposes only....nothing more.
As far as your bike goes..well...who knows. He may have had a reason. If he can articulate it in court then it'll stand.

Answer 5

Get yourself a lawyer. Expired license only is a fine and unless campus law says differently you should get one fast. They can sell or supposingly "lose" your motorcyle if you allow them to take your bike. How did you get it home without license..on it..push it? Just as illegal to have on unlicensed so that you have no records to check and may appear as if you stole it ...which is another threat to you.
My car license expired and I had just been sick & in hospital so couldn't get new sticker. State only gave me a fine and he never took the license plate. Local law would have sent me to get the sticker.That is also something I think was wrong ..since you now will have to replace that license as well.
Somebody best check who did this to you as he may have handled that illegally.
Get a lawyer fast.

Answer 6

You do not have to give your SS# to anybody. Only the IRS has the right to obtain your SS#.

Even when you are applying for a credit card or a loan you are not legally required. It just makes the checking easier on the companies.

You can ask for an ID# in place of your SS# and it will work the same.

Answer 7

Some campuses have archaic identification systems and use SSNs as student ID numbers. In most cases it is inappropriate for law enforcement officiers to request SSNs.

Answer 8

they sometimes can ask for your social. on my campus, they were allowed to do so, until a campus law was passed that socials would not be used anymore and that each student/staff/faculty would be assigned an ID #. so find out what the laws are on THAT campus.

if you're not a student on the campus, yes, they can get it legally.

Answer 9

No, they can't ask you for your social security number. They should have asked for your driver's license. You should see a lawyer and see if the cop overstepped his authority. If the plates are expired, did you get them renewed? If so, they would have to return them to you.

Answer 10

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