Do I, by law, have to carry an ID on me.?

Question

If i am just walking around or riding in a car that someone else is driving, but I do own a drivers licence on me, my only form of ID, am I required by law to carry it on me? I live in California. I would love a good source, so i can prove it to my wife. thanks everyone.

Answer 1

Forget the law, and let's discuss common sense. What if something happened to you, and you were unable to speak. Would you want your wife to be notified, or would you want to win the bet?.

Answer 2

There is no law which requires you to carry ID in California. Period. That is not to say you won't have to show ID for certain purposes, such as buying cigs or booze. Of course, you have to have a drivers license in your possession when driving. But just walking down the street, or riding in a car? Nope.

There is no law in California which makes it a crime, or basis for detention, to fail to show ID, even if demanded by a police officer. Although the US Supreme Court has recently held that a State can make it an offense to refuse to identify yourself to a police officer if demanded upon a lawful detention, California has no such law. (Even that Nevada law did not require a person to have ID, just to give his name.)

Of course, if a police officer has a legitimate reason to detain you, and you cannot identify yourself, that may cause him to think he should look for some OTHER valid reason to arrest you. But he cannot lawfully detain you longer, or arrest you, just because you don't have ID.

Unfortunately, it is very difficult to cite a source for a negative. For example, it is not required that you carry a rutabaga with you either, but I cannot cite to anything which says so.

Answer 3

Absolutely not, There are no laws requiring citizens to carry ID, unless they are engaged in activities required special permits, like hunting or driving, in which case a license must be carried. Your obligation is to cooperate with authorities and tell them the truth, or nothing at all. If however, you do not carry a boni fide ID, then authorities can use common sense and reasonable means to determine if you are someone they are looking for .

Answer 4

By law you have to carry a Valid ID on your person at all times. Even if you are just walking. This ID can help in an emergency situation and in others. A person who is stopped by the police and doesn't have an ID can be held in jail until there identity is proven. I've seen it happen.

Answer 5

It may not be illegal but having one makes everything easier for you such as buying tobbaco alcohol, lotto tickets or lighters... I am a convinience store clerk and I deny sales to lots of people that come without ID..

Plus if a deputy stops you and asks for ID, showing him one saves you a thousand questions about you, criminals are known not to carry ID's so as to avoid recognition by law enforcement officers... being without one raises a flag. In some countries it is a legal requirement to carry id if you are atleast 18 years old...

Answer 6

All of the previous answers are good. In addition, if you get arrested for anything you will be detained as a "John Doe" until you can properly ID yourself. That means no processing, no paper work, no bail. Plus, people from California always want to test things. Whats up with that?

Answer 7

I carry my passport just to enjoy the look on peoples face when I show it instead of a drivers license as ID.

Answer 8

I never have an ID card when I get pulled over, for some reason. Its been about 5 times in the last 15 years. I just tell them my name, and give them my DL#.
PS. I havent been ticketed since 91 either.

Answer 9

Nope. Unless you are driving, no place in the US requires you to carry documentation of your identity. We aren't quite yet a police state.

Answer 10

it looks really bad if a cop asks to see your id, and you say you dont have it with you. If you are carrying your wallet, your id isnt that much extra to take with you