Do mall cops have the right to ask me for my ID if they think I'm underaged?

Question

So today I was at the Westfield Santa Anita Mall in CA , minding my own business just smoking. Then a mall security comes up and asks me how old I am, why I wasn't at school and if I can give him my ID. I am 19 but I look like I'm 15 or so. I gave him my ID. Then he insisted I give him my mom's cell phone number so he can call her to see if I am really 19 because he didn't believe my ID. About that time I was so pissed off , I just left but he kept on following me. I just drove off. Do they have the right to do this?

Answer 1

Yes, you were on private property, loitering. (That's what it's called when you are sitting around smoking instead of actually shopping.)

So, he had a right to check you out, ask you to leave if he didn't like your answers, or report you to the police if he believed you were truant or otherwise breaking the law.

Answer 2

Just because he works in a mall does not mean the officer was a "rent a cop" with no police powers. Some malls have officers that are actual police officers - same as the guys who pull you for speeding. The only difference is - instead of having jurisdiction over a city or a county - they just have jurisdiction over the mall and the mall property.

The officer has probably run into more than one person with a fake id smoking or drinking on mall property. Next time- get over yourself and just give the officer your Mom's number so he can call her. If anything - it makes a nice joke between you and your Mom and a funny story for you to tell your friends later. Not to mention - showing your fanny to the officer just gives him more reason to question you.

I'm in my 30's and every time I get carded for alcohol I darn near jump over the counter and kiss the bartender or cashier. I've actually had several say that on second thought they did not need to see my ID (the give away was I was too happy to give it to them). My point being - if you just went "sure officer" and gave him your Mom's number then he may not have even called her.

Answer 3

I'm only a 1L but from what I've learned so far, they can reasonably detain you if they believe you have shoplifted. But they do have the right to ask you to leave the property. As for asking to see ID, they can ask, but you don't have to provide.
if you look at section 7583.3 in Business and Professions
you might find that he needs to be able to furnish proper security registration card.

Answer 4

Yes they do....but as far as asking for your Mom cell number, that is a no no. You should report him.
I would have done what you did.....never know what he might
have said or done, just to show you he is a mall cop.
He is not a real police officer, only an employee of the mall.

Answer 5

What are you doing hanging out at the mall all day anyways? Get a job, read a book, play sports, mentor someone younger, do SOMETHING constructive.

That's the problem with kids these days...lazy.

That Marine Corps General had it right when he responded to a question from a reporter talking about "America at War"

He said, "America isn't at war, the Marines are at war. America is at the d*mned mall"

'Nuff said

Answer 6

Yes they do, that is one of thier jobs. By you smoking on their property underaged, you are introducing a liability risk to them.

Besides, stop smoking you fool. Do you know how many idiots, incuding myself, have started smoking despite all the information out there, and then spent years trying to quit.

Answer 7

No. They don't. But they do have the right to ask you to leave if you don't comply, so it's sort of a catch-22. Next time, ask for a real cop or kick him in the nuts.

Answer 8

So, big deal! Just how much are you inconvenienced? Takes just a few seconds.

Answer 9

He can ask, but you don't need to show him anything. Since it is private property he could ask you to leave though.