Advocacy & Safety - Another lesson... carry ID, please

Regarding the Austin, TX fatality, there is another lesson.

"Officers had a difficult time identifying Simmons and notifying her family because the only form of ID on her was a credit card.

"It's important, if you can't carry your driver's license, please carry your name and some phone numbers where we can contact somebody. Even if you aren't necessarily killed in an accident but injured, it's important that we be able to contact somebody to come help you, to be with you," McKittrick said."

At least carry your medical insurance card. I carry my wallet, yea the whole 5 ounces. Weight Weenies beware.

Yeah, I need to remember that. I many times ride with nothing.

It's generally a good idea to have something on your person whenever you are out (not just riding) that can speak for you if you are unable. At a minimum, you should have your name, city/state where you live, year of birth, and an emergency contact who can make decisions on your behalf (usually a spouse, parent, adult child, etc). Obviously, if you have any medical condition that may have bearing on treatment, such as allergies, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc., these should be noted someplace where EMTs will likely find the information.

All it takes is one bump on the head and it may be hours or days before you can provide any information about yourself.

One semi-humorous example: A riding buddy crashed recently and was knocked unconscious for several minutes. When he came to, he was unable to provide any more infor than his name. None of us in the group had a phone number for his emergency contact. Fortunately, he did have the information in his wallet. But his wallet was in his back jersey pocket which was between him and the backboard the EMTs had him strapped to. At the scene, nobody could find any info!

I never ride without ID, health insurance card, whatever cash I have handy, and my cellphone. (The cellphone stays off unless I need to make a call. And, no, I don't call while riding.) I've been in situations where I needed all of the above, and it would have really sucked not to have them handy.

I am guilty of riding with only a cell phone. In a rough enough accident, that cellphone will only be a pile of plastic and metal (and a touch of silicon).

Thanks for the reminder.

Perhaps I'll xerox my Driver's License and put it somewhere on my bikes.

Full wallet for me ...

Just bike with the George Costanza wallet. Be sure to put it up front though because you're not riding on it...

Here is what I carry for ID: http://www.roadid.com/fixx_learnmore.asp?back=/id.asp

Even though I also carry my license with the fixx Id around my neck it takes even less time to identify me if something should happen. Plus my license does not have any phone numbers on it. My fixx ID has my name, the city I live in, my home number, my wofes office & cell phone numbers.

My riding "wallet" is a snack sized zip-lock bag with photo copies (real card too heavy!) of id and insurance info. I do also carry an actual credit card (photo copy only useful for phone orders!) and some cash.

I've got a flip-phone, so I just tuck a $20 (though, lately it's been a $1. Time to get a job!) and my driver's license in there.

ALSO: my driver's license is out of state, so I make sure I've got numbers clearly programmed in my phone for people to call if I was ever in a wreck, assuming the phone survived.

(real card too heavy!)

Where we come from, we call them housebricks eh!

There's this new fangled stuff called plastic. You'd wouldn't be able to notice the between carrying it and a piece of paper.

I'm a slacker where this is concerned. I generally carry my wallet (a small money-clip foldable wallet. I got tired of carrying a bigass trifold.) and a cell phone while out on a ride. However, I go running with nothing but the clothes on my back and my house-keys (which I carry in my hand 'cause crap jingling around in my pockets, assuming the shorts I'm wearing have pockets, drives me batty).

Maybe I should get one of those little shoe wallet things and slip a house-key and ID in there...

-Trevor

Here's an article on the subject; it mentions emergency reasons for carrying ID, but focuses on another reason:

Carrying ID While Riding (http://www.velonews.com/news/fea/8843.0.html)

I bought a RoadID, but now I'd just go to one of the many dog tag makers on the web. You can get a set of stainless steel dog tags made for about six bucks. Not as pretty as RoadID, but nobody looks at them anyway so who cares. I'm going to get another set just so I can leave one at work; sometimes I forget to put it on in the morning, so at least I could have one on the way home.

I always carry ID and money on rides. For one thing, I never know when I might decide to have a glass of beer - and then I'll need both! :D

ick, I've found that I've often left my drivers license and medical cards at home since going car-free. I better make it a habit bringing them or better yet place them in my bag and not worry about it anymore.

ick, I've found that I've often left my drivers license and medical cards at home since going car-free. I better make it a habit bringing them or better yet place them in my bag and not worry about it anymore.

Having your ID in your bag will likely do diddly/squat of good if you're unconscious. IMHO dog tags are the right answer. You are likely to be in the ambulance with no shoes or helmet or bag. A set of dog tags costs < $10.

I drop mine into a shoe when I get undressed from my ride home, so I can't forget to put it on in the morning.

Having your ID in your bag will likely do diddly/squat of good if you're unconscious.I believe they'd search your belongings-- bags included-- if you're unconscious.



IMHO dog tags are the right answer. You are likely to be in the ambulance with no shoes or helmet or bag. A set of dog tags costs < $10.Dog tags aren't an acceptable form of ID if law enforcement asks you to produce I.D.

I believe they'd search your belongings-- bags included-- if you're unconscious.
Probably, but I'd rather be certain.


Dog tags aren't an acceptable form of ID if law enforcement asks you to produce I.D.

I wasn't aware that US citizens were required to carry "acceptable ID". Yet.

Probably, but I'd rather be certain.


I wasn't aware that US citizens were required to carry "acceptable ID". Yet.

Pfft, of course it's not mandatory. Just that when you get stopped by police and they ask you to identify yourself. What are you going to do then? Ride home and get your license?

Just because it isn't mandatory doesn't mean it doesn't make sense for you not to carry ID with you. Police around here can hold you until they can identify you if you are stopped.

Pfft, of course it's not mandatory. Just that when you get stopped by police and they ask you to identify yourself. What are you going to do then? Ride home and get your license?

Just because it isn't mandatory doesn't mean it doesn't make sense for you not to carry ID with you. Police around here can hold you until they can identify you if you are stopped.

They can't hold you forever. US citizens within the borders of the US are not required to carry ID. It's true that the police can give you a really hard time if they decide to, but that's pretty much true whether you have ID or not.

If they don't believe who I am, then they don't. I'm carrying dogtag ID for my benefit, not theirs. If they don't like it, they can detain me. I will not sit complacent while the US turns into a place where citizens need to carry papers to be about in public. Back in the day, that was one of the marks of a totalitarian country. Now for some reason it's considered normal.

They can't hold you forever. US citizens within the borders of the US are not required to carry ID. It's true that the police can give you a really hard time if they decide to, but that's pretty much true whether you have ID or not.

If they don't believe who I am, then they don't. I'm carrying dogtag ID for my benefit, not theirs. If they don't like it, they can detain me. I will not sit complacent while the US turns into a place where citizens need to carry papers to be about in public. Back in the day, that was one of the marks of a totalitarian country. Now for some reason it's considered normal.

I admire your attitude. I wish more of my fellow Americans shared that viewpoint.

Brings to mind an incident of my childhood:
Dad was trying to cash a large check at a bank in Los Angeles and they wanted a 2nd piece of I.D. This was right after WW2. He removedhis upper denture (which had name, rank & serial # impressed), offered it to the manager who took one look then said "good enough for me" and cashed the check! Wonder if that is still "acceptable" I.D?

So if I know I am going into a stuation where police will be interested in me ( see Critical Mass Rally) using my pre 9/11 passport won't cut it any more. So police can just tail you until they can come up with a "legal" excuse to stop you. It is why reading your Miranda Rights to you is meaningless now. Even an expert in police stop practices is not safe. And most people think the time I spent cycling in the RSA during Apartheid was scarey.

They can't hold you forever. US citizens within the borders of the US are not required to carry ID. It's true that the police can give you a really hard time if they decide to, but that's pretty much true whether you have ID or not.

If they don't believe who I am, then they don't. I'm carrying dogtag ID for my benefit, not theirs. If they don't like it, they can detain me. I will not sit complacent while the US turns into a place where citizens need to carry papers to be about in public. Back in the day, that was one of the marks of a totalitarian country. Now for some reason it's considered normal.
But when you drive or ride, you can end up in accidents or pulled over for as traffic violation. Then, the cops have every right (and even a duty) to verify that you are who you say you are. If you have the ID with you, that solves the problem.

I don't have any insurance. I figure if I don't carry any ID, I'll be able to get better medical treatment if they can't find out I don't have insurance. And my wife will just have to wait to celebrate if I'm killed.

OK, I know it makes sense to carry ID and when I commute, I carry my (federal) ID/security airside pass, but when I ride an errand or just go for a ride I don't. Always carry my phone. I've always thought if I had a collision and when out of consciousness, someone could check my phone for a "home" number in my address book and do a reverse search and find out who I am quick enough. Reasonable assumption?

The real, practical reason to carry ID that is "acceptable" to law enforcement is because a traffic ticket is, in effect, an on-the-spot personal recognizance bond. Many agencies will not allow their officers to issue a citation in the field to those who cannot prove their identity, and bring such violators to the station and/or courthouse to post a cash or surety bond. This can mean a wait in the lockup until a judge is available. Quoting a name and date-of-birth is generally not acceptable; I can quote my brother's info by memory, and have known of a guy who did just that, and then did not show for court, with the result that the brother was later arrested for the true violator's warrants. My wife works as an investigator for a medical examiner's office, and spends much of her time trying to determine the identity of "unknowns." Not having proof of health insurance, in some areas, can be the difference between getting immediate care at a good hospital or waiting hours in line at a county hospital. In most areas I frequent, ID is required by businesses before they will accept a check or credit card. So, yes, I agree that IN PRINCIPLE it is great to live in a free society where ID is not required, it is still a good idea, for entirely practical reasons, to carry ID, health insurance card, and some means of locating relatives/next of kin. About the only time I would ride without ID is when I am going for a very short ride along a route known to my wife, who is at home and will know right away if I am overdue, AND in my quite small town where the police know me by sight. In actual practice, I virtually always carry ID.

But when you drive or ride, you can end up in accidents or pulled over for as traffic violation. Then, the cops have every right (and even a duty) to verify that you are who you say you are. If you have the ID with you, that solves the problem.

The "problem" is not of my making. If the cop doesn't believe I am who I say I am, then he is free to hold me if he has some reason to believe that I'm trying to pull something, like if I'm at fault and am trying to avoid prosecution. I'm not going to lie about who I am, and if the cops want further ID and I feel they're justified in asking for it (like, as I said, I'm at fault) I'll gladly accept a ride from them to where my ID is so that I can show it.
However, I'd be very surprised if they can't pull up my photo from my driver's license in their car and verify it that way as well. Not that I like that either, but at least they don't have my fingerprints (yet, AFAIK). But I expect that if things go as they are, they will ask for biometrics within my lifetime, and when (not if) I refuse to give them, I'll be on a list.
Actually they probably won't ask for biometrics; they'll just collect face recognition parameters from driver's license ID photos. Too bad I can't really get along without a driver's license.

Having your ID in your bag will likely do diddly/squat of good if you're unconscious. IMHO dog tags are the right answer. You are likely to be in the ambulance with no shoes or helmet or bag. A set of dog tags costs < $10.

Agreed. I used to only carry a photo id, med insurance and some cash, but after reading some posts on here realized it would probably be a good idea to get some ID that physically stays on me.

I'm not going to lie about who I am, and if the cops want further ID and I feel they're justified in asking for it (like, as I said, I'm at fault) I'll gladly accept a ride from them to where my ID is so that I can show it.That's not how it works.

Read the article: Carrying I.D. While Riding (http://www.velonews.com/news/fea/8843.0.html)

That's not how it works.

Read the article: Carrying I.D. While Riding (http://www.velonews.com/news/fea/8843.0.html)

Thanks. After reading that, I'm CERTAINLY not going to carry my driver's license.

I love the section that explains how ANYTHING you do can be considered probable cause to stop and demand ID, including absolutely proper behavior, following all laws (they think only drug couriers do that).

Screw that. I'll sit in jail just to make them do the paperwork, if they pull that crap. And I'll make a lot of noise too.

Thanks. After reading that, I'm CERTAINLY not going to carry my driver's license.

I love the section that explains how ANYTHING you do can be considered probable cause to stop and demand ID, including absolutely proper behavior, following all laws (they think only drug couriers do that).

Screw that. I'll sit in jail just to make them do the paperwork, if they pull that crap. And I'll make a lot of noise too.

I read,
unlike motorists, cyclists are not obligated to have a license in their possession at all times while on the road; however, "both are required to produce satisfactory evidence of identity for examination when stopped for a violation of the law."

I missed the part where it says how ANYTHING you do you do can be considered probable cause to stop and demand ID, including absolutely proper behavior.

Maybe I just skimmed it too quickly, or maybe it's part of the differences between Canada and the US (drug law enforcement is a little different up here), but being stopped for violation of a law and probable cause are different. The way I see it, as long as you don't break a law, you aren't required to carry ID.

I read,

I missed the part where it says how ANYTHING you do you do can be considered probable cause to stop and demand ID, including absolutely proper behavior.

Maybe I just skimmed it too quickly, but being stopped for violation of a law and probable cause are different. The way I see it, as long as you don't break a law, you aren't required to carry ID.
Well, you live in a country that still respects liberty. In its birth place, the US, liberty is already on its death bed. With Bush in power, our constitution is toilet paper.


Thanks. After reading that, I'm CERTAINLY not going to carry my driver's license.
If you really mean this, you're the Hero of the Week. :)

Ironic, isn't it?

Violation is black and white, probable cause is a judgement. Different points of view, different judgements. We just handle drugs in a different way than you guys.

Liberty used to be the benchmark of the US, we rely on the good of all which seems to be the opposite of individual liberty. Ironic that Canada seems to value liberty more than the US on this issue in this thread.

I missed the part where it says how ANYTHING you do you do can be considered probable cause to stop and demand ID, including absolutely proper behavior.

Maybe I just skimmed it too quickly,

Yup, you skimmed it too quickly.

Basically it says, so many things are illegal, it's almost impossible that the cops can't find some excuse to pull you over. And if you're behaving absolutely legally, THAT is probable cause; 100% legal behavior in traffic triggers a drug courier profile. Also, in another part they talk about how the cops can pull you over for absolutely anything they can come up with, even if they admit that they are REALLY pulling you over for something else, and the SUPREME COURT upheld that reasoning. IOW, they can decide to pull you over for driving while black, or cycling in a snooty neighborhood, if they can reasonably say they pulled you over because your blinky was dirty. AND they can search your person when they do it.

IMHO, if people aren't really, really pissed about this isn't thinking about it hard enough. Or they don't know enough history to realize what a slope looks like when they're standing on one.

I got so wound up after reading this article I posted a rant on my LJ. Feel free to read at:
http://johnridley.livejournal.com/28482.html#cutid1

(for the record, I've never had any bad experience with cops, even the one that wrote me a ticket. Cops I can deal with, but politicians are starting to scare me)

I went ahead and made a name and address and phone tag and attached it to the bike frame of my commuter bike. I sort of wonder why more cyclists haven't done this. Or maybe many commuter's do it? I haven't seen that talked about on the forums (and I'm too lazy right now to use the search function).

I put a business card in a bag inside the seatbag; it stays there all of the time, along with a small pen.

I tend to put my Driver's license in the seatbag in a zipping plastic bag. Several times I have forgotten to take it out after a ride, and then driven somewhere without the driver's license. Obviously, that's not a good idea...so now, I double check my wallet immediately after the ride, and make sure I have returned the license.

Yup, you skimmed it too quickly.

Basically it says, so many things are illegal, it's almost impossible that the cops can't find some excuse to pull you over. And if you're behaving absolutely legally, THAT is probable cause; 100% legal behavior in traffic triggers a drug courier profile...

(for the record, I've never had any bad experience with cops, even the one that wrote me a ticket. Cops I can deal with, but politicians are starting to scare me)

Like I said, probable cause is a judgement and politicians seem to decide what judgements are acceptable.

The States and Canada have different ideas as to what probable cause may be.

Ironic that the country that is supposed to be based on individual freedom seems to be lacking that very thing.

If you plan to play ID games with cops, make sure you and your bicycle are compliant with every stupid little law. Otherwise, the cop might give you an expensive lesson.

After my riding buddies recent accident, most of our group is more interested in having readily accessible ID than playing silly games with police.

in addition to the ID you carry, I'd like to suggest using indelible ink to write an "In Case Of Emergency" number on the back of your mobile phone, if you can, and certainly, the very first number in your phone's phonebook should be an ICE number...you can use stars or a "AAA" to sort it to the top.