Originally Posted by
adamhenry
If you don't provide ID to a police officer, how would he know that there weren't wants or warrants for your arrest? You can be detained until your identity is established. If they didn't do this then criminals could just make up a name and say they didn't have an ID. **********?
Well, in most states it's simply semantics, you can't be arrested for not providing ID or not IDing yourself but either gives them probably cause to arrest you on whatever grounds they stopped you for. So, if they pull you over for blowing through a red and you don't provide ID they can just arrest you on probably cause for pretty well whatever reason they want. You can be riding home from getting a gallon of milk and be booked on suspicion of burglary because you didn't carry ID. Now, most cops wouldn't go that far but it can happen, particularly if they were in the neighborhood because of suspicious activity call.