I've perused some "what's in your kit" threads and they've all been very helpful with things I wouldn't have considered when putting together a bag. One inconsistency I've noticed is some people say that they carry ID but don't specify what kind, and some say that they don't. My question is to those who do: what ID do you carry and how? I think it would be a good idea to carry something, in case you're wounded and found later. Even so much as a name, blood type, and emergency contact. My question to those who don't: why not?

Do you carry your government issue identification, like a driver's license? Is this an issue should you ever be arrested? Or maybe it's better to have government ID rather than something informal. I'm planning to never be caught, but no one ever plans on that.

What about dog tags? They're less likely to be lost than a wallet, and are designed to be broken so one piece of ID stays with the person while the other is taken for help. Some say they're noisy, but if you keep them close to your chest, I doubt they'd make much more noise than your own movement. The drawback is that they can be stamped to say whatever you want so a cop may not believe them, and they can be seen as try-hard tacticool marine wannabe.

What about even so much as a couple laminated wallet card sized sheets? Simple, cheap, effective, and falsifiable in case you don't want to be caught with your real name. This also has the added benefit of being able to keep one in your bag in case it gets lost or you need to ditch it and someone else finds it before you come back for it. Mind you, this can also be seen as as much of a bane as it is a boon, because it's potentially incriminating as well...

In summary, do you carry identification? What identification would you carry? Why do you believe [not] carrying what you do is the best option?

I carry my driver's licence and national ID at all times, because it's technically illegal not to here, though I don't always comply with cops' requests to show my ID.

I also have a company lanyard identifying me as a journalist, which I might use to explain why I'm there, or ask for access, or spring into action if something newsworthy happens.

One time I was stopped by cops on a still-open street through an abandoned neighbourhood, and the only ID I was willing to show them was my byline on an article about urban renewal in a newspaper I was carrying. They let me go.

I carry my drivers license at all times, because every now and then you meet that one bartender who won't serve even a grizzled old bastard like me without an ID.

There are a couple of points that I think you should consider.

- Will you be exploring in a state that requires you to produce ID if a law enforcement officer requests it? If that interaction occurs as a result of getting "caught" somewhere you shouldn't be, then producing ID will almost certainly be mandatory.

- The next thought is, if you have gotten caught somewhere, will you be better off with or without ID? No officer will say, "Oh, you don't have any ID? OK then, on you go. Have a nice day." Most cops want to run your name through their system to make sure you don't have any outstanding warrants or previous arrests.

Whether we agree with it or not, police interact with citizens from a place of power. Cooperation is no guarantee of leniency, but lack of cooperation or outright hostility is pretty much a guarantee of a negative outcome.

Be safe out there,
Abby Normal

Not carrying any form of ID can potentially make an encounter with 'the law' much more difficult than it has to be for you, as everything will take longer, and you'll potentially be viewed with more suspicion, like you're trying to hide something.

If you've got nothing to hide you generally shouldn't be too worried.

I always have a wallet with state ID, insurance card, etc in a zipped pocket. Especially when exploring.

They're going to ask for it if you get caught, and I'd rather be able to say "Yep, here you go" rather than seem shady at first and cause the annoyance of having to run my name on their computer. They're going to do it anyway, but it still looks way better for you if you cough it up first. Especially in the US, cops have a lot of discretion in how they handle you. It's best to do every little thing to paint yourself in the best light possible. Total cooperation, ID on hand, clueless tourist demeanor.

Posted by Steed I carry my driver's licence and national ID at all times, because it's technically illegal not to here,

I hope you mean in Seoul and not Edmonton.

Posted by NotBatman every now and then you meet that one bartender who won't serve even a grizzled old bastard like me without an ID.

In case of emergency beer run, I get it. Whether I get carded or not depends on if I shave, save for one occasion: I was clean shaven but not carded buying a 20 year old port. I asked the lady if she wanted to see my card. She just looked at me and said "teenagers don't buy port."

Posted by Abby Normal Will you be exploring in a state that requires you to produce ID if a law enforcement officer requests it?

Are there any states like that in the US? To the best of my knowledge, as long as long as you aren't doing anything that requires a license (driving, hunting, fishing), you aren't required to carry identification and, by extension, provide it. But you are right on the second bit. If you have an otherwise clean record, I can see complying having a better outcome than not.

Posted by SaskStalker Are there any states like that in the US? To the best of my knowledge, as long as long as you aren't doing anything that requires a license (driving, hunting, fishing), you aren't required to carry identification and, by extension, provide it. But you are right on the second bit. If you have an otherwise clean record, I can see complying having a better outcome than not.

Below is quoted from a legal website:

Stop and Identify Laws in the United States

Laws known as "stop and identify" exist in 24 states across the US. This means that people are required to identify themselves and in the event that a police officer has reasonable suspicion that they are involved or about to engage in criminal activity.

Which states have stop and identify law?

Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
Colorado
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Indiana
Kansas
Louisiana
Missouri (Kansas City only)
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Mexico
New York
North Dakota
Ohio
Rhode Island
Utah
Vermont
Wisconsin

These laws allow police officers to arrest criminal suspects who refuse to identify themselves.


Abby

Isn't it also common in the US for people to not have any legal ID to their name?

Posted by Steed Isn't it also common in the US for people to not have any legal ID to their name?

I believe that it's actually quite rare. One needs a gov ID to open a bank account, purchase alcohol, enter some federal buildings, when seeking health care, or flying on an airplane. There is often considerable talk around election time of people not having ID. Considering how often ID is necessary in day-to-day life, I believe the vast majority of people have ID.

Abby

I haven't been able to find a recent source, but as of 2014, the number was over 3 million according to NPR. My understanding is it's mostly low-income minorities. That's why Republican-controlled states have been introducing voter ID laws, to try to exclude them from politics.

Posted by Steed Isn't it also common in the US for people to not have any legal ID to their name?

I grew up in California and although I had a birth certificate, I did not carry it around with me, so until I received my driver's license I did not have any official Government ID on me, when going to school I did carry a student ID though

One needs a gov ID to open a bank account, purchase alcohol, enter some federal buildings, when seeking health care, or flying on an airplane.

That's why Republican-controlled states have been introducing voter ID laws, to try to exclude them from politics.

Unsure exact numbers, but it is surprising how many don't have. In a prior career of mine clients would need to show ID for certain reasons. It was frustrating how many didn't have one, or had one but it was long expired. These people don't have a bank account, they don't fly, they don't drive (well they do, but not legally), and don't have health care. They lived like that their whole life and it's never been big enough of a hardship for them to bother getting one.

Always keep my drivers license on me, but thats mainly because I get to be in the fabled "driver" role every time we explore

Lately I've taken on the mentality that the best thing to do if/when caught is play a little game called "make the officer's job as easy as possible". Tell them what your doing, give them your ID if they ask, let them search your bags. Hell even OFFER to let them check your bags. I haven't gotten stopped yet, but i feel like just letting them see your ID is so much less of a headache than having to go with the old "oops i forgot it" excuse. It's just a sketchy look imo.

Posted by eternal-star Lately I've taken on the mentality that the best thing to do if/when caught is play a little game called "make the officer's job as easy as possible". Tell them what your doing, give them your ID if they ask, let them search your bags. Hell even OFFER to let them check your bags. I haven't gotten stopped yet, but i feel like just letting them see your ID is so much less of a headache than having to go with the old "oops i forgot it" excuse. It's just a sketchy look imo.

I agree that you should be ready to obey a cop's orders, and it's probably different everywhere -- on my side of the world, by not being immediately up front, I'm hoping the cop will think it's just too much of a hassle and give up, before I have to give my name and present ID, so he can possibly write me a ticket or whatever.

Remember that when cooperating with a cop, they might take advantage of you. Here are two examples:

Once I was caught in a subway tunnel, and my explanation involved me showing the cops an online map to show (a sort of innocent version of) how I got in there. I gave the cop my phone, and he immediately closed the app and opened my text messages, maybe hoping to see a recent text from an accomplice or something.

Another time, after being caught by cops coming out of an abandoned sauna, I explained I was a photographer and showed them the pictures I'd taken. They asked me to keep going, so I did, showing them photos from earlier that day from work. They asked me to keep going back, and I knew at some point it would show some previous abandonment I'd gone to. Before that happened, I had to rescind my cooperation.