Posted on 04/20/2009 7:53:50 AM PDT by BGHater
Any 'peace officer' can demand i.d. any time, doesn't say exactly who qualifies as a 'peace officer.'
Papers please!!
The Texas Senate has approved a bizarre measure which would require citizens to show some sort of identification to any police officer who demands it, at any time, for any reason, 1200 WOAI news reports.
Currently, it is illegal for a person to give a false name to police, but there is no law rewiring a person to provide i.d. at an officer's whim. And State Sen. Tommy Williams (R-The Woodlands) doesn't like the sound of this bill.
"We still live in a free society," he said. "I don't want police officers to be able to pull you over and ask that you identify yourself."
The bill would also require individuals to provide their date of birth and 'residence address' to police.
Supporters of the bill, like State Sen. Juan Hinojosa (D-McAllen) says there are safeguards.
"A police officer would not have the discretion just to come over and ask for i.d. on just anybody," he said.
Hinojosa said the officer would have to have a 'good reason' to demand identification.
The bill is sponsored by State Sen. Dan Patrick (R-Houston), who is a strong supporter of individual rights.
"It is illegal for them to falsely identify themselves, but it is not illegal for them not to tell you who they are," Patrick said. "In this era of national security issues, if we have a police officer detaining someone at a high profile target, it is in the best interests of the safety of that officer and this community to be able to quickly determine who that person is."
Other lawmakers say if a person is bent on committing a crime, the individual is not likely to be deterred by the possibility of a misdemeanor charge of failure to identify.
Patrick’s' bill does not specify exactly who a 'peace officer' who is authorized to demand papers is. It doesn't say whether it would be limited to TCLOSE certified police officers, or would apply to constables, security guards, or neighborhood watch members. It also doesn't specify what passes for 'i.d' and wither it would have to be a photo i.d.
The bill also does not spell out any safeguards or recource for citizens who are asked at random to identify themselves to police.
Hole on thar pard! That there looks like a conflict of philosophical interest to this here Redneck.
This bill should pass, but should only be applied to the current inhabitant of the White House.
I'm against the bill. Smacks of big brother. And I'm irritated that a (R) is sponsoring it. But what you suggest would be a hoot...
A fantasy come true.
What if revealing your name might incriminate you? Doesn't the 5th amendment give every person the right to remain silent? If they want to know who you are, they can get a warrant and search you for your ID.
Of course, this would imply that in the future, every person would be required to have an official ID and carry it with them wherever they go. You already have to have an official ID to drive a car, as part of the "privilege".
Imagine if someone in our founder's day had decided people should be required to have a license in order to ride a horse? It is unthinkable.
Who the heck is the Republican supporting this? What country is he representing?
That could be a school teacher or perhaps a member of the Obama Youth Corp, or how about a snoopy neighbor who voted properly in the last election?
At least my state (MN) isn't the only state full of stupid now days...
Incremental-ism - inch by inch, and step by step......your papers, please.
Thank G-d they meet only every other year. Wish it was every third year. Or 4.
It could also be a way to CYA and check illegals without the scumbag aclu climbing up their butts everytime one is asked for ID.
Personally I’d like to read the bill myself. It can be represented—or misrepresented—as anything in a brief little article.
ping for later
I simply asked the arresting officer to quote the state statute requiring someone to produce ID when 'asked'.
Apparently one officer had a jump on this the other day when at a traffic stop he demanded the teenage passenger give him ID. Not that the minor had done anything wrong (no mouthing off, no nothing). The minor gave the officer his military ID. The officer took it and went back to his car to check it out, comes back and jumps all over the kid that it was a felony not to give him his drivers permit and that he could be hauled into jail.
Be prepared for more of this bs when this bill is passed. With what’s going on in the Texas Senate now days, it will be passed.
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