Cops Unlawfully Handcuff Man Who Refuses to ID! He Sues for Unlawful Detainment and Rights Violation
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YouTube Shorts is throwing me in a rabbit hole of policeman seemingly overstepping the boundaries when stopping citizens for a routine check. The discussions often revolve around asking and not wanting to show their ID (“unless you can tell me what crime you accuse me of”). Is there a particular reason why they’re so hesitant to present their ID to the police officer? It only seems to escalate the situation. In Belgium I don’t see the harm in showing my ID when I’m stopping by a police officer. (added url as an example)

  • bane_killgrind
    10•11 months ago

    In Belgium

    Section 1 of Article 34 of the WPA specifies that police officers may check someone’s identity when that person has committed a crime or intends to enter a space where there are concerns about potential public disorder. These are known as reactive identity checks in that officers react to an event that has already taken place. The same section also mentions proactive police checks. These are permitted “if they, on the grounds of that person’s behaviour, material clues or circumstances of place or time, have reasonable grounds to think that the person being searched has tried or is prepared to commit a crime or that he/she could disturb or has disturbed public order”.

    You are required to carry your identity, which can be any document, and there are limited instances the police would stop you.

    It’s the US, there is no expectation a person carries their ID unless they are driving, and there is a grab bag of conflicting requirements that basically mean, the more opportunity you hand them to extend the interaction, the more opportunity you give them to escalate. Ie, “defy a lawful order” or “resist arrest” when it’s not clear what the order is or that you are being arrested.