This whole thing brings many other things into play.
First of all, I don't know about the rest of you, but I have never had my identity stolen, even though I have lost my wallet several times, I don't
ever pay for any of that extra protection offered when I get a new credit card, I give all sorts of personal info over the Internet, call me stupid,
maybe I am, but, I take my chances. Also, I don't know anyone, or know anyone who knows anyone, who knows anyone, etc... who has had their identity
stolen. So, although I'm sure that the crime does occur, it is not of the magnitude that the government wants us to believe. I think that it is
just one more way of trying to get the public to give up more civil liberties in exchange for a temporary, false sense of security. (This was just a
couple of cents I had to put in.)
The rest, more factual, I think. First of all, the person who wrote that the local police have no business trying to enforce something that is above
and beyond their call of duty is absolutely right. Also, the person (djohnston(?) I think who wrote that if you know the law, you don't have to show
any ID as long as you know your rights under the law, I'm pretty sure is also correct. My boyfriend has worked many years in the legal field, and is
very knowledgeable about the ins & outs of the law. (I don't know as much, myself), but I can tell you a couple of things I have learned for
sure:
One is that if you get pulled over for something like a tail light out, minor speeding, "driving in a manner not reasonable and proper" (I wonder
who thought that one up?), etc... and it is a regular traffic stop where you would just be issued a ticket and be on your way, the cop DOES NOT have
the automatic right to search your car. He/she must first gain consent from the driver. If a cop asks if you will consent to a search, most people
are intimidated, and say, "yes". But, if you say no, you don't consent, and you're not drunk or anything like that, all the cop can do is let you
go. They get all indignent, and try to persuade you that if you have nothing to hide, why not, etc..... but just insist that you do not consent and
they can't do it legally.
But the other thing that this terrible new Arizona law (if it's really legal) means, is that whenever a driver is taken to jail, their car
automatically is impounded. When that happens, the cop "must" do an automatic "inventory search" to make sure that nothing is missing when the
car in taken to the impound. Well, that is a nice way for the cop to either plant something in your car if he suspects drugs or something and finds
none, or to go ahead and search to his hearts content
without your consent.
This is all very bad. The cops must be stopped. This must be taken, and taken soon to a higher court. Otherwise, there aren't many more, if any
stops on the way to a real Police State.