Old Weird Ward
Unless otherwise noted, that which is posted here is opinion, which is protected by the First Amendment to the US Constitution. If you don't like my opinions, go somewhere else. Nobody is forcing you to actually read this drivel.
The presumption exists that you can read at all.
That may be a large assumption.
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Friday, July 15, 2005
- - - - - I'm A Citizen, Not A Subject - - - - -
Courtesy of Kim du Toit HERE.
See the whole story HERE.
Stokes had told the mayor that Turner asked for her ID when she was reluctant to leave the spot where her mother normally picks her up. When Stokes did not show her ID, Turner arrested her and put her in the back of his police car before ticketing her and releasing her to her mother.
“That’s garbage,” said long-time criminal defense attorney James C. Howarth. “This is neither Nazi Germany in the 1930’s nor South Africa in the 1950’s. You do not have to show your papers to police, with only two exceptions, if you are driving, or crossing an international border. If I want to leave my house and go to the corner to buy a cup of coffee, the police cannot require me to show ID. I have a right to say either, ‘I’m not showing it to you, or I don’t have any ID on me.’”
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OWW's COMMENTARY:
'Way back in 1967, I lived in LA (aka "GawdAwfullUs", senor!). My habit, back then, when I went to a restaurant, I left my wallet in the glove box, and carried enough cash to pay for the meal, plus tip, plus a little extra for the unexpected.
One night, while walking back to my car, a gentleman of the LA Sherrif's Dept pulled up in his squad car, shined a light on me, and asked for my ID.
I explained, politely (Niven's preliminary to Niven's First Law), that I didn't have my ID on me, and asked why he wanted to see it.
Deputy Friendly announced that they were "looking for strangers, to tell 'em to move along".
So, at 18, I got my back up and said "I don't know you, therefore you and I are strangers, and I think we need to talk to your sergeant, right?"
Nothing came of that, and I'd completely forgotten it until I saw this story about Miss Stokes.
To Miss Stokes - "Good for you! You were and are right, and the cops and Hizzoner are dead wrong!"
The United States is a REPUBLIC, and is governed by LAWS. And the LAW says the cops can't do that.
I may try that out on one or two of the local cops that I'm friendly with, just to see what they say. I'll report back....
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