Must You Hand Your Driver's License to a Police Officer? Ep. 5.415
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- Опубликовано: 5 авг 2019
- You need a driver's license to operate a motor vehicle on a public road - but do you have to HAND your license to a LEO who asks to see it?
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One point we're overlooking. Officers frequently give warnings for minor traffic violations. If you make life difficult for them, out comes the ticket book.
So they say. I’ve been ticketed every single time I’ve been pulled over (for very minor infractions, some of which I later proved I did not commit) no matter how calm, polite and respectful I was. State troopers are certainly not giving a warning if they pull you over. Small town cops, maybe, but I wouldn’t bet on it because small towns love that revenue.
Showed my license dangled on a string. Got a ticket for suspended license. 😀
saw the price of parking last time I was at a multi level car park,
It was wrong on so many levels...
I once had my license taken by an officer and not returned. When I called the police department trying to get it back, I got blown off.
Same here
Just tell them that you are not driving, you are travelling. Works every time. Oh, and be sure to get that on video and post it for our entertainment.
I've been driving on a (valid license) for over 35 years. In that time, there's only been 1 occurrence where it was impossible to show an officer my license. Back in the late 80's, my wallet was stolen. It contained both my licence AND social security card. I happened to get pulled over on my way from the s.s. office to the d.m.v. I'd received a letter from s.s. stating my name, s.s. # etc. The officer used that to determine that I did have a valid license. I also didn't receive the speeding ticket that he could've given me, since, he figured I'd had a hard enough week already!
What if I've had to register my hands as deadly weapons in Guam? Now if I extend my hand toward the officer they can get me for assault with a deadly weapon.
You may of just got a warning but now you pissed off the officer so not only will he/she give you a ticket for the reason they pulled you over but find a way give you one for something else or worse.
Why do I watch these? I never get pulled over and if I did I would have no problem handing over my license.
A PA. State patrol took my license and all my paperwork on a holiday roadside HazMat inspection. 15 minutes later he dropped all the paperwork in my lap and said have a nice day. Then drove off, with my license in his left breast shirt pocket. 3 hours later he brought it back. I can't go anywhere without my CDL and Hazmat. My license was stolen. There, you heard it.
or, how to turn a 5 minute stop into a 30 minute or more stop.
Render unto Caesar. . .the state demands I have it, they gave it to me, they can have it back.
Despite my lack of a social life and love of arguing and antagonizing people, I have better things to do with my time than to pick a fight with a cop on the side of the road.
IN ILLINOIS - 625 ILCS 5/6-112
Sec. 6-112. License and Permits to be carried and exhibited on demand. ... For the purposes of this Section, "display" means the manual surrender of his license certificate into the hands of the demanding officer for his inspection thereof.
I watched Steve’s video on what to do when being pulled over, I thought it made good sense and I was literally pulled over a couple hours later and followed his advice or opinion fully because it was still fresh on my mind I also immediately informed the officer that my license was suspended because him finding out was inevitable so I thought telling him would probably benefit me some.
I don’t expect it to work everytime but I was speeding and had a suspended license and was let go with verbal warnings, As I said I don’t expect that will always be the case but I do feel like it’s you’re best chance at getting some slack.
Thanks Steve I know you saved me a ticket at least once and you’re not even my attorney lol.
I actually had a cop forget to give me my license back. I later went to the station & got it back.
LOL No you don't need a licence to drive,travel ,operate a vehicle on a public road. people do it all the time. You need a licence to do it legally. My motto make things as easy as possible I show my wal-mart receipt and give the officer my licence then move on with my day Being a jerk only encourages others to do so too. In the case of the police officer he has a gun . I once even had a ticket reduced from 96 mph,automatic loss of licence to 72 mph, simple fine.I didn't give the policeman any grief and when he realized I was no threat even had him laughing. We talked for about 10 minutes at 2 in the morning the only 2 cars on the road at that time of night.
I do neither, and in the officer's defense, I was only shot 27 times and made a pretty good recovery aside from the necessity of a wheelchair and the occasional respirator.
27 shots fired! Obviously the officer needs corrective firearms training.
I'm not sure why someone wouldn't hand over their license if you've been pulled over. You're going to have to show your registration and proof of insurance also.
There's always a chance of getting a warning instead of a ticket by being courteous and cooperative. Also, don't be afraid of buying a license plate frame that says
" Proud Father of a Police Officer. " ( I don't have any Children Ü They have them for Mom's too ) My personal favorite is my magnet that says, " If You Don't Like the Police the Next Time You're in Trouble Call a Crackhead! " I always get a laugh from Cops that see it when they're behind me while driving.
Dear Steve, with all due respect this is a slippery slope.
If whenever you operate a motorized vessel on public road you'd actually *hand* your driver's license to any LEO who asks for it, next thing you know you end up becoming a decent and reasonable person.
Justice is not blind, it's a emotional charged system operated by emotional charged people who get to use authority over other's, mostly it works to keep chaos at Bay, but it does also cause chaos because the individual's who operate it are human and have good and bad days and emotions.
Why do people feel they have to prove a point on the side of the road? As it has been said before, why turn a 5 min stop into more? Cooperation often gets you going much more quickly and a lot of times with just a friendly warning... smh
It's just the way that they are wired....depending where they are along that spectrum....many of them occupy your Jails and Prisons....and can't hold a job.....and make their own lives and that of their families miserable...As in this hypothetical example they turn this simple interaction into a confrontation that escalates into getting arrested and having the family car impounded and your wife and kids left on the side of the road....Ya...You showed them....You don't take shit off of them!
yep
I’ve left my house 2 times, in the last 30 years, without my wallet. Both times, I got pulled over and ticketed for not having a license in my possession! One time, the police officer didn’t even cite me for what he pulled me over for! Lol!
I got pulled over by a female sheriff's deputy for speeding. My insurance on the vehicle was through a business I wasnt working for at the time. She let me off with a warning. I pulled off the shoulder. Made it half a mile down the road. When I saw the cherries light up again. I pulled over, again. She got to the window and i said "i didnt think i made far enough to get in any touble" she handed me my license and told me she forgot to give it back. Not sure If you can consider that "stealing." Regardless it's pretty funny
you can say no, but then they could make the stop miserable for you, not to mention lost time.
You really need to know what the rules and interpretation is for your state, NY says Present, that is interpreted as handing it to the officer
And then look for all minor infractions that they would likely have previously overlooked.
- things hanging from the rear-view mirror (obstructed view)
- licence plate frame from the dealership (obstructed plate)
- bald tires (defective equipment)
- etc
I don't know about Michigan licenses but here in Oregon there is a magnetic strip on the back of ours and officers can run that strip through a reader and get it connected to their data bases and find far more information than just on the front of the license.
When I was an auxiliary several years ago now, it was when our license's got the magnetic strip on the back and our patrol cars got the fancy new computers installed. We routinely took the license to swipe it to pull up info and log the interaction currently going on. It was to the benefit of both the officer and the driver really since it was before dash cams were common.
The way I see it, the license is issued by the state with the understanding that they can ask for it back any time they want- it is not my personal property in the first place. If an officer asks to see it, I will promptly hand it over. Any surging feelings of righteous indignation can be quelled by a glance at the Glock on the officer's hip.
If you refuse to display a license, and they cannot verify that you have one on file, I would guess that they are then also under no obligation to allow you to continue to drive. That would mean your vehicle could be towed, costing additional expense. I would think that's one more reason to not purposefully push the boundaries too hard.
It's fine, I'm not driving, I'm travelling!
I recived a speeding ticket many years ago from a small town speed trap in Wisconsin while driving with a commercial drivers license. The officer did indeed keep my license until I paid the fine, because I lived several counties away. Not sure about the legality or his logic, but it still bothers me and would make me pause to handing it over today.
Louisiana used to do this by their law regardless if you were stopped in the parish (county) you lived in. You would drive on the ticket as if it was your driver's license. I'm not sure if this is still the law or procedure.
Steve, I just received an urgent message from Social Security that said my Social Security number has been deactivated due to suspected fraud. When I respond back, I assume I just need to give them my social security number and perhaps some banking or credit card info. It's so wonderful that our government is concerned about my SS account and is reaching out to protect me. I guess I'd better find time to call them back ASAP before bad things happen to me.
@@scottr1921 Yes, I know. I was just being sarcastic. They called me 5 times 4 days ago. I'm glad they stopped. I'm so tired of them blowing up my phone. I wish they would do this to members of Congress so they would stop this shit.
Press it up against the glass (not 6" away) and the man in the funny costume can use a flashlight to see it. They all have flashlights. If they have such poor vision that they still can't read it, they probably shouldn't be on the road.
Just display your license in a polite and friendly manner yet remain stubbornly adherent to your rights.
I think the whole what do you have to hide line was widely used in nazi Germany leading up to ww2
The real problem is I'm usually hoping the officer will cut me a break, and if I'm sticking to the letter of the law it's unlikely to happen.
Warning. Results may vary based on skin color
Truly
I haven't been pulled over in a long time, but here ( Kentucky), the officer identified herself, and asked for my license , registration, and proof of insurance. She looked at all three, handed the registration and insurance card back, and went to her car with my license. She was gone a minute or two, came back and told me my license plate lights were out. The whole process took maybe four minutes, and cost a buck nineteen for bulbs. No ticket.
My mom got pulled over, and had insurance and registration, but had left her purse at home and didn't have her license on her. No ticket, but she had ten days to go to the police station and prove she had a license.
I got pulled over for going 37 in a 25mph zone...on a bicycle. I wanted to see how fast I could get my ten speed up to on a flat road ( this was in central Florida around '78). I had no ID in me...just a house key, pocket knife, and three bucks to go get burgers.
Both officers were laughing...
Go ahead and pick a fight with a cop. Go ahead and lose any chance of driving away with a warning. Brilliant! Just roll the window down and hand him the ticket.
License?
@@terrygoyan3022 Nah, give him a ticket! That'll teach him not to pull you over!
You don't need to contract with the government in order to use PUBLIC infrastructure.
The Bill of Rights grants us the right to be secure in your person, PAPERS, and effects....
People need to learn the history of robber Barron's and toll roads.
Speaking of "displaying", back in the early 90's, the company I worked for enclosed the factory behind fencing. And, for about a year or so, they hired a security company to have security guards check our "employee passes" before being allowed to enter the property.
The "employee passes" had our pictures, names, and employee numbers on them. But, from more than 5-feet away, they were, basically, a 3"x4" yellowish rectangle.
One night I left my employee pass at home. It was wintertime, and I knew the security guard wasn't going to leave his little "security shack" to walk over to check our passes, up close.
So I just "flashed" my pack of Old Gold cigarettes. The security guard waved me through.
So much for "security".
LOL
Old Golds...remember - Save the Coupon!
Howard Fortyfive ● That's nothing. How about Fatima Cigarettes?
Up until I started listening to the old (radio) program "DRAGNET" on RUclips, I had never heard of Fatima Cigarettes - and I'm in my 70's.
Interestingly, Fatima Cigarettes were the first cigarette brand to be sold in 20-unit packs (for 15 cents a pack).
And, the Fatima brand wasn't phased out until the 1980's.
Who knew? LOL
The police officer will take your license, walk back to his car with it, check the computer or on the radio for any wants or warrants.
You are supposed to be secure in your personal papers and effects. This includes your personal information. You are under no obligation to assist police in their investigation.. if you are under arrest, you have the right to remain silent and have an attorney present. Speaking with the officer or providing the officer with any information is not required. If you commit a crime and not a civil traffic offense.. that would be different.
I got a speeding ticket in both the City of St. Louis and one in Cool Valley, MO (by University of MO), about 20 years ago, and both times, the officer took my driver's license and held it as bond for the court date. It was a major hassle, because I didn't have a state ID or a passport at the time. If I don't have to hand the ticket over, then I won't. I'll hold it up to the glass and take my chances in court.
Years ago I had a cop, presumably, forget to return my ID. I ended up having to call dispatch, the cop brought it to me about an hour later.
And I checked the Bible, I couldn't find anything on stubbornness. Although I did find several references to a jackass/donkey.
It’s always my pleasure to hear your voice and watch your videos.
Dear Michiganer: NY pays more than 3x the amount of federal taxes paid by Michigan so hurry up and pay that $2 toll.
You already got the citation when you only cracked the window
The only issue I can think of with handing over the license is where the officer unnecessarily extends the stop by holding on to the license and walks back to his patrol car after issuing the citation/warning. Seems to me that would be a different challenge in court, but there's really nothing that you can do about it on the side of the road.
Why argue with an officer? Just hand him the thing. Keep not simple.
I dont have no problem 'surrendering' my license, using the term in the Fl statute, but I will NOT do that at a DUI checkpoint. I always display it.
If you roll your window down at a DUI checkpoint, then the officer can lie and say he smells doughnuts or something and force you out of your car.
I also have 7 cameras recording in my vehicle.
All in all....I always surrender at a traffic stop.
The "Right to Be Stubborn" is not just in the Bible, I've heard that it is in the Constitution...
No, not exactly the original Constitution. I think it's actually in the Bill of Rights (one of the amendments)...
I know of somebody that was pulled over on the highway and while the officer had her license she got a call for an officer-involved shooting and went code 3 and took off with her license leaving her stranded for over an hour before an officer showed up and gave her permission to drive without it her license was returned to her the next day
A deeper question:
If you haven't committed a crime, and you haven't been witnessed committing a traffic infraction, are you still required to display your private information in the form of a Pennsylvania driver's license?
I would say an unlawful stop and/or detainment would be a violation of civil rights, and any actions taken by law enforcement following an unlawful stop and/or detainment would be an escalation of unlawful actions and an exponential increase in the severity of civil rights violations.
We have the right to be secure in our papers.
Police can only arrest for criminal offenses, not civil traffic offenses.
If you were pulled over for speeding. Or any civil traffic offense.
Do not answer questions. Remain secure in your papers. Demand you be free to go, or have miranda rights be read to you. Then, demand legal representation be present. Then sit and wait for police to illegally arrest you so you can bank on a settlement from their department. Or wait for the officer to do the legally correct thing, and piss off.
This only works if your vehicle is unregistered or registered to a legal framework the officer will not be able to ascertain your personal information from. Otherwise, the officer can strawman you into the courtroom.
Steve, one of the reasons I looked up the question is that I watch quite a few videos of officer behaving badly on traffic stops. Often a citizen will catch the officer in some lie and the officer, to CYA, will engage in a 3-5 minute "cop splaining" session at the window. The officer will hold their license, at the window, acting like they're just about to hand it back, and talk, and talk, and talk. I know if it were me I would ask, "officer, is our business completed and are you unnecessarily prolonging the traffic stop for this explanation? Please hand me my property so I may be on my way, thank you". Then, rinse and repeat if they keep talking, followed by complaints if they can't shut up. But, for most people that don't know an officer can't prolong a traffic stop longer than necessary (and their explanation is not necessary for anyone but themselves), handing their license to the office just opens the door to an unneeded lecture by someone who probably routinely breaks the same traffic law on a daily basis.
exactly! i'm so glad you typed that!!! why can't we be permitted to hold up for their perusal but not touch? if they can read a VIN then they damn sure can read your papers on the dash. if they can spot a "suspicious substance" on the floor behind the passenger seat then they can read your papers on the dash.
They can use the possession/retention of your piece of plastic to hassle you and extend the stop by not handing it back until they get good and ready.
That piece of plastic is not "your license". "Your license" is the permission that you have obtained from the state to operate a motor vehicle on public roads. That piece of plastic is a handy symbol with a reference number that verifies that you have permission from the state to operate a motor vehicle on a public road.
SO... writing your license number on anything that they can read will give them access to all the information that handing them a piece of plastic will.
I blew a radiator hose one evening, called a tow truck & then called the local town police to inform them I was partially blocking one lane with my truck. Tow came, loaded up the truck. Police came during, asked for my driver's lic. and took it back to his car for about 15 min.! I have no criminal record or unresolved violations, what the heck was he doing? No problem, gave it back & we left. Just strange that he felt the need to keep it that long and perhaps go on a fishing expedition!
Looking for Wants and Warrants.
My cousin (who’s a lawyer in California) told me that in some states you’re required to hand the license to an officer if requested. The reason that he gave is that the license is the property of the state in which it was issued (it’s explicitly NOT your property) and those states have the statute written in a way that handing it to the officer is a requirement.
At a traffic stop, there's no question you must display/provide your license. The youtube driver's license decliners are at "checkpoints", (excluding sovereign citizens) whether "Sobriety" or "Border Patrol". and it seems to work out for them, in their favor, when they stick to their guns. Usually.
I was doing 69 in a 45 coming out of Atlantic City New Jersey and didn’t have my license on me and the cop was actually cool and only gave me a ticket for not having my license on me and they dropped the charge in court and I just paid court costs
Cliff Thomas yes sir at its finest
I should’ve not got my license until I was 21 because I stole my parents car and got caught with cannabis. I told the officer I had cannabis immediately and he worked with me as much as he could and I was able to still get my license at 18.
Cops keep position of your license to extend the stop....so if you put the license up to the window, cop says I cant read it, then you have to make a choice, give it up, and get screwed over for not obeying.
Good legal advice and I completely agree. No need to act like a jerk when showing some common courtesy can avoid a lot of unnecessary punishment and hassle. Some people can be just ridiculous...
I can't conceive of why anyone would wish to knowingly antagonize a LEO over such an issue as this. It's been said that life is tough... it's even tougher when you're stupid, and behavior like this is just plain stupid. Any chance of a mere warning for the alleged infraction just went out that little slit in the window that you refuse to roll down.
What if my license is inside a plastic case attached to a lanyard attached to my vehicle if I hand it to them is that still displaying it as well as it's in their hand to see he just can't take it back to his car
I handed my license to a cop in Oklahoma and he kept it and said to follow him back to town 8 miles away. i told him I can't drive without a license--to no avail. The speeding fine was very dollar I had on me at the time. By the way, he was sitting on a bench in front of the station when I drove thru the little town and saw my out of state plates.
in oregon the only requirement is if you're in a traffic stop you must present id, with the usual requirement for visibility, which implies handing it over as they have those newer barcodes on the back and they feed that to the in cruiser computers and that's that, since there's been cases of people duplicating the stickers, but they only change the relevant _text_, leaving the info in the barcode the same as the original and the system shows the discrepancy and bam, providing false id charge.
i've seen cops try to pull that with bike riders 'you're operating a two wheeled vehicle'. perhaps in some fashions yes, by oregon law, but there is no legal requirement to even carry id while riding a pedal bike.
there's no requirement to carry id at all unless you're driving a motor vehicle on public roads or carrying a firearm in a legal manner (and only requires you to show id in verrrry specific circumstances or the anti-fun areas). there's also no statute requiring you to id yourself in any fashion barring the above vehicle/firearm stuff.
the only other requirement is when you're carrying in multnomah county, and giving its a firearm law with no preemption its technically unlawful, but that's something that needs to be dealt with in court to resolve.
Even when you are right, just remember; "You can beat the rap, but you can't beat the ride!"
I say if you don't have a reason to worry just hand them your license so you can get on your way and being courtious to an officer will most times get you out of a ticket. My dad used to tell us you don't know if that officer had a fight with his wife before leaving for work.
What is the point of, not giving him the License. he is doing his job. why mess with him, unless you are up to something. the times, I have been stopped, I notified the officer, I was armed and handed him my drivers license, and carry permit. he gave me a ticket for speeding, which I was. I mailed in my money. no issues what so ever.
A friend of mine was pulled over in St Louis Missouri by an officer that we surmised must have previously been an Illinois officer. He told him that he was keeping his license. At that time in Illinois, you could be forced to surrender your license as your bail for a traffic ticket, and apparently this cop thought it worked that way in Missouri also. My friend demanded his license back and threatened that he was going to drive directly to the station if he didn't give it back. I guess the guy made a call a decided he wasn't allowed to hold it. I believe Illinois has since changed their statutes to allow a signature to be your guarantee to appear.
I was stopped in Arizona and the officer lost my DL. I was out of state, my home state was KS at the time, and it was exceedingly incontinent. Thankfully the local magistrate was extremely helpful.
They want to smell inside your car : ). Seems like that could be construed as suspicious behavior to me. We need police officers, We have bad Police officers out there who lose it mentally. I always roll down all my windows and put the lights on, if dark outside, and put my hands on my steering wheel, out of respect for what good police officers do. If we don't like the laws, well we don't contest them on the side of the road. Also, I have a live stream option on my dashcam to document any erratic behavior by anyone.
In the state of Georgia, you have to hand the officer your drivers license under threat of being arrested. That seems to me to be a violation of the fifth amendment, in that the one that’s pulled over is being coerced and forced to give up a document that MIGHT contain incriminating evidence. Especially, if one forgot their driver’s license expired on the birthday they had a few days ago.
The defendant might be given a ticket for their traffic violation considering the officer has all the correct identification information, but, I would think he would have to let the violation of expired driver’s license go with a warning, Since the defendant was coerced or forced to give up that information.
Your thoughts and comments below. lol
Ricky L. Hendricks - In Georgia? I would follow my natural instinct for my sphincter to tighten in the presence of officers and give him the damn license if I’m driving. Really, anywhere if they have detained you via a traffic stop and you are the driver you need to hand it over. If you are walking that depends on whether or not your State has Stop and Identify Laws.
Here’s my big thing... TOTALITY OF CIRCUMSTANCES... Someone is walking down the road wearing tactical pants in a stop and identify state and they have bulges in those pants where a bulge is not supposed to be... Trying to skip being ID’d or Terry Stopped is probably not going to end well.
Illinois used to take your drivers license as bond if you got a ticket and you had to drive around with the ticket for your ID.
Now an IL driver may sign a recognizance bond on the citation. But you MUST physically hand your license to the cop.
In California they have something like that with insurance cards. Failure to show the card to the cop on demand is an offense separate from driving without having insurance. When the cop pulled me over and caught me with an expired card he believed me that I had insurance and was just carrying an old card because I forgot to print the new one. So he ticked me for driving without insurance - and then told me how to get it dismissed by proving later that I did have it. He could have given me the failure to display ticket and then I would have been guilty as charged and out of luck.
Fortunately, nowadays you can put your vehicle insurance card on a smartphone app--I still print out a paper copy for the glove box, just in case my phone craps out.
The last time I got pulled over, speeding 10 over while coasting down a hill. My insurance had expired during the week and I had been working out of town and staying in a hotel. I had the old card and it showed the expiration date was Tuesday that week. I was driving home Friday. He let me off with a warning for everything. One thing I like about Iowa is putting Veteran right on the license in large-ish red font.
I live in Ohio but grew up in Ft.Lauderdale,Fl., having been stopped a few times over the years I was always instructed to take my license out of the plastic in my wallet, wonder if this is a common occurrence ?
_Lehto's Law: Fancy-Pants Law Video Displays on Demand_
My understanding of the licence law is that a) the licence is issued by the state but remains the property of the state. (it is a permit to conduct a specific activity) And B) Like most if not all other state issued permits it must be surrendered upon demand by a law enforcement officer just as a licence plate can be removed and seized from an unfit vehicle. and C) If the nature of the offence is such that it causes you to be disqualified to operate under that permit then the officer has the obligation to seize that licence. Considering that a modern licence has both a magnetic strip and a bar code then refusal to surrender the licence for examination with those devices would constitute failure to display.
no. there is no reason the officer needs to hold the card for it to be examined by a machine. i am able to operate an ATM. i think i can swipe my ID.
police are restricted in whom they may make demands based on criteria in the law. hence "lawful" order. if the criteria is not in the law, it isn't lawful.
Here's the play:
Cop pulls you over, alleging some violation, and asks for your license. You hold the license to your window while you record the interaction. Cop says he can't read it against your window. Hand it to him while continuing to record. Take your ticket to court and simply ask, "How could the officer see this alleged violation if he couldn't see my license against the window?"
Case closed, you win!
Your Honor, my ability to see the small font on the subject's driver's license at night with light refactoring off his/her driverside window has no bearing on the fact that I could see his/her 8' long vehicle make several turns without using a turn signal and running a red light.
@@MrSaundersc ...and now the record shows that the cop is a liar. WIN!
Interestingly, the law says to "display the _license"_ - but as "license" simply means "legal permission", isn't the card you carry in your wallet just a proof of license, rather than a license itself? It's a small thing, but the wording of that statue seems to be a little ambiguous - or at least, not as precise as usual.
That would be the nature of language, that's why legality and interpretation is depended on process of the due court, i.e., what was the proper action.
This is why justice is dubious at best. And why remaining silent and trusting police, by order, done and not done, must be kept in thought.
Of course, always be respectful... but do not given out what isn't necessary: implied, required.
Also change of address is on the back. The officer needs to see the reverse side too.
this was years ago but a fellow I knew that was 54 was pulled over by a cop he knew. The cop walks up says good afternoon Roger and asks for his license and registration. Roger gives him the registration and says I don't have a license. Cop asks why . Roger says I never bothered to get one. He had gotten away with it for about 40 years
Thank you!
Back around 1980 I was a small Texas community cop for a few years, working my way through college. I tried very hard to treat folks as gently and respectfully as possible. I wanted to keep them as calm as possible. Since then, as Joe Citizen, I've tried to do the same to/for any cops that I come in contact with. A real easy way to calm most cops is, under driving & all other conditions, hand them my DL.
Back in the day when licenses were paper they wanted to feel for staple holes. An indication that you had surrendered your license for moving violations in the past. And in Illinois (at least) additional restrictions are noted on the back of the license.
Nice $100 bill behind the sinking ship
This might be an urban legend but, many years ago, I was told that an officer would feel the license for staple holes which, if present, would guarantee you got a ticket. The theory was they would staple it to the paperwork they filed. YUou would get back a paper license good for some period of time sufficient to cover your court appearance.
Up until 2014 in Illinois the LEO could take your license which was posted as bail for certain infractions. Now your signature on the citation signifies you will comply with requirements. Also way, way back in Pennsylvania, we had paper licenses and police would write on the back something like "Warned of broken taillight June 8, 58"
In NYS you must exhibit you license upon request; if you fail to provide your license it is presumptive evidence that the operator doesn’t possess a license. NYS VTL section 507(2)
In NYS a number of agencies are trained to verify identity prior to issuance of VTL infractions or penal law violations, if unable to verify identity on the road, then some agency policy is to take a peso. I go custody in order to verify identity such that a ticket, situation, information can be properly issued. Some offers I know would do this just to mess with someone they thought was messing with them. Every job has bad apples and these officers make the others 99% good ones look bad. Just be courteous traffics stops are dangerous and stressful enough; I’ve always believed a warning is better than a ticket an idea shared by a lot of LEOs. Tickets take time to right and require a court day or more if challenged so better to use the stop as a learning experience and a way to show people cops aren’t always just A-holes. Don’t get me wrong if someone earns a ticket due to crime or behavior a ticket or more than 1 ticket will be given.
I just checked the Cali law on this. The statute says "must present". In other words, give it to the officer. You are also required to present proof of insurance but most of the time they get that from a data base. My insurance company issues a six month proof but I pay monthly. The data base helps confirm that my coverage is current; that I didn't just pay the first month premium, get the card, and then stop paying.
There is no " insurance database" that officers can access.
@@LT4Nova Not true, many states now require insurance companies doing business in the state to notify them when an auto policy lapses or is cancelled. Police can access that database. The number of states with this program is growing, and it's a great idea. No one wants to be hit by some uninsured a**hole. Especially if they are driving a car they only have liability on. They won't get coverage from their own company, and the deadbeat that hit them sure isn't going to have a pot to piss in to sue them over.
"For instance, since 2006, California car insurance companies doing business in California were required to electronically report all private-use vehicle (except trailers, off-highway vehicles or boats) liability policies to DMV, both when a policy is issued and/or cancelled. California law enforcement agencies have been able to electronically verify if any private-use vehicle is properly insured by accessing the department's vehicle registration database."
www.carinsurance.com/license-plate-valid-insurance.aspx
@@RickinICT I am in this line of work and there are no insurance databases that can be accessed on a stop, in CA. I wish there were....
A while ago, my husband was speeding. The officer took his license and held it until the court date. He got the citation. I never understood that
He was driving so fast that the license was suspended, or B, the license can be contested in court.
Typically. If this happens and you don't understand why ? do NOT drive a motor vehicle on a US public road until after the court date or until you receive the license back, or another license is issued.
Your hue can contact the respective Police Office by email or phone. He has to do the asking and the court stuff in this name and person and the best thing ( for him ) is to go in alone and listen very carefully to the judge and the traffic Police, and bring a lawyer and refrain from bringing friends or family.
Hi Steve for the sake of sharing a story. I'm not trying to disagree with any of your points I always do hand over my driver's license because I know I Hate trying to read something in somebody else's hand. But about 4 years ago I was pulled over for running a red light at about 2 o'clock in the morning I handed over my driver's license and registration to the officer the officer came back and handed me my ticket and registration but failed to give me back my driver's license and of course I was just trying to get home at 2 o'clock in the morning so I didn't notice and I drove off I didn't realize that in have my driver's license until about a week later.
Last time i was stopped i handed my licence to the cop, he forgot to give it back, I had to ask for it back
Every time I’ve handed my license over I always get it back broken or bent.
I was coming home last night around 2:00 am. Going through a construction in middle of town. I went under 20mph. The young cop standing there looked my car up and down. He had this bizarre expression on his face. I get through the construction zone and maybe 100 feet past it get pulled over. Its that kid (cop). He said pulled you over for having no license plate light and you were going too slow. Said 18 in a 25 zone. First, there is a slow lane and fast lane, both full of potholes. I was in the slow lane just past the construction site. Anyway, I forgot my license and just showed him the registration. i was soon on my way. When I got home, I looked at the license plate light and sure enough, it works. I guess he uses that as a justification for the stop. Is that legal? Cant use the going slow when there is NO traffic around and I am in the slow lane. If he could pull me over for going too slow, then the tractors would also get pulled over.
You would have to argue that in court if he wrote you a ticket.
A 25 zone means that's the maximum you can go, not the speed you should go. I don't believe you got pulled over for 18 in a 25, especially just after a construction site. Your story is BS.
@@stevek8829 What was BS?
I was stopped for 85 mph on the NY through way. I turned on my turn signal and drove about another half mile until the end of the guard rail allowed me to pull well off the road. The state police officer remarked about my finding a safe place to stop. He gave me a seat belt ticket (non moving violation). BE nice! It can only help.
Certainly not always.
You would think that the police officer are trained to identify the security features on the license and would want to hold it to make sure it’s not a counterfeit
Thank you. You’re doing the dishes so I don’t have to. Thanks
Cooperation and courtesy work lots better than biligerance and attitude. I give the cop the license and roll the window down. If it's dark, I turn on the dome light. I also stop in a way that is the safest for him.
a road side extortion attempt is a custodial arrest and you have the right to remain silent and have an attorney present, if you have committed no crime, you are not obligated to present any information to anyone. Long standing supreme court decisions support the rights to travel and that driving is an act of commerce and where lack of jurisdiction is present the case cannot be pursued. It is assumption of guilt when an officer assumes a person is driving. Now, IF while traveling, you are a clear and present danger to others or causing harm or loss with your actions then it's within common law as well to be held accountable for your actions. Although I don't think police are operating in maliciousness, it's surely possible to be expressed through ignorance of where jurisdiction ends though.... a We the People exercising a right is NOT a regulated activity.
Common law for this has long been superceded by the tenth Amendment; The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the STATES RESPECTIVELY, or to the people.
I didnt have a cop steal my license but a bill of sale and title of a car I bought and give it back to the guy I bought it from. This was on the basis it still had his tag on it so the car was his. The cops literally helped him steal a car from me.
Here in PA, it's acceptable to have your current proof of insurance card on your phone to show to police. That's my understanding, to show it to the officer. I couldn't imagine handing the cop my phone and him taking it back to the patrol car as they would do with a paper insurance card. As for a driver not having their drivers license on them. That's one thing ingrained in me since I started driving in the early 70's. You always have your drivers licence on you. In your wallet, 'man purse' or whatever. It's always on you. Kinda like you wouldn't leave your house forgetting to put your pants on.
"Kinda like you wouldn't leave your house forgetting to put your pants on." Ho boy, if I had a dollar for every time I've done that!
Well, I know of someone who presented their license, and did not get it back, but it was another state, Ohio. Kid had just gotten his license from the DMV, and went to do a celebratory cruze by the high school. Some wheel spin and bumper to bumper damage, the officer two cars back lit up, and took the young man to task. When the license was presented, the cop mentioned, "Oooh this is still warm. You won't be needing this." Took it back to the cruiser and told him to find somebody else to drive, if the car was still drivable.