[cody8295]

Actually most states don't have "Stop & ID" laws, but some do. In states without "Stop & ID" laws, you only have to ID yourself when suspected of committing a crime, or suspected that you're about to commit a crime. Not sure how it works outside of the USA.

[BrandoElFollito]

> Not sure how it works outside of the USA

In France we explain to the children that when there is a problem, they should go to a policeman. Or immediatly enter the nearest shop, go directly to the cashier and explain they are lost.

Not that it worked with mine. I did twice the test when my kids were 6 or 8 and instead of doing what they were happily recitating in the evening, they started to cry their lungs out.

[SamBam]

Huh? I'm confused about what the "test" was. (Also, the poster above wasn't saying never ask the police for help, rather you shouldn't answer them if they are questioning you without your lawyer.)

[101008]

In my country (South America) people (young people) is aware that police couldn't force to do a lot of things, like stop you, etc. However, due to personal and shared experiences, it is really hard to say no to policemen if they stopped you during the night and there is no one around... cases of polices abusing their power are daily so sometimes the best is to cooperate with them...

[koonsolo]

So how do they check if you have a driver license? Or do a routine check for drunk driving? That's not allowed in US?

[bruiseralmighty]

You are required to have a copy of your driver's license, vehicle registration, and insurance information in your car while driving on public roads in the United States.

I believe you can refuse to present these, but this will result in charges.

You are not required to submit to a drunk driving check (we call them field sobriety checks). A cop will tell you something along the lines of:

"If you don't do X, Y, and Z to prove to me you're not over the legal limit (of blood alcohol), then you aren't going home tonight."

This scares people into submitting to the test and in many cases they are then charged with drunk driving. However, you can refuse to submit to the test. Your license is immediately suspended and the cops will then begin the process of securing a warrant for a test under suspicion of drunk driving. Forcing them to do this however can take long enough that you become under the legal limit by the time their search is conducted thus avoiding a charge of drunk driving.

The reason or this stems from our bill of rights protecting us from the state compelling us to testify against ourselves. This includes providing bodily fluids like breath and blood as well as undergoing potentially incriminating tests like a field sobriety check.