If the police can't identify you, what do they do?

Question

If you're stopped by police, either for a crime or a random check, but they can't identify you (eg. you have no criminal record, no ID, refuse to tell them etc etc) what would they do? Surely they need a name to check your background and/or arrest you?

(Just been watching a police programme where someone lied about who they were!)

Answer 1

OK - most persons in this situation have been arrested before.

If in my investigation - I find that someone is lying about their identity - they come in and I do a finger print inquiry - and within 5 minutes their history is back.

No the guy who has never had any LE contact and is not under arrest or detention - who cares - I don't need his identity.

But you may argue this - what if he is arrested for the first time with no ID and won't tell me who he is - the answer is this.  In LE - criminal histories and identities are really done by finger print classification.  I have had persons with nearly 100 names on their CQH - but only one finger print classification - that is the identity - because some people out there have so many aliases - you could never determine the name momma gave them.

Answer 2

It depends on the state probably, but the one thing you don't want to do is lie about your identity. Giving false information to a police officer in most states is a misdemeanor. Giving false information to a federal officer is a felony.

A case that came to light recently involved a person who didn't want to be arrested for a traffic warrant, so he gave a false name and date of birth. Unfortunately, the ones he gave coincidentally matched with someone who was wanter for murder. Surprise! Guess where he stayed the night.

Also, if you give someone else's name or personal information, you could face an identity theft charge.

If the officer is investigating a crime, and you're a suspect, he's going to take you in.  You'll be processed, photographed and fingerprinted. While the law allows you to be held for a limited period for investigative purposes before going before a judge, that basically only holds true if your identity can be verified.

If the only way he can verify your identity is to send your prints to the FBI, expect to remain in jail without bond until the results are back… Give it a week or two.

Answer 3

When one is stopped for a "stop n search" under PACE 1984 or one is detained for a non-arrestable offence and the police officer is unable to obtain the information he requires for the court to send a summons or they believe you are lying to them they have the power of arrest.

UK Answer

xxVP

Answer 4

In most jurisdictions there is a law the requires you to produce id when asked to by law enforcement.  By refusing you would be in violation of this law.

If identifying you is important to an investigation, you are obstructing governmental administration by refusing to properly id yourself.

If you continue to refuse to properly id yourself ... the police would probably hold you on a minor offense as John Doe until you gave up.  If you had your id with you, but failed to show it, while your belongings are being inventoried for your stay in jail the officers would read your id card (and inventory it ... as in "one New York driver's license issued to Ira Fool").

Answer 5

arrest you john doe

Answer 6

If they can't identify you, they try really hard to. If they still can't, they'll try even harder - arrest, DNA samples, fingerprints, the works. They might even put your face on telly and posters with 'do you know this dude?' next to it. And some bugger'll turn you in, bet your life on it!

Answer 7

If you are caught committing an offence then the police have a couple of options. One is to report you on summons for the offence. If this were the case the officer will tell you that you are reported and you will later be summonsed to court. The other is to arrest you and deal with you at a local police station.

In order to arrest you the police have to justify why you should be arrested. At the time of your arrest you should be told why and likewise the officer should inform the Custody Sergeant.

One of the main reasons used is for the prompt and effective investigation of the offence.

If you refused to give your details or the police could not readily ascertain that the details given are correct then another option could be used. This would be to arrest you as they are unable to ascertain your identity / address and therefore a summons could not be served. If this were the case you would be put on a fingerprint machine (Livescan) at the police station , which would check the database for any matches. If you've never been in trouble before then obviously the police would need to visit your address and confirm who you are from a document or documents at that location.

It is sometimes quite obvious when people lie regarding their details. Most fail to give you the correct age for the date of birth give (always a give away), or likewise they don't know their star sign.

If there is any doubt then the person should be arrested. They can always be released later.

EDIT - If it was just a random check and there were no offences comitted then you clearly wouldn't be arrested. Obviously we would do all the checks we could at the time. If you fill out a serach form the person can refuse their details in which case we would just record their description.

Answer 8

They arrest you and then interrogate you.

Answer 9

theyd most likely take you down to the police station, and place some basic questions on you, and take your picture, and scan it, and everything will come up.

police have their ways,

DNA samples

tracking devices

any cards

properties

they can access all yur information! they have advanced technology!

and if you didnnt tell them, theyd most probably arrest you! depends how dumb they are! haha

i ran away from home and didnt use my oyster card or tell anyone where i was and they found me.

Answer 10

If you withold information as to your name address etc, they can arrest you and charge you with obstructing a police officer in the execution of his duty.

Answer 11

The police will ALWAYS find out who you are . No matter if they don't have anything one touch of a hand. Sneeze anything !!

Answer 12

have their fun

Answer 13

name you as john doe

Answer 14

What would be even more interesting is if they sent someone to prison for contempt of court but then later found out the guy had been in an accident or something and had amnesia.

Think they would let him go? :-)

Answer 15

This is a very good question and nobody seems to be able to give you a clear answer, even the fount of all knowledge Bear, sorry Bear a joke. If you are not on any Police databases then they would have to take you before a Judge if you had committed a crime and if you refused to tell him then he could send you to prison for contemp of court.

Answer 16

If you are stopped for a traffic offense only and you do not sign the ticket or any other way identify yourself the officer can take you forthwith to the nearest magistrate, commissioner or judge depending on where you live. At that time the judge will ask for your identity and a way to prove it. If you refuse he can hold you in contempt of court and put you in jail on the contempt charge. At that time you will be fingerprinted. The prints will be sent to the FBI and whatever fingerprint data bank your state may have. If you have no prior record then you will be held until you are identified.

  

  Commit a criminal offense and the same thing will happen. You will be arraigned on the criminal charge and you will be held until the fingerprints come back with a response. If there is no record of your prints on file you will be held in contempt and you will have a bail hearing scheduled at certain times to see if you insist on not identifying yourself. They will also try to determine if you are mentally stable. If not you will be incarcerated at a state mental facility until you are identified. The police and investigators for the state will have to conduct an investigation to determine who you are. Run posters on TV and posters, question people in the area you were arrested etc.

  All this can be done on a John Doe warrant and the arrest number will be your only identification until you are identified.

Answer 17

By law you must tell police your name and address.  If they are not happy there is legislation in place which gives them a power of arrest.  The problem now adays is Police are not taught law to busy learning about human rights.