Is my U.S. Passport sufficient identification to show to a police officer?

Question

I was recently walking home late at night (midnight) and was stopped by two police officers. I had nothing to worry about since I've never done anything remotely illegal in my life, but when they asked if they can search me i exercised my right to refuse and I said, No you can't. Obviously they hate this, so they ask for my ID immediately. I hand them my passport and they demand to see my "real ID." I tell them I don't have one and they say that my passport is not sufficient and they have enough reason to take me to the station on this premise alone. I argue, but to no avail. To avoid the hassle I just allow them to search me. Obviously nothing was wrong, but both officers insist that they can take me in simply because a passport is not sufficient ID. Their specious reasoning included the idea that passports were easier to forge than ID cards. I am obviously skeptical, but I just need to know for sure... Are they right, do I NEED to have a State ID card? Thanks.

Answer 1

Throughout the world the Passport is acceptable as proof of identity.I don't know why the officers were so adamant.

Answer 2

The passport is acceptable as an ID anywhere in the world as long as it's not fake.

Answer 3

They should have accepted your passport and sadly yes it is easy to fake a passport but all they had to do was call it in and check to see if the passport was a fake or not.

Answer 4

I     am not sure but it is very easy to get a State I.D. then you won't have to worry about it again. All  forms of I.D. can be forged so that doesn't make sense to me but then in these days and times they make things tough on everyone with all the fraud out there.

Answer 5

By law- a government issued current photo identification card is necessary on your body, in public, all times.

  Logically, your passport should have sufficed. However, these laws are in the midst of change, and an innocent pedestrian will find himself harrassed and at the mercy of the officers.

Please contact your local authority on this matter to learn what is necessary for identification.  Until you find a definite answer, for your own sake- persue a photo ID, if you are not already doing so.