09-27-2019, 02:23 PM
(09-26-2019, 06:16 PM)ijmorlan Wrote:(09-26-2019, 03:54 PM)Bob_McBob Wrote: Good question. Unless this really is just for show they would have to involve WRPS. Arresting and fining people for not carrying ID would not be a good look for Waterloo.
There is a fundamental difference between penalizing people for not carrying ID and penalizing people for not providing identification for the purpose of issuing them a ticket. The first is wrong in a free and democratic society; the second is mandatory for tickets to actually mean anything, especially to the worst scofflaws (I mean, realistically I’m not going to misidentify myself; but some guy who has figured out that if he does so he can violate the noise or dog poop bylaw as much as he wants sure will).
But the problem is, if you don't require someone to carry ID, unless they are accused of breaking the law, then you by definition require everyone to carry ID. It's like the "resisting arrest" charge...if that's the ONLY charge, then what were you resisting? If you don't carry ID, and some police officer decides to ticket you, even if you're innocent, you're now guilty.