Canadian law question -- cops asking for identification.

[MrJonno]

I think what identification papers a country needs for its citizens is none of any business bar that countries own citizens. There are no international treaties or declarations that have anything to say on the matter.

Of course not showing papers and being shot on the spot would be a little extreme

[fordo]

i have no fear of the police as i generally dont comitt crimes so if they wish to chat to me i'm more than happy to oblige, if they wanted my id, sorry i dont have any that i carry anyhows...

[Svartalf]

You're lucky. Here, you have to carry ID (we do have ID cards in addition to passports and driving licenses), and cops have a right to control your identity at a whim.

Let's say that my esteem for the French police is on a par with that in which I hold politicians.

[Coito ergo sum]

I think what identification papers a country needs for its citizens is none of any business bar that countries own citizens. There are no international treaties or declarations that have anything to say on the matter.

Of course not showing papers and being shot on the spot would be a little extreme

Head over to the thread on the law Arizona proposed to allow police to verify the immigration status of criminal suspects if there was reasonable suspicion of a possible immigration violation. There are plenty of non-Americans voicing opposition to it. No thread created about countries that allow the police to do the same or more, though. Apparently, it's Nazi-like if the Americans do it, but the Canadians and French are enlightened.

[MrJonno]

I think what identification papers a country needs for its citizens is none of any business bar that countries own citizens. There are no international treaties or declarations that have anything to say on the matter.

Of course not showing papers and being shot on the spot would be a little extreme

Head over to the thread on the law Arizona proposed to allow police to verify the immigration status of criminal suspects if there was reasonable suspicion of a possible immigration violation. There are plenty of non-Americans voicing opposition to it. No thread created about countries that allow the police to do the same or more, though. Apparently, it's Nazi-like if the Americans do it, but the Canadians and French are enlightened.

Not from me, there is a lot of variation of identifcation laws even in between democracies. Unless someone is an asylum seeker then no one has the rights to live in a country apart from citizens/visa holders.

I don't particuarly like ID cards but if the public wanted to vote in a government promising them I would hardly consider them nazi's for doing so. Most European countries require you to carry ID at all times (not sure what the rules are for when the can demand to see them), the UK is currently the exception even when driving a car which I think is stupid

[amok]

I think what identification papers a country needs for its citizens is none of any business bar that countries own citizens. There are no international treaties or declarations that have anything to say on the matter.

Of course not showing papers and being shot on the spot would be a little extreme

Head over to the thread on the law Arizona proposed to allow police to verify the immigration status of criminal suspects if there was reasonable suspicion of a possible immigration violation. There are plenty of non-Americans voicing opposition to it. No thread created about countries that allow the police to do the same or more, though. Apparently, it's Nazi-like if the Americans do it, but the Canadians and French are enlightened.

Ah, but in that situation there was an impression at least that police & officials (and the general public) would to consider "looking Mexican" reasonable suspicion. I gather since I'm hearing very little about this anymore that fears that this would happen were overblown. I was as concerned that people weren't worried about the slippery slope for everyone's rights if such a policy became routine as much as it being unfair to visible segment of the population. And as I say, I presume that didn't happen, anyway.