Texas Bill Requires You to Identify Yourself At All Times

Jim Forsyth
WOAI News Radio
April 16, 2009

The Texas Senate has approved a bizarre measure which would require citizens to show some sort of identification to any police officer who demands it, at any time, for any reason, 1200 WOAI news reports.

Currently, it is illegal for a person to give a false name to police, but there is no law rewiring a person to provide i.d. at an officer’s whim. And State Sen. Tommy Williams (R-The Woodlands) doesn’t like the sound of this bill.

“We still live in a free society,” he said. “I don’t want police officers to be able to pull you over and ask that you identify yourself.”

The bill would also require individuals to provide their date of birth and ‘residence address’ to police.

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Note: This violates the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution, which requires a warrant with probable cause in order to conduct a search or seizure. According to the Kolender v. Lawson ruling of 1983, a demand for ID constitutes a search.