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Laws such as these often have unintended consequences. This law will further limit the civil liberties of us law-abiding citizens. I don't relish the idea of having to carry around documentation at all times proving I am a legal citizen. Maybe we should all be tatooed at birth, or have a microchip implanted under the skin providing a permanent electronic ID and a means of tracking.
Let's not throw the baby out with the bath water; we should go slowly with any laws that will infringe on our civil liberties.
I don't relish the idea of having to carry around documentation at all times proving I am a legal citizen.
Law enforcement has LONG required citizens to identify themselves when asked to by a uniformed officer (or today, some not even in uniform). Providing FALSE I.D. is a criminal offense in all jurisdictions, AFAIK. People without driver licenses will carry a similar I.D. that does not include driving privileges. People are regularly detained if they fail to provide I.D. or otherwise prove who they are.
In New Mexico, you are REQUIRED BY LAW to also have proof of insurance and a copy of the current registration in your vehicle if you are stopped for some reason.
There has been lots of discussion about the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT requiring EVERYONE to carry a national I.D.
There is a difference between carrying your driver's license ( proof of citizenship in Arizona, but not in New Mexico or many other states ) which gives you permission to drive, a voluntary activity, and carrying proof of citizenship at all times.
If someone is stopped while driving in AZ, and they are carrying a license from someplace other than AZ or another state which requires proof of citizenship to obtain that license, they must take extra steps regardless of citizenship/status.
I have a passport and I plan to carry that while in AZ. My husband can do the same. I guess my son will have to carry his COC and original non-US birth certificate? Just in case?
There is a difference between carrying your driver's license ( proof of citizenship in Arizona, but not in New Mexico or many other states ) which gives you permission to drive, a voluntary activity, and carrying proof of citizenship at all times.
A person walking down the sidewalk can be stopped by law enforcement and asked to provide I.D. Lacking I.D. it is a discretionary decision on the officer's part as to whether or not to detain you until your identity is proven. FALSIFYING your I.D. in such an instance is a crime.
For many years there has been a certain neighborhood in El Paso - within a short walk of the border - where people are REGULARLY challenged. It has long been a bone of contention with those who are US citizens if they happen to be stopped. I don't know if it's ever been challenged in court - but surely it has been by now.
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