In many situations, you don’t actually have to talk to the police. They can ask you questions, but you have a right to remain silent. Many people will simply ask if they are free to go or if they’re being detained, and the police have to let them go if they have no reason to detain them. Even if the police do have a reason to hold you somewhere, you can still tell them that you’re not going to answer any questions until you have your legal team present.
But what about during a standard traffic stop? The officer is going to come up to you and ask for your driver’s license, along with your registration for the vehicle and your proof that you have the required insurance. People sometimes believe that they don’t have to identify themselves because they don’t want to talk to the police. What is your obligation in this situation?
You do have to provide a driver’s license
Traffic stops are one situation in which you actually do have to identify yourself to the police. You have to give them your driver’s license, and you should be able to show them your proof of insurance and registration.
The reason for this is simply that it is illegal to drive without a valid license, without a car that has been registered with the state and without insurance. Anyone who gets behind the wheel is supposed to know that they are accepting these conditions and that they are bound by these constraints of the law. Therefore, if the police ask you to identify yourself and you refuse to do so, they do have the right to arrest you for driving without a license.
That being said, even if you have to identify yourself, you don’t have to answer any of the other questions the police ask. If you find yourself facing charges or under arrest, it’s wise to know exactly what rights you have and all of your legal defense options.
