General Discussion

muriel_volestrangler

(101,361 posts) Mon Feb 29, 2016, 03:46 PM Feb 2016

It is a misdemeanor in Alabama for a foreigner (or anyone?) not to be carrying ID?

I was reading Charles Pierce, and this leaped out at me from a report he quoted on the dismissal of assault charges against the police officer who partially paralysed an Indian man for no reason:

While calling what happened a "tragedy," she seemed to suggest Patel was responsible in part for the rough treatment he received, noting in her ruling that Patel committed a misdemeanor by leaving his home without identification, and noting the grandfather should have known some basic English because it was not his first visit to the United States.

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2016/01/14/3739510/judge-tosses-police-brutality-case-patel/

(video - the man was thrown to the ground for no reason):

Wikipedia points out Alabama has a 'stop and identify' law:

A sheriff or other officer acting as sheriff, his deputy or any constable, acting within their respective counties, any marshal, deputy marshal or policeman of any incorporated city or town within the limits of the county or any highway patrolman or state trooper may stop any person abroad in a public place whom he reasonably suspects is committing, has committed or is about to commit a felony or other public offense and may demand of him his name, address and an explanation of his actions.

http://law.justia.com/codes/alabama/2006/14214/15-5-30.html

But that doesn't say that not having ID (or being unable to say his name and address, or explain his actions, which isn't the same as showing ID) is a misdemeanor. Alabama did have 'HB 56' - but this article seems to say it got taken apart before then, when they embarrassed a Mercedes Benz executive who didn't have acceptable ID.

Or is this "it's OK for Mercedes Benz executive to not have ID in their car, but not Indian men walking"? Anyone know?

2 replies

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It is a misdemeanor in Alabama for a foreigner (or anyone?) not to be carrying ID? (Original Post) muriel_volestrangler Feb 2016 OP

gun owners attack visitor for walking down the street nt msongs Feb 2016 #1

Ala passed a law which has not been contested yet requiring ID dixiegrrrrl Feb 2016 #2

msongs

(67,442 posts)

1. gun owners attack visitor for walking down the street nt

Reply to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)

Mon Feb 29, 2016, 03:59 PM

Feb 2016

dixiegrrrrl

(60,010 posts)

2. Ala passed a law which has not been contested yet requiring ID

Reply to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)

Mon Feb 29, 2016, 04:38 PM

Feb 2016

The law was targeted to illegal immigrants.
It has resulted in immigrants fleeing the state and farmers bitching they could not get their stoop labor crops harvested.

White cops here do not distinguish between/among dark skinned races, so they stopped the poor guy, actually as a result of a phone call from
a concerned (white) citizen who saw the guy walking around who did not seem to "fit" the neighborhood.

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