Olympia lawyer argues people don't have to show ID on demand

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) -- Olympia lawyer Lagrand Jones says it's not a crime to refuse to provide identification to police.

That's why he pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Tacoma Municipal Court to charges of trespassing and obstructing a police officer.

Jones was arrested last week during an anti-war demonstration at the Port of Tacoma where a ship was unloading Fort Lewis equipment returning from the Iraq war.

He's accused of approaching a fence on port property July 30 and refusing to give an officer his ID.

Jones told the Tacoma News Tribune, "I don't have to show my papers on demand. I don't live in that kind of world."

The judge refused a motion to dismiss the charge, and the case will continue to trial.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/W/WA_UNWARRANTED_ARREST_WAOL-?SITE=KPTK&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

live in that kind of world where you show your ID on demand.

If a municipal judge makes such a ruling from the bench, it would not set a precedent. If it goes to trial and then a municipal judge makes such a ruling, it will set a precedent. Once that precedent is set, things are prepared to get this before a state judge, maybe even a federal judge. If the ruling stands, all the better.

If the judge agrees with Mr. Jones, he did the right thing.

It sounds like he was being charged, or at least suspected, of trespassing first, then non-compliance of a peace officer second. If it wasn't for the trespassing charge, he wouldn't have to show ID. I don't think he'll win the case.

:spray:
Thank you George Orwell.

Comes from English Common Law.
:-)

but law abiding citizens do not need to prove their existence. Otherwise is a presumption of guilt.

Here's a link: http://www.dojgov.net/supreme_court_privacy.htm

But it depends on what state you are in. I don't know what the law is in Washington state.

involving a man who walked on the public sidewalks in wealthy neighborhoods of San Diego. He apparently didn't carry any ID with him, and was routinely hassled by cops. What I recall reading (in the news reports) was that he went to court and the right for him to walk in such areas without needing to produce ID or papers was confirmed.

While that case would appear different from a public versus private standpoint, the question remains why should he have to produce ID to a another private entity or their police agents, unless he broke some law? He's accused of trespassing, but at the same time, the text claims he was outside of a fenced area, so it would appear the alleged private area wasn't well secured. Perhaps its like a private mall where the public is encouraged to enter, or perhaps not discouraged?

Fer cryin' out loud. Now "approaching" a restricted area is trespassing????

he was harassed for being black while in a La Jolla.. he was a UCSD professor who STILL LIVES in the same house.

They were enough for me to look the guy up on Google, his name, and certainly his picture, is familiar. I saw him those many years ago, several times. Never stopped to talk to him, though (always a hassle when being somewhat introverted myself).

I believe this is the guy:
http://edwardlawson.com/


I believe Kolender was the city police chief at the time, and he's now head of the SD County Sheriffs.

I don't mean to contradict your details, but I recall reading that Lawson didn't live in the neighborhoods (La Jolla) he was walking in, at least from what I recall of reading those news reports so long ago. In all likelihood, the reports I read were from the San Diego Union.

It boggles the mind how many of these a-holes keep getting hired by the people... I mean Jerry Sanders is the origin for all the retirement fund mess, people have short memories

And that he lived in La Jolla came from some officers who actually were involved

Because of the case the whole SOP for contacting folks who are just walking was rewritten for not only SDPD but all regional departments

They get reelected because people mistake being a mean bully with toughness.

I know he has an opponent, because I've heard his ads on the Nova M stream, which comes from Phoenix? Does the guy have a chance? Phoenix isn't exactly a progressive paradise, but one would think 20 years of Joe would be enough for anybody.

His approval rating is now 54%. That's high but it's down from 80% a few years ago. The latest polls show him getting 52% to Dan Saban's 38%. I wish Dan were doing better but it's not bad considering that Joe has raised $300k to Dan's $11k. The problem is that while a lot of people want to help Dan, including some prominent community leaders and business people, Arpaio keeps an enemies list and retaliates against people who contribute to his opponents.

I didn't used to carry identification anywhere, even when I was driving, until I was married with kids and decided to be a somewhat "responsible" adult.

If you're not carrying identification with you, you can't show it to the police when they demand it.