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U.S. Supreme Court: Public Anonymity No Right

Posted by timothy on from the facial-recognition-renders-this-a-moot-point dept.

Anonymous Arrestee writes "Today the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that anybody can be compelled at any time to identify themselves, if a police officer asks. People who refuse to identify themselves, even if they are not suspected of a crime, will be arrested. Sound Orwellian? The Supreme Court also said people who are suspected of another crime might not be subject to arrest for not revealing their name. On this latter point, someone will have to bring a separate case. And the SCOTUS is at liberty not to hear any case it doesn't like. The case is Hiibel v. Sixth Judicial District Court of Nevada [pdf]. Previous Slashdot story here."

16 of 1,492 comments (clear)

  1. Possible scenarios by Faust7 · · Score: 5, Funny

    People who refuse to identify themselves, even if they are not suspected of a crime, will be arrested. Sound Orwellian?

    "What's your name?"
    "Rutherford."
    "Rutherford is an unperson."
    "Ogilvy."
    "Ogilvy's a dead war hero."
    "Uh--"
    "To Miniluv with you!"

    The Supreme Court also said people who are suspected of another crime might not be subject to arrest for not revealing their name.

    "You are under suspicion for extreeeme bestiality."
    "Uh, no."
    "What's your name?"
    "Forget it."
    "To Miniluv with you!"

    --
    The coolest voice ever.
  2. Re:cowards hide anonymously by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    or slashdot, even

    i mean, uh, no, oops, um, please don't mod me down, i'm not anonymous, i mean, or a coward, or trolling, or, um, ... albksl

    ^^^^
    above poster has some kind of disorder and has fallen on his keyboard. please feel sympathy for the anonymous.

  3. Easy way out by isomeme · · Score: 5, Funny

    I think it's very kind of the Supremes to provide such a simple way out of this otherwise intrusive situation. If a police officer asks you for your name, simply inform him or her that, as you are wanted for another crime, you would prefer not to give your name. See how easy that is? I love this country!

    --
    When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a skull.
    1. Re:Easy way out by Herkum01 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Brings about an interesting "AH-HA" experience with consulting. Be prepared to address problems up front so that they cannot bring them up later. This is the best example I have heard of this,

      The wife is in bed and the man brings 2 aspirin and a glass water. The wife says, 'I don't have a headache!'

      I hope you get the idea now.

    2. Re:Easy way out by thetroll123 · · Score: 3, Funny

      The wife is in bed and the man brings 2 aspirin and a glass water. The wife says, 'I don't have a headache!'

      The point being: if you volunteer information, you get fucked :-)

  4. Of course it does by Faust7 · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Your papers, please?"

    Sallah (laughing): Papers? Of course!
    (to Marcus)
    Sallah: Run.
    Marcus Brody: Yes.
    Sallah: Papers. Got it here! Just finished reading it myself!
    (to Marcus)
    Sallah: Run.
    Marcus Brody: Yes?
    Sallah: "Egyptian Mail," morning edition!
    [to Marcus]
    Sallah: Run.
    Marcus Brody: Did you say, uh...
    (Sallah punches German Dude)
    Sallah: RUN!

    --
    The coolest voice ever.
  5. Re:Name only, not ID, serial number, or anything e by jeffkjo1 · · Score: 4, Funny

    If all I have to give is my name, then I'm not particularly concerned. Just make up a name that doesn't sound too suspiciously bland (like John Smith) I think my new police officer name just became Bryan Wendy.

    Of course, I will continue to list my address as
    1060 West Addison
    Chicago, Illinois
    60613

    And my social...
    078-05-1120

  6. It works both ways by ozbird · · Score: 5, Funny

    You have the right to ask the police officer for their ID. If you cannot confirm that they are indeed
    a police officer, you have no obligation to give them your ID.
    (However, saying "If you show me your's, I'll show you mine" will probably get you arrested.)

  7. Re:Name only, not ID, serial number, or anything e by Fulcrum+of+Evil · · Score: 4, Funny

    If all I have to give is my name, then I'm not particularly concerned. Just make up a name that doesn't sound too suspiciously bland (like John Smith)

    And what if you really are John smith? Even worse, what about the Michael Boltons of the world?

    --
    "We returned the General to El Salvador, or maybe Guatemala, it's difficult to tell from 10,000 feet"
  8. Re:canada anybody? by Aardpig · · Score: 5, Funny

    so, how come we aren't seeing the mass migration of all you intelligent americans to canada yet?

    It's already happened -- he crossed the border last Thursday.

    --
    Tubal-Cain smokes the white owl.
  9. Re:Backwards reasoning... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    yes, i agree with the converse poster, you should have posted non-anonymously, what gives you the right not to reveal yourself so we can laugh at you?

  10. Re:canada anybody? by pseudochaotic · · Score: 3, Funny

    And by doing so, he doubled the local population. There goes the neighborhood.

    --
    And the l33t shall inherit the 34r7h.
  11. Change of name. by wiresquire · · Score: 5, Funny

    That's it.

    I'm changing my name to "Fuck Off Pig".

    --

    So does Anonymous Coward have good karma?

  12. Unusual Pronounciation? by hugesmile · · Score: 3, Funny
    I wonder, if you tell the police that your name is Bob Jones (which is just an unusual pronunciation of your actual name F-r-e-d S-m-i-t-h), if that is breaking the law.

    They can't charge you for how you PRONOUNCE your name, can they?

  13. Re:Backwards reasoning... by geminidomino · · Score: 4, Funny

    If I went around pointing my gun at people to make them tell me their name, that would be insane behavior. Why is it ok if the state does it?

    Because the state loves you.

  14. ignorance = decisiveness by notcreative · · Score: 3, Funny

    When the only countries I can think of are Iraq, Russia, Canada, and Mexicoke, then I can conclude that America is the freest on Earth. Thank you American educational system.


    MARGE: It took the children thirty minutes to locate Canada on a map!
    HOMER: Oh, Marge. Anyone can miss Canada, all tucked away down there.