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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."

8 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.
  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. 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.)

  6. 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.
  7. 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?

  8. 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?