# Do you ever go out without ID? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 11, 2020, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-go-out-without-id/847764 "2020-02-11T12:58:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-go-out-without-id/847764/41 "2020-02-11T18:37:55Z")
If we go for a walk I’ll bring my wallet, because I might want to take public transportation back. Theoretically I only need my phone, since my travel pass is on my phone, but I prefer to also have the card. I speak the local language well enough that I can explain who I am and where I live, so there’s no problem there. I think that technically I am supposed to always carry my residence permit and my passport. I don’t carry my passport. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-go-out-without-id/847764/42 "2020-02-11T18:46:27Z")
If I’m driving I’ll have my DL on me. I’m I’m drinking or buying beer I’ll have my DL on me. If I’m carrying a concealed handgun I’ll have my Concealed Handgun License (CHL) on me. If none of the above apply I will usually not have any ID on me. Exceptions would be if ID was necessary for a transaction. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-go-out-without-id/847764/43 "2020-02-11T18:49:51Z")
My DL is in my wallet. If I’m driving I will have my wallet with me. If I’m going in a store to purchase something I will have my wallet with me. If I’m just going on a hike or something my wallet often stays at home or in my car. ---
**Author:** ![Kovitlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/2bfe46/32.png) [@Kovitlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kovitlac)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-go-out-without-id/847764/44 "2020-02-11T19:01:21Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Not sure about other states, but [here’s what Michigan says (according to a third party):](https://www.drivinglaws.org/resources/driving-without-a-license-michigan.htm) Thank you! I get it can vary between states, but I’m willing to bet most of them have a similar law. I think it’s more than fair to offer a period of time where someone can show they have what they’re legally supposed to have. I don’t think anyone should be punished too hard, if at all, simply for forgetting their ID one day. When I lived in Nebraska, I was pulled over for expired registration. Totally at fault - I was dumb and had just moved out on my own for the first time. Petty things like registering my car apparently weren’t high on my list :smack: But the cop was cool - he did write me a ticket, but said if I got the registration taken care of in 10 days or less, I wouldn’t get fined. Sure enough, I paid the $25 for my car’s registration, and the matter was settled. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-go-out-without-id/847764/45 "2020-02-11T19:16:31Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > There was a woman here who recently was hit and killed in a crosswalk while walking her dog. She didn’t have any ID on her and the medics and police couldn’t identify her. They took the dog to a vet, found he was chipped, and learned the woman’s identity that way. > > So, avoiding being a “John or Jane Doe” is one reason to carry an ID with you or at least have a dog. Or, cut out the middledog and get yourself chipped. Most of those Not Always Right stories where someone is being a jerk about showing their ID seem to be cases where someone just feels insulted by being asked for ID, or is being defiant just to be defiant. ---
**Author:** ![Wrenching\_Spanners](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecb155/32.png) [@Wrenching\_Spanners](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wrenching_Spanners)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-go-out-without-id/847764/46 "2020-02-11T19:29:21Z")
Unless a work pass counts, I almost never have a photo ID on me. Driving in London is a pain in the ass, so we only hire a car if we’re going out of town and public transport isn’t a better option. So my drivers license lives with my passport in a drawer at home. I’ll generally carry my wallet with me which has a debit card, credit cards and a couple of other things with my name on it if I’m going someplace. However, if I’m just going for a walk or outside to exercise, I generally don’t bother. Also, at work I keep my wallet in my briefcase. So if I’m away from my desk, which may include a fresh air break, it’s not with me. However, at work I always have my work pass, which has my picture and name, with me as I need to use it to get in and out of the office and between floors. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-go-out-without-id/847764/47 "2020-02-11T19:32:17Z")
I’m in the absent-minded camp, plus a side order of “hate carrying a bunch-o-crap with me”. Some specific activities, if I know I’m not going to need my wallet, I don’t take it because it’s the biggest thing in my standard bunch-o-crap list. For instance, if I’m going for a long bike ride I slip twenty bucks and a credit card in the back of my phone case, and call it a day. Other times the wallet just randomly doesn’t make the transfer from bag to coat pockets or vice versa when the weather changes. This also happens to my phone and keys quite regularly, but not usually all at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-go-out-without-id/847764/48 "2020-02-11T19:49:01Z")
> [@Kovitlac](#): > > Thank you! I get it can vary between states, but I’m willing to bet most of them have a similar law. I think it’s more than fair to offer a period of time where someone can show they have what they’re legally supposed to have. I don’t think anyone should be punished too hard, if at all, simply for forgetting their ID one day. ISTM laws requiring a person to carry a license while driving are probably behind the times WRT technology. These days, I would expect an officer could use your name and pull up a complete image of your DL, including photo that confirms your identity. Afterall, he’s going to check your driving record anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-go-out-without-id/847764/49 "2020-02-11T19:58:13Z")
No way. Anything could happen in Chicagoland, believe me. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-go-out-without-id/847764/50 "2020-02-11T20:18:52Z")
All the time. I don’t drive, my only photo iD is either passport or healthcard. The passport is inconvenient and doesn’t fit in a pocket, and I am often out without my wallet, where my healthcard lives. I am also one of those people who will just shove some money or my card into my pocket and go. Few months back I took the bus into the city, 2hrs away, with just some cash and my card, I was coming back the same evening. But in the city, a new bus protocol was to check your ID matches the name on your ticket, (but no one ever had asked before, ever. In all the years I’ve been taking this bus back and forth!) In the end she quizzed me on how to spell my last name. HaHaHa! I did think about is as the bus pulled out of the station and realized if I’d been hit by a car when I was there, the ONLY thing that would have identified me WAS the bus ticket. Now I always take it with me just because of this. But that’s just for going out of town. In town, I am probably more often out without my wallet and ID. List, cash, card, all in my pocket! ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-go-out-without-id/847764/51 "2020-02-11T20:24:51Z")
For those of you who don’t drive, you don’t have a standard government-issued photo ID? Around here, the Dept. of Motor Vehicles issues non-drivers identification cards (“state I.D.”) that have generally the same format as drivers licenses but are clearly marked as not for driving. I expect anyone around here who doesn’t have a drivers license to nevertheless go to the D.M.V. to get a state I.D. You’ll need it to get into bars, purchase alcohol, rent things (obviously not cars), get prescription or otherwise controlled medications, admission into secure buildings as a visitor, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-go-out-without-id/847764/52 "2020-02-11T20:30:15Z")
Not only do I not go out without ID, I do not leave my yard without business cards…which I suppose would also qualify as a form of ID. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-go-out-without-id/847764/53 "2020-02-11T20:34:18Z")
As someone who doesn’t have a smart phone - is there a way to put your ID on your phone? Yeah, I suppose you could photograph your license, and I’ve heard of putting EMERGENCY CONTACT in your contact list so if someone finds you unresponsive, they’d know who to call. But I think it would make sense to have a place on your phone where you’d have your name, address, photo, and maybe some contact numbers. Of course, if your phone is lost or stolen, someone else has access to that info. I dunno… stream of consciousness here. But avoidance of being “John/Jane Doe” seems to be pretty important to me. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-go-out-without-id/847764/54 "2020-02-11T20:37:24Z")
It really depends on where I’m going. If I’m driving, I’ll take at least my phone case, which has my license. But if I’m walking to the store around the corner or if my husband is driving me to the drug store, I don’t necessarily bring it. I have never needed ID to pick up a prescription. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-go-out-without-id/847764/55 "2020-02-11T20:48:33Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > I have never needed ID to pick up a prescription. I picked up a prescription for my gf a few years ago. The cashier asked me for her birthday. I’m bad with dates. I told her it was in January. She just stared at me. I admitted I was unsure of the date but it was definitely in the twenties. She said I needed the exact date. I picked three possibles and asked if it was one of them. She got fed up with me and finished the transaction. Talk about awkward.:o ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-go-out-without-id/847764/56 "2020-02-11T20:52:22Z")
I probably am out more without a gov’t issued ID than I am with one. If I’m running or shooting (photos) in a deserted area/off time I usually have my [RoadID](https://www.roadid.com/) on which is better than a DL as it has whatever emergency contact info you put on it. If you live alone, it does the authorities no good to know where you live if you’re incapacitated/deceased in that they don’t know how to notify next of kin. I’m just going for a walk maybe no ID at all; especially when I’m walking her dog. > [@Joey\_P](#): > > If I’m leaving the house, even walking or just driving my kid to school in the morning while I’m wearing pajamas and snow boots (because they’re faster to put on than my shoes), I always grab at least my driver’s license and insurance card. > Sure, the likelihood of needing them in the 10 minutes that I’m gone is near zero, if something happens I do have them. I always think of the worse case scenario being that I get hit by a car or somehow otherwise end up unconscious, at least there’s a fast way for people to figure out who I am. PD can run the vehicle registration. ---
**Author:** ![Kimera757](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kimera757/32/3765_2.png) [@Kimera757](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimera757)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-go-out-without-id/847764/57 "2020-02-11T21:06:43Z")
> [@Dead\_Cat](#): > > In the UK, as SanVito has said, it’s not legally required to carry ID **even when driving** This part is shocking to me. > [@Acsenray](#): > > For those of you who don’t drive, you don’t have a standard government-issued photo ID? Around here, the Dept. of Motor Vehicles issues non-drivers identification cards (“state I.D.”) that have generally the same format as drivers licenses but are clearly marked as not for driving. I expect anyone around here who doesn’t have a drivers license to nevertheless go to the D.M.V. to get a state I.D. You’ll need it to get into bars, purchase alcohol, rent things (obviously not cars), get prescription or otherwise controlled medications, admission into secure buildings as a visitor, etc. Ontario has an Ontario photo ID for people who don’t drive. The institute for the blind pushed this, but people like myself get it as well since getting a driver’s license is too hard if you don’t know how to drive. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-go-out-without-id/847764/58 "2020-02-11T21:09:06Z")
I live in the UK. I don’t drive, so don’t have a driving license. I only carry a credit card if I’m planning to buy something. Does a credit card count as ID? (Obviously if the police were involved, they could trace my identity - but how would anyone else work out who I was?) ---
**Author:** ![Mallard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Mallard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mallard)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-go-out-without-id/847764/59 "2020-02-11T21:10:42Z")
I always carry ID. In case the cops want to stop and frisk.:eek: ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-go-out-without-id/847764/60 "2020-02-11T21:25:18Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > For those of you who don’t drive, you don’t have a standard government-issued photo ID? there’s no such thing in the UK [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-go-out-without-id/847764.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-go-out-without-id/847764.md?page=4)