I think only Detroit, and maybe parts of Baltimore, actually look like a permanent state of war. However, if you were to say “hyper litigious police state” I’d nod and buy you a drink. After I’ve seen some ID, evidence you’re in the country legally, and have provided a breath test as evidence you’re not currently intoxicated by legal definition of course.
Where the hell are you going? This isn’t the 1940s. If you see anyone in military uniform you must be very close to a base. Even then most get out of their uniform as quick as possible after work. You see soldiers in uniform going back and forth on leave from the Middle East but that is slowing down. For a time after 911 National Guard troops were used to augment infrastructure security but that’s done.
Chances are as I go about my day today I may see a police car pass me by once or twice. That’s about it. As the type of uniformed person you are talking about I am tuned into this. I just don’t see it. Unless you are throwing in things like mcdonalds uniforms. I can only assume your impressions come from going through international airports where there is a high level of security. When I lived in Europe in the 80s-90s it was a bit of culture shock when I saw police walking through the airport carrying machine guns.
That’s funny. There are countries in the world in which you are required to carry ID. The US isn’t one of them (unless you are driving). There have been attempts to make such laws locally from time to time but it’s always been struck down.
As for the immigration thing, it is not legal for state and local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws.
And a breathalyzer is used only after there is some probable cause for the stop.
But good try.
Chill out, copper. It was hyperbole.
Yup, I’m from the USA and I was constantly harassed by police while there, no crazy clothes or hairstyle or any of that. I couldn’t walk around my neighborhood to the grocery without a cop stopping and asking me for ID. I stopped carrying it as my own little protest. I knew tons of people arrested for public intox, for walking with a couple of beers in them. The cops would often accuse me of same while asking for ID!
Outside the USA in multiple countries I have never, ever been approached by a police officer on the street and accosted or accused like in the USA. You really have to WORK at getting harassed by cops outside the USA.
The greater freedoms guaranteed by the US constitution don’t mean anything if walking on the street risks police encounter.
If the cops never ask you for ID at random it becomes meaningless whether it is illegal or not(Germany is one, never stopped or asked).
Now if they do stop and ask you for ID and threaten you with arrest or arrest you on a pretext, it is meaningless whether it is legal or not.
Watch the video, cops demanding ID from a non-driver. I have personally been threatened with arrest for not showing ID when not driving, I don’t know why this matters to me either but it does.
EDIT: Guy arrested for not presenting ID in of course Texas.