Today I called my local police to report some items stolen from my garden. A female officer took my information. She asked for my name, address, a description of the items, their location, any possible suspects, etc. Then she asked for my driver’s license number. Then she asked “What is your weight?” Not my height, hair color, or eye color (all noted on my license) but my weight (which isn’t).
So, do you think she had a legitimate reason for this question, or was she just having a boring afternoon and decided to mess with me?
Boy I don’t know, that sounds really odd to me… Wait a minute, Your weight isn’t listed on your license? She was probably just filling missing information in your file.
I’d be wondering why they needed your driver’s license number. They must have a one-size-fits-all form to fill out.
She must not have filled her personal acheivement goal for the day, and was hoping to fine you for providing false information on your license. In other non PC speach “She didn’t make her quoata for the day.”
Good thing you had a license or they wouldn’t have allowed you to report stolen property. Only the people with a license can ask the police to be on the watch for their stolen property it seems.
So, to report something stolen, you need a driver’s license?
You’re kidding me, right? You do realize that we have enough real crime going on in the world that we don’t have to drum up crap like that?
To the OP:
It’s very simple - she needed to fill in the boxes on the police report.
The forms are very “one size fits all”. Having that type of identifying information is necessary for suspects/arrests, not really for witnesses/victims. However, the forms are the same for all people.
If you didn’t have a license number to provide, or refused to provide your weight, that wouldn’t have made any difference in how the case was handled.
While the forms aren’t set up this way for this reason, experience has shown me that the witness/victim on one case may be a suspect on some later case. It’s good to have that information available should that occur.
Thalion (cop for 18 years and designer of my department’s report forms)
I don’t believe all police report paper work is the same. I did some ride- alongs with an officer from the SanDiego PD some years ago. He had different report forms for different situations.
Also, I reported a theft a couple weeks ago. When someone stole 20 gallons of gasoline from our truck. I called the non-emergency number, explained what happened. The dispatcher said an officer would either call or come by.
A couple hours later, the officer called. Because there was no physical evidence, there was no reason to come to the house.
The dispatcher had taken my name, address, and phone number on the original call. The officer verified my name and address, I guess since we were talking, she figured she had the phone number right.
She asked for no other personal information.
She did say if they found the gasoline, We have to come down and identify it. No, she didn’t have serious expectations of finding it. It was a disclaimer on the form, and she thought, that under the circumstances, it was funny.
I once called 911 because I thought I heard someone breaking in (they weren’t, but that’s a long, embarrassing story). I had to show my license and give my weight as well.
Oh, and I lied. I’m such a rebel.
Your right, I was kidding in every last sentence there.
So what is the best weight to give them?