jomukuk wrote:
As said (by someone else) it is not a legal requirement that you carry it with you when driving (sorry)....however the police can ask you to produce it....if you cannot they can stop you driving if they wish...or they can ask you to produce it later.
if you do not have your license on you - they are highly likely but not always, ask you to show it within 7 days to a Police Station of your choice. They have clear guidelines to act by and only if you are driving illegally, and cannot alter immediately (buy insurance for example) may they potentially seize your vehicle and 'stop you driving'. They must act within the Law. If they do not think that you have a license and there is doubt they will investigate immediately. If you are on record as owning a license, (etc) then if all else is fine will 'allow' you to carry on.
jomukuk wrote:
As to whether they have authority over you....you can play idiots if you wish...but they'll just arrest you (for which they do not have to have much of a reason anymore. With respect to the first part (driving licence) it would be reasonable for a police officer to arrest you if you could not produce it AND he had reason to suspect you had not given the correct name/address.
You can argue the semantics of your free-person rights....they will sound very hollow from inside an arrest suite.?
Where Taxtaxtax states that he says nothing - I cannot see how this will prevent a detention or possible arrest if one's paperwork is not in order. If you fail to help an officer, by not giving them your name and address then they may arrest you. Simply failing to answer will not prevent you from being detained for further questioning etc. I do appreciate though that you do not
have to say anything and you have a right not to. It just seems like a lot of effort and masses of wasted time to go to than just tell them your name and address. I don't have that time to waste to make a point in life, if it is 'made' anyway. If you carried a card perhaps (TTT) that stated your name and address and that you believe in 'X' etc then that may deal with it more efficiently and tell others of your life choices.
Now take for example the Sspca or Rspca where they have NO authority any more than I would visiting someone's property and trying to demand things, then yes I agree they cannot 'do' anything unless a Policeman with all appropriate paperwork in order (literally) is in attendance. They (Rspca / sspca)
are often of the concept, that think they can go about intimidating and upsetting many 'normal' people, where they (nowadays) seem to prosecute first, than advise and heaven forbid actually
really help ! Then yes you can ignore and not reply and they cannot do anything, unless a Law is clearly broken, then the Police arrive and can act. However there is a growing and very worrying trend that our Laws are being altered now so that
IF there is 'danger' to animals, the Law states that they can take an animal away. Now you might think this sounds, OK and think about animals in appalling conditions - well that is fine - but they are beginning to act when there are non 'true' dangers eg. someone had a brand new cow shelter not a horse shelter, (for a horse) - they claimed a danger !
Bit off topic but, it is a good example of how those that truly do not have power, appear to have powers that they do not possess, and how there are Laws which anyone could obtain and apply. I do not like the way that the sspca or rspca act like animal police without any real justification.
Knowledge is power, has always been true, but seems more necessary now than previously.
I agree there is too much stick, than carrot.