Dont leave home without ID [Archive] - Women's Cycling Discussion Forums

caligurl

09-09-2005, 09:20 AM

ouch! i guess my road ID (http://www.roadid.com) wouldn't be good enough for a policeperson then? :eek:

i don't carry my license.. cuz i'd lose it! i've already lost 2 work issued id's carrything them other than in my wallet :mad: they are gonna get sick of making them for me (plus i have to make sure i have a good hair day when i get them remade/reissued!)

Trekhawk

09-09-2005, 09:24 AM

[QUOTE=caligurl]ouch! i guess my road ID (http://www.roadid.com) wouldn't be good enough for a policeperson then? :eek:
i don't carry my license.. cuz i'd lose it!

caligurl - I only carry my roadid too - I think I will just have to use the Dumb Australian excuse if ever Im stopped and hope that works. :)

mary9761

09-09-2005, 09:26 AM

I carry a fanny pack. In it, I have my id as well as a wallet card with medical information that might be needed, (meds, medical conditions etc.) I started wearing the dog tags and medical necklaces again that say to look for the wallet card.
The wallet card has come in handy more than once even before I started riding. I especially feel the need to have this information with me since I normally end up riding solo.

bikerz

09-09-2005, 09:31 AM

I usually carry my license and my credit card on rides, except sometiems I forget on my local "neighborhood" loops. I also carry a pretty crumpled piece of paper with my ICE numbers and insurance info.

But I'm with Caligurl - I'm always afraid of losing my license, which is why I've been planning on ordering a Road ID for weeks now, and leaving the license at home. But I guess it makes sense that if a bike is considered a moving vehicle that a cyclist ought to have their driver's license with them at all times... I wonder if having the DL number on the road ID would work - then the cops could punch it into their car computers and see that you are who your RoadID says you are...

The broader implications of that article are pretty scary - who would have thought that obeying the laws could be construed as an indication of criminal behavior.

Thanks for the post, Trek - very thought-provoking!

caligurl

09-09-2005, 09:32 AM

i bought a little wallet thing to carry in my handlebar bag that has a place for my id when i do carry it.... (clear window)... however... i inevitable forget to take it out and put it back in my car/purse.. then that just happens the be when they are checking id's for getting to work :mad: so far i've been able to smile and talk my way on.... but there will come a day that i will either have to go home and get my id (uhm.. right now i can't even find it!) or wait for someone from my office to come "sign me in" and i'm sure that would go over like a... well.. insert your own like a!

which reminds me.. i have to remember to take my license on the organized ride tomorrow cuz we are going on camp pendleton and i will need it to get one base.... or i could go admit i lost, yet another, id and use that tomorrow! :( :confused: :rolleyes:

caligurl

09-09-2005, 09:34 AM

But I guess it makes sense that if a bike is considered a moving vehicle that a cyclist ought to have their driver's license with them at all times...

not a license with you... an ID! you don't have to even have a license to ride a bike! just a form of ID... but i gather from the article that it needs to have a picture on it to be valid....

that's why i carry my work id... govenment issued.... with a picture!

bikerz

09-09-2005, 09:53 AM

not a license with you... an ID! you don't have to even have a license to ride a bike! just a form of ID... but i gather from the article that it needs to have a picture on it to be valid....that's why i carry my work id... govenment issued.... with a picture!

You're exactly right - it's just that the only official or semi-official photo ID I have is my DL. Probably a CostCo membership card wouldn't cut it, even though it has a photo!

caligurl

09-09-2005, 09:54 AM

lol! ya... neither would my sam's one... plus the picture is waaaaaaaaaaaaay small!

Trekhawk

09-09-2005, 09:59 AM

For all the walkers out there I think this includes you too.

I figure after reading this it pretty much means dont go anywhere without ID. Oh that really does make me feel like big brother is watching. :mad:

Pedal Wench

09-09-2005, 10:00 AM

I just use a photocopy of my driver's license and my insurance card. I doubt you really need to originals in case of emergency. That way, you just leave it in there at all times.

mary9761

09-09-2005, 10:04 AM

I just use a photocopy of my driver's license and my insurance card. I doubt you really need to originals in case of emergency. That way, you just leave it in there at all times.

That's a good idea Pedal Wench. I'd almost bet you're right that in case of an emergency as long as the photo is clear, that it would be good enough.

Trekhawk

09-09-2005, 10:07 AM

That's a good idea Pedal Wench. I'd almost bet you're right that in case of an emergency as long as the photo is clear, that it would be good enough.

Lets hope so - imagine being arrested for a photo thats not clear enough.
:eek:

mary9761

09-09-2005, 10:09 AM

I also carry my cell phone with me and have ICE numbers stored.

Trekhawk

09-09-2005, 10:11 AM

I also carry my cell phone with me and have ICE numbers stored.

The phone could come in handy - you get to make one call from jail dont ya. Teee Heee :D :D :D

caligurl

09-09-2005, 10:12 AM

I also carry my cell phone with me and have ICE numbers stored.
i do too.. but i don't think that would keep us from getting arrested :D

i guess what i got from the article is there is carrying id for emergencies (road ID and cell phone with ICE) and carrying ID suitable and legal for cops if you should happen to be stopped for whatever reason...

for the purpose of the article.. we are talking strictly the legal id aspect!

bikerchick68

09-09-2005, 10:25 AM

I'm guessing the methamphetamine was the REAL issue.. and the cop just tacked on all charges he could think of to make sure the dude stayed behind bars for a while... most cops aren't going to arrest you for not having ID if you're an otherwise upstanding citizen...

mtbdarby

09-09-2005, 10:29 AM

Caligirl,
In Wisconsin if you lose your license or need it replaced, they still use your old picture! They told me they will only take a new picture every ten years so they use the stored picture. How dumb is that? Mine is three years old and was taken right after I had my son - 50 pounds ago. I don't even look like the same person but they won't let me get a new picture taken. Good grief - buerocracy for you...

bcipam

09-09-2005, 11:07 AM

ladiebug

09-09-2005, 11:19 AM

K gals. Not trying to sound like a total idiot here, but what is ICE? :o

emily_in_nc

09-09-2005, 11:20 AM

When I had my accident I didn't have my drivers license or medical insurance card with me (though I did have a cell phone for hubby to call 911, and an ID sticker with my name/address/phone inside my helmet). The cool thing was that I was able to get an ambulance, be admitted to Duke University hospital, and even have surgery without ever producing ID or proof of insurance. Of course, I am very certain that this only worked because I could state my name, address, date of birth, and social security number, and I was already in the Duke Hospital system since my primary care physician is in the same network, so they could bring up all my insurance and past medical info on the 'puter.

Kinda strange, though, that I didn't have to prove I was me. I guess a gal in a blue polka-dotted jersey and bike shorts is less likely to pose as someone else than the average joe?? ;)

Kinda curious, but it worked for me - thank goodness.... Even after Barry brought my ID and insurance card to the hospital (at my request), I don't think he ever had to show them to anyone.

Emily

CorsairMac

09-09-2005, 12:09 PM

K gals. Not trying to sound like a total idiot here, but what is ICE? :o

no ma'am you're not: ICE=In Case (of) Emergency

skibum

09-09-2005, 12:38 PM

I wonder if emergency rooms will just treat you and then worry about ID later. I had a (non-bike) sports injury that required a trip to the ER. One of my teammates brought me in and I had no ID and no proof of insurance. I had a mild concussion so I was even a little fuzzy on some of my personal info. I was able to come up with the important stuff (name/address/etc) but, I couldn't remember my personal physician's name for instance. I had never been to anything associated with that hospital system so I wasn't in their computers. They treated me and sent me home with forms I could fill out and fax in with my insurance info later. I suppose if it turned out I didn't have insurance, they would have tried to get the money out of me personally.

I haven't totally learned my lesson. I always carry ID if I ride alone. If I'm riding with a group, I sometimes get lazy and don't pull it out of my wallet to put it in my saddle bag. I think it's time to make a copy and always keep it in a ziploc in my saddle bag.

caligurl

09-09-2005, 12:42 PM

bcipam

09-09-2005, 03:00 PM

When I had my accident I didn't have my drivers license or medical insurance card with me (though I did have a cell phone for hubby to call 911, and an ID sticker with my name/address/phone inside my helmet). The cool thing was that I was able to get an ambulance, be admitted to Duke University hospital, and even have surgery without ever producing ID or proof of insurance. Of course, I am very certain that this only worked because I could state my name, address, date of birth, and social security number, and I was already in the Duke Hospital system since my primary care physician is in the same network, so they could bring up all my insurance and past medical info on the 'puter.

Emily

2 years ago I had a fairly bad accident. I was unconcious for about 20 minutes and when I came to, I didn't know my name, address, etc. But for some strange reason I knew I had ID in my Camelbak. The paramedics retrieved it and my insurance information and based on that I was transported to a really nice hospital as opposed to the country urgent care which would have been my option.

PS: I was riding with someone but he knew me as a riding buddy and didn't even know my last name. Just good to know I have that information handy if it's needed.

caligurl

09-09-2005, 03:06 PM

ok ok OK! i just made copies of my license and insurance card to put on my bikes.....

i seriously doubt that the copy of a license is legitimate id :p any more so than my road ID.... but i think the insurance card is a great idea to carry!

bcipam

09-09-2005, 03:46 PM

The license copy will do. The Authorities will run a check on it anyway to verify. The insurance card is actually most important. Just trust me on this!!!! Unfortunately I know!

roughingit

09-12-2005, 05:25 PM

You must haf your papers!

This law is also true of people just out walking as well. Personally it makes me uneasy...shades of big brother indeed.

Trekhawk

09-12-2005, 05:34 PM

You must haf your papers!

This law is also true of people just out walking as well. Personally it makes me uneasy...shades of big brother indeed.

Pleased to see Im not the only one this makes uncomfortable.

Technotart

09-12-2005, 05:55 PM

In an ermergency - a case in which life or limb are threatened - you will be taken to the nearest emergency room equipped to handle your level of injury and treated immediately - insurance card or not. You don't get to choose which hospital you go to just because you are concious or have an insurance card, most EMS services have to transport to the closest appropriate level of care for your injury or illness. If it's a 6 of one half a dozen of another sort of thing, you might have a say so, and of course if life or limb are not at risk.

As for ID - always always always carry something with PHONE NUMBERS on it. Your drivers license does not have phone numbers (well it doesn't in Texas anyway, I don't know about other states.)

EMS and ER staff check pockets, bags and shoes in that order pretty much for ID. A seat pack may go unrifled through if no one happens to notice its still on the bike.

I ordered the little metal engraved dog tags.

Trekhawk

09-12-2005, 06:11 PM

[QUOTE=Technotart}
I ordered the little metal engraved dog tags.

Technotart - I have one of those and it has all my emergency phone numbers, insurance info, blood group etc. It makes me feel so much better riding knowing if I crash or something they will have all the info they need.

I dont carry any other form of ID - that was pretty much the idea behind the roadid I thought so that you would not have to carry other stuff.

Anyway as I said at the beginning of this thread Im claiming aussie ignorance and leaving my drivers license at home.

MomOnBike

09-13-2005, 11:03 AM

I think we have two different issues/concerns going here.

One, I really don't want to think that I always have to carry proof of identity with me. I thought that sort of thing went out with the Soviet Union, and never applied here in the US of A, anyway. humph :mad: So I don't. Unless I have my wallet along for other reasons.

From my rather cursury reading of the article in question, the guy probably needed to be pulled over for a bunch of other reasons (riding the one way down a wrong-way street, meth, Gawd only knows what else...), and the cop just added the no papers part as a "being-ugly-in-public" charge. That is, an extra just to make the list longer and more impressive for the judge.

I think I'm just as happy that the guy is off the streets. I don't want people to see me and think "Meth!" when I'm out and about on my bike.

Carrying ID for the EMTs is another issue altogether. We all should. (slinking away guiltily...)

RTP1031

09-13-2005, 04:09 PM

I blew up my license a little on a copy machine. I also blew up my insurance card (so I had space to add all my emergency information numbers), placed them back to back and had it laminated. It fits in my underseat bag easily and doesn't get crushed.

jeannierides

09-14-2005, 04:29 AM

Maybe it's just me, but that article seemed to be about more than just ID requirements. Having an ID with you is always a good idea, as is obeying the laws. We, as cyclists, are subject to all the same laws as an automobile, so riding our bikes the wrong way on a one way street is a *no-no*. But the article's author seemed to be taking the question a bit further in talking about our basic rights. The fact that a police person can simply decide to arrest you for something like that at his/her discretion is disturbing to me. Citation, yes, arrest....ummmm. Maybe there was something more about the arrest than the article says, but failure to produce an ID doesn't seem to be a good reason to arrest then search a person. I'm not too fond of the idea of the guy having methamphetamines either, but not too sure the *road* to his arrest was a good one.

I like the idea of the photocopies of important papers, though.

roughingit

09-14-2005, 06:11 PM

Yeah, one of the other forums I frequent is a homesteading forum where there are not only people interested in self-sufficiency, but also people concerned with personal freedom. The requirements to have ID and the whole RealID act are frequently discussed topics.

Now, I can see that we as cyclists must follow the rules of the road. So must scooters and pedestrians for that matter (jaywalking anyone?) Carrying ID, however, is a completely different story. In a car, you have to carry a liscence, this isn't quite the same thing. Sure, your DL also serves as ID, but it's primary functions is to show that you are qualified to drive (otherwise I could just flash an my military ID at em and call it good, eh?) While I find it a good idea to have emergency contact numbers on you and all, I find it a bit much to demand legal ID as if we were uynder some kind of martial law. On base, I would expect to be carrying said ID because bases are under martial (military) law, but not out and about in the civilian world!