Cyclist arrested for riding on sidewalk spends a day in jail

[ny biker]

You're allowed one phone call, but it has to be a phone number you have memorized, because you're not allowed to look up numbers on your cell phone contact list??

[Biciclista]

your cell phone gets confiscated - you can only dial local numbers.

[ny biker]

Yeah, but what if you haven't memorized the local phone number you need to call? Or if you draw a blank and can't remember it?

[kenyonchris]

It depends on the jail. Our jailer will let a prisoner write down any numbers he needs before turning the phone off and sealing it with the other property, unless the prisoner is particularly obnoxious. I have even looked numbers up for prisoners (I am generally doing my paperwork in the jail while they are being booked in) that have been cooperative and easy to deal with.
Once one is arrested, his freedom and rights are restricted. That is part of being arrested. Jailers in larger cities can be overwhelmed with book-ins, or just not have the time to devote to each prisoner individually, it isn't a hotel. For safety reasons, outgoing calls are monitored. I don't let anyone call anyone once they are in custody until they get to the jail, sorry. All I need is an angry mob that can stem from one phone call.
And, if a prisoner is obnoxious, rude, fights, resists, and makes my life difficult, I am reluctant to cut him a break or be helpful in any way. Sorry!
And you would be AMAZED at the number of people who not only don't know the phone number of an emergency contact, but don't even know their last name! "Emergency contact or someone you want to call?" "I guess my boyfriend?" "Name?" "John." "John what?" "I don't know. It starts with a T."
I always at that point stop my paperwork, shake my head, and start again.

[PamNY]

This makes me wonder if I should start carrying my driver's license while biking. Prior to 9/11, I left my license safely at home unless I was renting a car. After 9/11, I developed a "take everything everywhere" mentality. When I got the bike, I decided it was time to let go of that.

It's unlikely that I would get ticketed, but not impossible.

Pam

[ny biker]

I always bring my license and insurance card every time I go out on the bike. I recently got an orange Jimi wallet to hold them - it's cute!

Kenyonchris, what you describe sounds more reasonable. Especially if the crime is something nonviolent like riding a bike on a sidewalk. And I would imagine that some people get flustered and have trouble remembering things in that situation.

[Eden]

I'm much more worried that the guy was arrested for not having any ID.......

You cannot lie to the police about your identity but at least not yet, there is no law that says you must have government issued ID on your person at all times.... Around here this is accepted (if are driving you do need to have your license, but otherwise you do not have to have an ID card), but I know the ACLU is/has been fighting similar arrests around the country as fundamentally unconstitutional.