What is a stop-and-identify law?

The phrase commonly describes a state statute that lets an officer request, or in some circumstances requires a person to provide, identifying information during a qualifying stop. The exact trigger and information differ by state.

Does a stop-and-identify law mean I must carry a physical ID card?

Not necessarily. Several statutes speak about giving a name or other information, and some say identification may be required only if available. Read the linked current statute for the selected state.

Can this tool tell me what to do in my own stop?

No. It is a source-linked research tool, not individual legal advice. The facts, state law, local rules, and court decisions matter. Follow safety directions and speak with a licensed attorney about a specific encounter.

T-05 · State-law reference

Stop and identify laws by state

Choose a state to see the cited statute we could verify, its stated scope, and a direct link to the current legal text. The tool separates verified statutory entries from records that still need a direct state-law check.

Independent general education, not individual legal advice. Statutes and court interpretations can change, and a state rule depends on the facts of an encounter. Do not use this page to decide what is lawful in a live stop; consult a licensed attorney in the relevant jurisdiction about your own situation.

State-law entries reviewed September 20, 2026. Open the cited current statute and check any agency or court guidance before acting on a result.

What this tool means by “stop and identify.”

It identifies statutes that expressly address identifying information during a qualifying police stop or closely related identity conduct. A statute may authorize a request, require specific information, apply only with reasonable suspicion, or operate only in a narrower setting such as loitering. It does not create one nationwide answer and does not always mean a person must carry a physical ID card.

Choose a state or the District of Columbia

Results come from the static source file published with this page. Follow the source link for the current statute text.

How to read a result without overstating it

A green “cited statute found” result means the data file contains a statute text that addresses identity in a stated setting. It does not mean every officer may demand the same item in every encounter. Read the trigger in the statute: many linked provisions begin with reasonable suspicion, apply in a public place, or specify information such as a name and address rather than a physical document.

An amber “requires verification” result means this tool does not make a yes-or-no claim for that jurisdiction. It links to a recognized state-code reference so a reader can start a current check. Absence of a verified entry here is not proof that no statute, court decision, or local rule exists.

The tool does not decide whether a person was detained, whether reasonable suspicion existed, whether a statute is constitutional as applied, or what a court would do with an individual case. Preserve those facts for a local lawyer instead of treating a state selector as a real-time instruction.

Keep driving, walking, and identification questions separate

A driver’s obligation to produce license, registration, or insurance can arise under motor-vehicle law and is different from a pedestrian stop-and-identify question. A request for a name, a request for a card, a consent search, a weapons frisk, and an arrest can also be governed by different rules. The result card names the statute it covers; it does not merge those questions into one rule.

Use the quick stop-rights reference for a short driving-and-walking comparison. Read the street-stop rights guide for the distinction between voluntary contact, detention, identification, and a frisk. For drivers, use the traffic-stop rights guide. Return to the tools directory for the site’s other narrowly scoped reference tools.

Sources and correction process

Verified entries link to official state legislative sources where available or Justia’s public state-code reference. Every unverified entry is labeled as such rather than inferred from a general U.S. rule. The source text, jurisdiction, and version date control over this summary.

Found an error? Send the page URL, state, disputed statement, and a public current statute or court source to [email protected]. We will compare it with the relevant legal text under the site’s editorial and corrections policy.