[JERRY2KONE]

Originally Posted by Arct1k

I have a green card and certainly do not carry it at all times and wouldnt want to - I've been stopped by the police in teh past and produced US driving licence and its never been an issue.

Than you have been one of the lucky ones.

I see no reason to carry a card at all times - I do think it is reasonable to present proof of residency if you are expecting any service from the US gov or commit a crime. This would trap almost all.

Every adult over the age of 17 is required by law to carry some form of ID no matter who you are. That is just common sense.

Couple of other thoughts - I was here on and I94 work visa which is just a stamp in my passport. Would that mean I should carry my passport at all times.

Yes just like we do when living in other countries on a Visa, becasue it is the law. When in another country you are required to carry either your passport with a valid Visa, or a resident alien ID card issued by that country. This is common law in every country we have stayed in so far. Why is this so strange only to the people visiting the USA? When it is routine in every other country in the world? I don't get it.

Surely this would mean legal US citizens also have to carry id otherwise you are an illegal? Yes this is correct! Whats the % of americans with a PP or a driving licence? 100% unless they are just homeless without anything in the world to their names, and even most of them have some form of ID just so they will be left alone.

Does that mean every American will carry their birth certificate? Not at all.

PS My driving licence in NJ at least is only ever validated for as long as my work visa allowed. Hence if I had a driving licence there was a pretty good chance I was legit. However in either of my tickets or pleas at court this was never asked about

That is because too many lawyers are fighting with the US Gov about interfering in privacy matters with immigrants, which is BS. If anyone wants the full benefits of the USA, then they have to give up their citizenship and passport to their birth home and become a US citizen period. Otherwise the immigration laws are spelled out in simple terms for people who are happy to remain as visitors to the US. And most of all these laws are no different than the laws in other countries around the world. There is no special compensation between the USA or any other country unless they just do not care.