Los Angeles, CA asked in Civil Litigation, Civil Rights and Constitutional Law for Nevada

Q: Do I have to show identification to an police officer if i wasnt involved in a crime an didnt commit a crime?

I was illegaly detained an imprisoned by hotel security for a crime someone else did an I wasnt around the crime occured had no knowledge of the crime. Just for being an acquintance to the individual.

1 Lawyer Answer

A: It is your duty to fully cooperate with any lawful demand of the police officer. However, it is his job to determine the probable cause. The probable cause is a legal word which means he has justified reasons that you are invovled or had committed or violated a law. For instance, police cannot stop every car, but if your headlight is broken, it would give them a probable cause to stop you and see from outside the contents of your car and your identification. The Hotel Security can stop you for a reasonable period of time, and inform police accordingly. Anything longer like 1-2 hours would be a false imprisonment

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