Q: I was stopped and arrested in MS despite no crime. Charged with "No ID" and "Failure to Comply." Court date is May 6th, 2025. How was I arrested and booked?

A: You were likely arrested under a misunderstanding or misapplication of Mississippi law. In most states, including Mississippi, you're not required to show ID unless there is reasonable suspicion of a crime. If the officer confirmed that no crime had been committed, then your refusal alone shouldn’t have led to charges or arrest.

However, officers sometimes interpret a refusal to provide ID as “Failure to Comply” with a lawful order, especially if they believe they’re conducting a valid stop. If they claim the stop was legal—even without a specific crime—they may try to justify the arrest under disorderly conduct or obstruction-type charges. Riding in the front seat of the police car suggests they didn’t consider you a threat, but still chose to book you at the station.

Being booked means your information was entered into the system, you were formally charged, and you’re now required to appear in court. Even if the charges are weak or unfounded, the legal system still requires you to respond to them. It's important to gather all documents, make notes of everything that happened, and prepare to explain clearly that no legal basis for the stop or arrest existed.

You should bring up the 4th Amendment concern with an attorney as soon as possible. There may also be a 5th or even 14th Amendment issue involved depending on how the officer justified the stop. Don’t ignore the court date—appearing and having legal guidance could result in the charges being dismissed or reduced.