Do you have to provide your driver license to the police officer during a traffic stop?

The short answer is YES. The failure to provide driver license statute is A.R.S. 28-1595(B). This statute requires that a driver, when stopped by law enforcement, must provide his or her driver license, or if not licensed, must provide evidence of identity that includes:

1. The driver’s full name.

2. The driver’s date of birth.

3. The driver’s residence address.

4. A brief physical description of the driver, including the driver’s sex, weight, height and eye and hair color.

5. The driver’s signature.

So if you do get pulled over, we advise that you say as little as possible and don’t consent to a search of your vehicle.  But you do need to provide ID. Check out this post for some tips for your next traffic stop.

If you are a passenger in a car, do you have to provide identification when stopped by the police?

Probably yes. A.R.S. 28-1595(C) requires that a passenger in a car must provide identification IF the officer “has reasonable cause to believe the person has committed a violation of this title.”

While it seems unlikely that a passenger would violate a traffic law while NOT driving, I have no doubt that a police officer could come up with something. The takeaway here is that if a police officer asks for your ID, and you are inside a motor vehicle, you should probably provide your ID. Otherwise, you may end up presenting your defense in court. The lack of a factual basis will not stop a police officer from issuing you a ticket.

What are the consequences of not showing your license or identification during a traffic stop?

Failure to provide driver license and failure to provide identification are both class 2 misdemeanors. This means that a conviction carries the potential for up to $750 in fines, plus surcharges which will about double the fine, 4 months in jail, and probation.