I replied "no" to that, so he goes and posts anyway.

Sure but he posted a different question. Still one that was completely unsuited to Stack Exchange but it was a very different question. On Law, he explained a situation in detail an asked what to do about it; on Bicycles, he just asked if anyone had been bugged by the police while cycling cross-country.

What a wretched situation.

And they couldn't really get out of it.

The supreme court of Canada is hearing a similar case now. Where someone in Quebec was arrested for not holding a handrail and not producing ID. Fortunately she was a law student and knew her way through the courts.

"not holding a handrail" <-- that's an offence ?

Well that's presumably the point. It's not an offence, so the person refused to produce ID because they weren't suspected of any crime.

At that point its completely unrelated to bicycles and the question is "I did not obey a reasonable instruction from a cop"

I dunno what it is about the US but they do seem super-confrontational. Perhaps its the idea that everyone could be carrying guns.

perhaps its the car-centric nature of their culture, where anything to do with bikes is a challenge to the way of the car.

But as Alex says, he never copped this in other countries.

I've never had a bad inteaction with the cops, not even when at significant events like quakes and a scene.

I do feel sorry for him - feels a bit like a family member who seems to go head-on into arguements with stuff. I know a couple of cyclists who will pick arguements with anyone over anything.

@Criggie that's is to be determined. Based on that is the question if it was lawful to demand ID.

There were done bylaws in Quebec that all signage of the Metro had to be followed.

Metro left "hold handrail" signs on escalator. Copper tried to enforce it (apparently to pay back a caustic comment.)

Courts had to decide if that accidental signage was covered by the bylaw. If it was lawful for the copper to write a ticket. Then also if one is required to show ID if there is reasonable doubt that the police within the laws to demand it.

I am glad I never got in such a predicament. I had such a discussing once with police though.

In my case I was required. We discussed (a) I was suspect for being in the vicinity, hair colour, and height of an offender (b) the description was vague but still precise enough to make it not arbitrary (c) the severity offence was (just barely) enough.

It took another 10 minutes to discuss privacy, and require that no other information but my name was noted in the constable's notebook. He could not sufficiently explain when an how personal data is deleted. He had also a very rudimentary understanding only of privacy and data protection legislation in Canada.

This sounds more controversial than it was. There were also nice parts included in our chat. For instance, how to call a copper if one didn't know if they are officers or constables. Also the question if the use of officer would perhaps arise from official. There wasn't a consensus. They said that because of 'merican TV more and more people appellate them as officers.

@Criggie well, he was in a predicament. If he showed his ID he would have supported a blatant breach of civil rights. In such a situation it is in every citizens duty to protect the rights. I don't understand why he didn't follow thus through in courts. Vulnerable person?

@Criggie not just that. A friend was stopped in her car in the US. In the course of the conversation the cop asked her if she thinks she'd be smarter then him. She answered that of course she couldn't tell without a test. Her PhD in theoretical physics, however, may be of interest with regard to this question.

In the following she was treated in a way most disgraceful for the police force of that state. However, nothing to the extremes the poor wretch went through.

I work for an american company, and hve been invited over several times. I have zero interest in going, and that's decreasing further as time goes on.

In this season the inclination to leave decreases with the (decimal) latitude.

heh yeah overnight low of 25 degrees is pretty intense.

I have some very unhappy servers in my garage.

Your South of 40° ?

I'm at 43.5321? S, 172.6362? E , so yes.

Always think of South Island as some kind of Southern hemisphere Icelanders. Nature docus probably to blame.

heh there's no ice here today :)) other than what's rapidly melting in my drink

But your as far north as Tuscany is South.

Toronto is also near the 43 parallel.

Ice quickly sublimes in winter.

trademe.co.nz/1914903603

ridiculous price, but interesting bike.