I put the headline in the form of a question, as I’m not sure if the law I’m about to discuss needs changing, it just seems like maybe it should.
Also, let me start (to deflect the snarks before they mouth off) by saying I have ALWAYS stated publicly on my blog, on Billy’s blog and on any other blog, that I speed, and my feeling is that if I get “caught”, then good for you, Mr. Officer, as long as it doesn’t show up on my insurance. That being said, here’s the story, with the subsequent question about state law to follow:
Last month, on my way to a meeting, I was stopped for going 74 in a 65 on Interstate 80. It was not a “speed trap” per se, just one officer patrolling the roads and doing his job. A little picky on the speed? Maybe, but that’s not the point. BTW, he was a very pleasant young man, matter of fact without being a jerk, and geniunely apologetic that he “had to stop somebody” out of a group of about four of us who were traveling roughly the same speed, and he was devoid of the typical “chip-on-shoulder, tough guy” attitude we’ve come to love here in the Land of Lincoln.
Without argument, debate, or lame excuses, I accepted my fate, also apologizing for not staying within the posted limit on this day. He then took my driver’s license for bond, a requirement here in Illinois. No big deal, one would think, you either pay your fine by mail or show up in court on your scheduled day to plead you case, and you get the little piece of plastic back. No problem, right? Um, wrong. Things have changed.
I found this out first hand 25 minutes later when I tried to check into my hotel for the meetings.
“Can I see a photo I.D., please?”
“Um, if you can find Trooper XXXXXXXX you certainly can. Last I knew he was westbound on I-80.”
I eventually was able to check in, but it was not without a bit of hassle. Last week, I ventured to St. Louis. As a member station of the St. Louis Cardinal radio network, we are all invited yearly to the affiliates’ luncheon and meetings, which include tickets to a couple of Cardinal games and an overnight hotel stay.
Again, checking into the hotel, I am reminded for the first time in a couple of weeks that my license is not in my wallet when I’m asked to show I.D. Yikes. Later, while being forced to attend a baseball game (I didn’t watch, instead sitting with our station owner and his wife chatting for five innings until we all tired of the game and headed out), I stopped into a concourse gift shop, and made a purchase. Of course, when I went to pay for it with my credit card, they wanted to see I.D.
Three more times on my trip, an I.D. was asked for. If I would have needed to rent a car, or get a plane ticket, forget it.
Thus, the question: Is this a law that needs to be tweaked, so that the troopers don’t grab your physical license and hold it until you pay/appear? Illinois, btw, is the only state of the five I’ve lived in that does this.
9 responses so far ↓
1
Michael
// Apr 22, 2008 at 4:28 am
In this age of computerized record keeping it is no longer necessary to hold on to your physical license (if it ever was?). They don’t need to hold it ransom because it is not your REAL license but a form of identification. I can see no practical reason to continue this outdated ransom procedure.
2
Pudge
// Apr 22, 2008 at 11:49 am
BJ,
Peoria Police no longer hold your ID. They just have you sign the ticket as an agreement to pay or appear.
It’s kind of odd that the stte police took your DL.
3
vonster
// Apr 22, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Pulled over for 74 in a 65??? You’re just damned unlucky or you vibe like a drug mule.
4
BJ Stone
// Apr 22, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Micheal, I agree. I’m going to see what I can do with a couple of phone calls to legislators (who are not busy campaigning to try and keep their job).
Pudge – Good to see your name in here. I asked him if there was any other way to handle it, as I don’t like my I.D. taken away, and he said no.
Vonster – Either damned unlucky or I was the victim of “vehicular profiling” again. When you have a car with chrome rims (stock) and hood scoops (stock) and a sleek, sporty profile (stock), you’ll get stopped every time over the garden variety (read: boring) Toyota or Chevy truck, both of which I had traveling near me at the time.
5
Pudge
// Apr 23, 2008 at 6:39 pm
BJ,
likewise. I was under the impression that the police were not supposed to take your ID any longer. something, i’m sure to do with homeland security.
shoot me an e-mail sometime. Can you see my e-mail address when i post a comment?
6
Will Stevenson
// Apr 23, 2008 at 7:55 pm
BJ:
My last week at WRAM, I was pulled over at 4am for doing 74 in a 65, on Route 34 in Warren County, just outside Monmouth. Fortunately, all I got was a written warning.
Anyhoo, can’t you still go to the SOS office and purchase a non-drivers license photo I.D. card? That way, if your DL is taken away from you, you still have an official state-issued identification.
7
BJ Stone
// Apr 23, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Pudge, I cannot. Maybe if I go to my dashboard I can. I’ll check.
Willie, I was told I can do that, but I don’t want to purchase anything…if they take your license they should give you a non-drivers I.D. for free. BTW, two calls today, no callbacks yet. I’m staying on it.
8
raakal
// May 7, 2008 at 12:30 pm
I’n Illinois a driver can post bond on a minor traffic violation by posting cash, a drivers license, or a valid bond card. The officer may choose to issue the offender a notice to appear or have the offender sign the citation as a promise to comply. The violator may choose one of the three, so i would suggest that if you dont want to give up your DL ask your insurance company for a bond card.
Many department frown on the practice of taking a cash bond (the department probably has a order on taking cash bond, however, it may take the officer and the offender at least another hour or two to complete) on the street due to the inevitable “I gave Ofc. XXXXX my cash bond, he/she must not have turned it in.” That just opens the officer and the department to a whole rash of complaints (valid or not) and lawsuits. Most officers i know usually take a DL, or give the NTA or promise to comply.
9
BJ Stone
// May 7, 2008 at 7:44 pm
No, I don’t want to ask for a “bond card”. I want it so I sign my notice to appear, and I still keep my DL. Simple.
We were chatting at work…since that day, imagine if I’d tried to get on a plane. What if I had a vacation planned? How about renting a car? I mean, I already ran into problems writing a check, signing for a credit card receipt, checking into a hotel, and getting my press credentials at a ballgame, all because I didn’t have my DL. The folks in Missouri, btw, thought it was crazy. So do I.
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