Originally Posted by chollie

I associate it with 'papers, please'. I expect that in foreign dictatorships. I don't expect it and I despise it in my own country.

If it's a pointless trivial exercise, then why are taxpayers footing the bill for this cr*p? What is the ROI on setting up these stops to catch what they failed to catch at the border? 99% harassment of innocent citizens and waste of taxpayers' money, plus it reinforces the growing requirement to identify yourself and produce your documents at any time to any government actor who demands them.