Originally Posted by
stut
I don't quite understand this ID thing, it seems like a vicious circle to me.
If US citizens don't have to carry ID, then surely everybody can just say "I'm a US citizen and therefore don't have to carry ID" when challenged? What discretion does a police officer or non-border immigration officer have in this instance?
Good question, I have wondered this too. However, keep in mind that if you are driving a car and you approach a checkpoint, saying that you "don't have to carry ID" isn't true, in the sense that you are required to carry a drivers license. While it isn't up to CBP to enforce traffic regulations, they probably won't buy the argument that you don't have ID on you.
As a passenger, however, you would not be required to have ID on you so I guess the verbal assertion would be harder to challenge.