Do You Need to Show ID When Pulled Over by Police in Maine or NH?

Have you seen videos of people refusing to identify themselves to the police?

I have, and just watching them makes me anxious. For ME, maybe you too, when a police officer, or anyone with authority really, asks me for ID I do it without thinking.

But do you need to legally?

If you are pulled over, stopped by police, or walking by and they ask you for your ID, do you legally need to hand it over?

Not in Maine you do not (with some stipulations).

This falls under the "stop and identify" law that some states have. Stop and identify states mean you are legally obligated to identify yourself when a police officer asks.

Maine is NOT a stop and identify state, meaning, unless a police officer has reasonable suspicion for stopping you and asking for your ID, you do not need to, according to a World Population Review article.

So in Maine, if you are stopped by police while walking, driving, etc., and they ask for your ID, you should ask why first. If they have reasonable suspicion, hand that sucker over - If they simply want you to identify yourself for no reason, say no and call your lawyer.

There are 24 states that are NOT stop and identify states. Massachusetts is one of them.

New Hampshire, however, IS a stop and identify state, along with 25 others.

So in NH, according to a Friedman and Breshaw article, if drivers are stopped by police they do need to hand over proper identification when asked.

The laws are confusing, but to protect yourself you should study up and know what you can/cannot do OR need to/do not need to do.