HUH?! Have YOU Been Asked For Your Social Security Number During A Traffic Stop? Watch Out!

A weird thing happened to me recently during a traffic stop. The cop demanded the usual stuff — license, registration. But then he demanded one more thing — my Social Security number.

Under duress, I gave it to him.

Maybe you remember when Social Security numbers were “not to be used for purposes of identification.” It actually said so, right there on the card.

Well, it used to.

So much for that. As usual, per the frog in the ever-warming pot of water, we do not notice the change until it is too late to change anything...

A weird thing happened to me recently during a traffic stop. The cop demanded the usual stuff — license, registration. But then he demanded one more thing — my Social Security number.

Under duress, I gave it to him.

Maybe you remember when Social Security numbers were “not to be used for purposes of identification.” It actually said so, right there on the card.

Well, it used to.

So much for that. As usual, per the frog in the ever-warming pot of water, we do not notice the change until it is too late to change anything.

- See more at: https://www.motorists.org/blog/drivers-license-social-security-number/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+motoristsblog+%28NMA+Blog+-+News+For+Drivers%29#sthash.KaAx8AhL.dpuf

Read Article

W208 - 12/30/2015 10:09:19 AM

+1 Boost

It's not even worth the hassle of being a jock-strap to law enforcement. Be respectful, take your lumps and move on.

The last thing you want is to put yourself into a compromising situation where you're getting the crap, justifiably, kicked out of you.

MDarringer - 12/30/2015 10:41:01 AM

+1 Boost

Yeah, the police will automatically kick the crap out of you.

Cooperate in every way, but I will NOT be divulging my SSN. Sorry. Not gonna happen.

TauronB2G - 12/30/2015 11:10:14 AM

+2 Boost

For the 1st time ever I agree with Darringer. No way I'm giving up my ssn. Take me to jail and let my lawyer fight it out.
@w208....there is no such thing as law enforcement justifiably kicking the shit out of you? Are you serious? Maybe you won't get it until they do it to you or someone you love. Wtf?

MDarringer - 12/30/2015 11:29:58 AM

0 Boost

@TauronB2G yes hell has frozen over. Several of my friends are attorneys and I have asked them to weigh in. I suspect they will say that asking for the SSN would fall under unreasonable search and seizure.

W208 - 12/30/2015 1:31:07 PM

-1 Boost

@TauronB2G....maybe I should have put it as "justifiably". I would wager that in the event you get into a scuffle with an officer over something minor, the officer's defense will carry more weight with the judge than your own.

cidflekken - 12/30/2015 12:35:08 PM

+2 Boost

Don't arrest warrants have the perp's SSN? If your name comes up as someone with a warrant on them, the SSN can be used to verify if it is in fact you with the warrant or not. If that's the case, then I'm not sure that would fall under "unreasonable", but I'm not the expert. If it was just asked arbitrarily, then, yes, that would be unreasonable.

MDarringer - 12/30/2015 2:28:49 PM

0 Boost

@cidflekken Two of my friends have responded (they do criminal law). Their professional opinion is that for something like a traffic stop asking for the SSN is a violation of the law. If the officer presses it, keep repeating "I want an attorney." If you are detained on a traffic stop for not divulging SSN--but providing license, registration, and proof of insurance, the civil suit will be deliciously good.

cidflekken - 12/30/2015 4:03:16 PM

+2 Boost

My point wasn't related to a simple traffic stop. It was related to a traffic stop and a subsequent search of outstanding warrants, which, to my knowledge is part of normal protocol during a traffic stop.

MDarringer - 12/30/2015 7:21:58 PM

0 Boost

@cidflekken It is still illegal under the law to ask for the SSN.

vdiv - 12/30/2015 2:50:29 PM

+2 Boost

Doesn't the DMV already have the SSN tied to the driver's license number and isn't the second sufficient to obtain the first for whatever non-reason? Or maybe the officer in question did not trust the authenticity of the driver's license and wanted to verify it. Rather fishy...

poot66 - 12/30/2015 3:07:08 PM

+2 Boost

This is retarded - who would pick a fight with an officer over a social? If you don't want to give it to him simply let him know and he'll probably drop it. People who don't need your social ask for it all the time law enforcement included and even though they are not entitled to it, they can ask.

It's not a big deal either way but it would be stupid to insist on something like this and even stupider for people to say that the police have the right to " kick the crap" out of someone! They don't they have the right to arrest you.

W208 I really hope you're not that dumb.

Vette71 - 12/30/2015 4:45:51 PM

+2 Boost

Mass used to use your SSN number as your drivers license number. They stopped that practice because it was an invasion of privacy and put your SSN out there for all to see and fraudulently use. They still have it in their system so an inquiry using your drivers license # by an officer could get it that way. Strong advice from your friendly government when you get Medicare etc. is NEVER give out your SSN #.

mini22 - 12/31/2015 2:38:16 PM

+1 Boost

A simple response to the officer could be."I'm sorry but I don't have it on me and I don't remember my number". The officer has asked for your drivers license, registration, proof of insurance and you have complied. What else really can they do? They can detain you. They can take you to jail if they so choose. You can just tell them I've given you all I have. At least this way you are not saying I refuse to give it to you. Rather you are saying you don't have on your person and cannot remember it. Then your not getting in the officers face.