XPost: aus.legal, misc.legal, uk.legal   
   From: not@this.address.com   
      
   McGyver wrote:   
   > "¦ Reality Check© ¦"  wrote in message   
   > news:7chvo1F27pp8jU1@mid.individual.net...   
   >>   
   >> "Mr X"  wrote in message   
   >> news:h3vucc$3uf$1@frank-exchange-of-views.oucs.ox.ac.uk...   
   >>> If someone is arrested for an offence and they refuse to give their   
   >>> details or say anything at any point what will happen to them?  Are   
   >>> they be charged or tried without giving a name?   
   >>   
   >    
   >   
   > If a person who has been arrested refuses to provided their name, and   
   > if there is a law in that state/county making it illegal to refuse to   
   > provide one's name in that situation, then that person can be charged   
   > with a crime and can be properly convicted.   
      
   Correct.   
      
   > The crime is in the category of obstruction of justice.  The U.S.   
   > Supreme court held that a state law making it a crime to refuse to   
   > provide one's name and address to an arresting officer is   
   > constitutional, and more specifically, is not a violation of a   
   > person's constitutional right to be free of required   
   > self-incrimination.  Therefore, the "right to remain silent" is   
   > limited.   
   > Other countries, of course, have different laws, so it is not   
   > possible to provide a more definitive answer to a question posted in   
   > aus.legal, can.legal misc.legal and uk.legal.  If you want to know   
   > what the law is in a particular country or state, you'll have to   
   > identify the country or state.   
   > The answer to the second question is easier.  If the law enforcement   
   > system doesn't know the name of the accused, they can easily convict   
   > that person anyway.  All they have to do is provide a name to be used   
   > for their own records, such as "John Doe".   
      
   It's not that easy.  That may be so in the US, or some jurisdictions in the   
   US, but it's not a procedure followed in most countries.   
      
   An accused person who refuses to identify themselves will usually be held in   
   custody until their identity is resolved one way or the other.  Then they   
   will go before a court.  The problem is greatest where the offence is not   
   one warranting arrest, and either an on-the-spot infringement notice is   
   given or summary procedure followed.  Refusal to give a name and address can   
   result in arrest, and the accused will get little sympathy.   
      
   > This answer must not be relied on as legal advice for the reasons   
   > posted here:  http://mcgyverdisclaimer.blogspot.com .  And I am not   
   > your attorney.   
   > McGyver   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)