Very interesting article. I wonder how does it work in the EU. Have to get some legal friend to have a look at it! Perhaps I could have exchanged air tickets with people couple of times already...
In France, while the law now states that one can prove their identity by any means, it is up to the officer asking you whether they accept your proof. So, if the officer doesn't accept 100 non-government documents and you don't have your ID with you, you're in trouble. Not carrying ID at all times can lead to arrest.
In Germany, every person must posses a national ID card, but there is some leeway about presenting it to a requesting official (it doesn't have to happen on the spot). Nevertheless, most carry one all the time.
In Greece, ID cards are compulsory and you can be detained for not presenting one upon request.
In Italy, you're only required to carry your ID card when outside your local authority, but unless you know all the police in your local authority, you're simply required to carry it always. Failure to present ID can result in detention until you can be identified.
Portugal requires you to present your ID card upon request, but doesn't mandate that you carry it at all times.
China requires every citizen to carry an ID card which will soon have biometric data about the person including reproductive history.
In Spain, you are required to present ID, but failure to do so won't end in arrest unless there's another reason to arrest you and you can request that the officer come to where you store the ID.
At least in Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, France, Germany and also in Switzerland (not EU)
I'd certainly be interested in discovering whether airlines are required to confirm that passengers have these.
Many airlines now also require 'official' ID for flights even within a country, but AIUI that's purely airline policy rather than a legal requirement.
He asked me to show an ID, I asked "why?", and he just responded "Because I say so". I was a bit too flabbergasted and not prepared for that answer and just showed him. He then proceeded to someone else who was even requested to come to the counter and let his bags get checked.
I'm curious whether I was actually required to do so.
I see no reason why it is any of the cops business to know who I am when I'm just walking down the street.
Same situation applies at the border, there is a seperate section for Schengen countries in the Amsterdam airport and you normally get in and out without showing an ID. I see no reason why it suddenly is any business to the customs officer to see who I am.
However, in every airport where I've seen that, I've certainly been able to get as far as the gate without ID (particularly if I've a pre-printed boarding pass), but I've always needed either a passport or EU member state ID card to actually get on the plane.
If you can get on without your ID, however, there are generally no checks at all at the far end.