If You Think ID Cards are a Good Idea

Think Again

On January 1^st 2005, it became a legal requirement in the Netherlands to produce ID when asked. So we have a real life parallel with the planned proposals for the UK.

From the article:

Dutch police has immediately started to use the new power by fining dozens of citizens for not being able to present a valid passport, drivers license or ID card. Most citizens were given double fines, for example for riding on a bicycle without proper illumination, or hanging out in groups and thus presenting a possible threat to the ‘public order’. In the city of Rotterdam alone, 20 fines were issued within the first 24 hours of the new obligation. Two of the first fines that became public have raised serious concerns about the actual intentions of the police with their new power.

Well, well, well, there’s a surprise. I would never have thought that might happen. Of course, it wouldn’t happen in the UK, after all, we’re British and we don’t do things like that do we? The good old British bobbies wouldn’t abuse their powers, now, would they?

What amuses me is this little snippet:

Before 1 January 2005 a large majority of Dutch people supported the new law, in support for any measure that could help increase security. After 1 January, many people start to realise they have to bear the costs themselves, starting at 30 euro for an ID card, but amounting up to 100 euro in case of losing a card or passport. The owner of the website ‘gelijkoversteken’ (hand over simultaneously), calls on all citizens to demand to see the ID of any supervisor or police officer in return for showing theirs. He reports numerous incidents of coloured people being asked for their ID without any other apparent reason than the colour of their skin.

Again, so predictable.

Anyone who really thinks Identity Cards are a good idea needs only to look at the Netherlands to see how it works in the real world.