If enough people answer with, "Show me yours and I'll show you mine!" when they're asked for their papers, then there will be far fewer unnecessary identity checks, because...
- the procedure will automatically take twice as long;
- the officer will find out first-hand how annoying it is to have to identify him- or herself to a total stranger;
- whenever an ID check is obviously racially or politically motivated -- namely, whenever it amounts to harassment -- then a complaint can be filed against the officer using their first and last name.
If an officer who has asked for your papers refuses to identify him- or herself, contact the local police as soon as possible. If the officer is in a car, take down the registration number. Ask for his or her rank and try to find out what the officer's name is. Then file a complaint against him or her. If you can't get a name, file a complaint about the entire incident to the police chief. And let us know about it: klachten@gelijkoversteken.org. We want to report abuses on this website.
