ID Required While Cycling?

Question

Tanya asked:  Does the law require you to have/ carry your ID or license when riding a bike as an adult? The web site states same laws and rules as a driver… Is this included?

Answer

Nearly all the laws are the same for bicyclists and other drivers, but there are some that are different.  For example, a bicycle is not a motor vehicle, and the laws that apply only to motor vehicles are not applicable to bicycles. Drivers’ licenses are required to operate a motor vehicle.  Bicyclists are required to stay in bike lanes under some circumstances.

You are not required to have a drivers license or other identification when riding a bicycle, but it is recommended.

http://flbikelaw.org/2010/04/identification/

There may be a local ordinance that requires that the bicycle be registered and it in those locations it may be necessary to produce the registration for the bicycle. See these posts:

http://flbikelaw.org/2010/02/bicycle-licenses/

3 Comments on “ID Required While Cycling?

  1. Florida is a “Stop and Identify” state. Several states requires all persons over 18 yrs of age be able to identify themselves (carry ID) at all times. Its not about riding a bike or driving a vehicle.
    I would reccomend you always have some sort of ID.

    • There’s this thing called the fourth amendment; it is the responsibility of all US citizens to stand up for our rights, else we will loose those rights and turn into a Dictatorship.

  2. Charlie,

    That’s good information and I will add it to the original post on this subject, but is not necessarily applicable to traffic offenses. Note that the statute applies to reasonable suspicion of possible criminal offenses. Just walking down the street or riding a bicycle cannot in any way be construed as a possible criminal offense. Additionally, most traffic violations are civil in nature and not criminal offenses.

    s. 901.151 – Stop and Frisk Law
    (1) This section may be known and cited as the “Florida Stop and Frisk Law.”
    (2) Whenever any law enforcement officer of this state encounters any person under circumstances which reasonably indicate that such person has committed, is committing, or is about to commit a violation of the criminal laws of this state or the criminal ordinances of any municipality or county, the officer may temporarily detain such person for the purpose of ascertaining the identity of the person temporarily detained and the circumstances surrounding the person’s presence abroad which led the officer to believe that the person had committed, was committing, or was about to commit a criminal offense.
    (3) No person shall be temporarily detained under the provisions of subsection (2) longer than is reasonably necessary to effect the purposes of that subsection. Such temporary detention shall not extend beyond the place where it was first effected or the immediate vicinity thereof.
    (4) If at any time after the onset of the temporary detention authorized by subsection (2), probable cause for arrest of person shall appear, the person shall be arrested. If, after an inquiry into the circumstances which prompted the temporary detention, no probable cause for the arrest of the person shall appear, the person shall be released.
    (5) Whenever any law enforcement officer authorized to detain temporarily any person under the provisions of subsection (2) has probable cause to believe that any person whom the officer has temporarily detained, or is about to detain temporarily, is armed with a dangerous weapon and therefore offers a threat to the safety of the officer or any other person, the officer may search such person so temporarily detained only to the extent necessary to disclose, and for the purpose of disclosing, the presence of such weapon. If such a search discloses such a weapon or any evidence of a criminal offense it may be seized.
    (6) No evidence seized by a law enforcement officer in any search under this section shall be admissible against any person in any court of this state or political subdivision thereof unless the search which disclosed its existence was authorized by and conducted in compliance with the provisions of subsections (2)-(5).

    As is pointed out in other posts on this site, identification may be required under certain circumstances, such as a traffic violation, and it is highly recommended that everyone have personal identification. But I repeat, a driver’s license or other identification is not required to ride a bicycle.

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