Alabama
Our Alabama breakdown publishes October 18.
Stop and identify laws by state
What you can demand when you stop someone, and what you can charge when they refuse or lie. Each answer below comes from our full breakdown for that state, written from the statute text and the cases. 34 states are covered so far, with more publishing every week.
The federal floor: Hiibel v. Nevada (2004)
Do you have to give police your name? Only where a state stop-and-identify statute requires it, and only during a lawful detention supported by reasonable suspicion. Many states have no such statute.
All 50 states + D.C.
Short answers only. The law turns on details (a lawful stop, the exact demand, a false name versus silence), so read the full breakdown before you charge.
Alaska
Not covered yet. Alaska field reference has the statutes in the app.
Arizona
Yes. A.R.S. § 13-2412 requires a lawfully detained person to state their true full name after being advised that refusal is unlawful.
Full Arizona breakdownArkansas
Our Arkansas breakdown publishes October 16.
California
No. The Supreme Court struck down California's loiter-and-identify provision, Penal Code § 647(e), in Kolender v.
Full California breakdownColorado
Yes. C.R.S. § 16-3-103 lets an officer require a person's name, address, identification and an explanation of their actions during a stop based on reasonable suspicion.
Full Colorado breakdownConnecticut
Connecticut has no statute that requires a person to give a name. But the Connecticut Supreme Court held in State v.
Full Connecticut breakdownDelaware
Our Delaware breakdown publishes October 19.
District of Columbia
Not covered yet. District of Columbia field reference has the statutes in the app.
Florida
Florida law authorizes officers to temporarily detain a person to ascertain identity under § 901.151, but no Florida statute makes it a crime to refuse to give a name.
Full Florida breakdownGeorgia
No. Georgia has no general duty-to-identify statute, and refusing to identify during a detention is not by itself a crime.
Full Georgia breakdownHawaii
Not covered yet. Hawaii field reference has the statutes in the app.
Idaho
Not covered yet. Idaho field reference has the statutes in the app.
Illinois
Illinois allows officers to demand name, address and an explanation during a Terry stop under 725 ILCS 5/107-14, but no Illinois statute punishes refusing to answer.
Full Illinois breakdownIndiana
Only during a stop for an infraction or ordinance violation. IC 34-28-5-3.5 makes refusal a Class C misdemeanour in that narrow setting, not during every Terry stop.
Full Indiana breakdownIowa
No. No Iowa statute requires a person to give a name during a stop.
Full Iowa breakdownKansas
K.S.A. 22-2402 allows an officer with reasonable suspicion to demand your name, address and an explanation of your actions in a public place, but the statute attaches no penalty to refusing.
Full Kansas breakdownKentucky
No. The Kentucky Supreme Court said in Kavanaugh v.
Full Kentucky breakdownLouisiana
Not as a standalone statute. The duty to give a name sits inside La.
Full Louisiana breakdownMaine
Not covered yet. Maine field reference has the statutes in the app.
Maryland
Not covered yet. Maryland field reference has the statutes in the app.
Massachusetts
No. Massachusetts has no general stop-and-identify statute.
Full Massachusetts breakdownMichigan
No. No Michigan statute requires a person at a Terry stop to give a name.
Full Michigan breakdownMinnesota
No. No Minnesota statute requires a person to give a name during a stop, and the Minnesota Supreme Court has limited obstruction under § 609.50 to physical obstruction or interference (State v.
Full Minnesota breakdownMississippi
We found no Mississippi statute requiring a person to give a name during a stop, and no Mississippi appellate decision making a pedestrian's silent refusal a crime.
Full Mississippi breakdownMissouri
Not statewide. RSMo 84.710.2 lets police in a board-governed city of 300,000 to 700,000 people, in practice Kansas City, demand a name on reasonable suspicion but sets no penalty, and no Missouri statute makes refusing to identify a crime.
Full Missouri breakdownMontana
Our Montana breakdown publishes October 20.
Nebraska
Our Nebraska breakdown publishes October 21.
Nevada
Yes. NRS 171.123 requires a person lawfully detained on reasonable suspicion to identify themselves by name.
Full Nevada breakdownNew Hampshire
RSA 594:2 allows an officer to request your name and address during a lawful stop, but the statute states that the officer shall not arrest a person based solely on refusal to provide that information.
Full New Hampshire breakdownNew Jersey
Not as a general matter. New Jersey has no stop-and-identify statute, so a pedestrian may decline.
Full New Jersey breakdownNew Mexico
Not in the Hiibel sense. NMSA 1978, § 30-22-3 is a concealing identity offense requiring an act of concealment or disguise plus intent to obstruct, intimidate, hinder or interrupt an officer in the legal performance of duty.
Full New Mexico breakdownNew York
New York's CPL 140.50 lets an officer who reasonably suspects a felony or Penal Law misdemeanor demand a person's name, address and an explanation of their conduct.
Full New York breakdownNorth Carolina
No. North Carolina has no general stop-and-identify statute.
Full North Carolina breakdownNorth Dakota
Our North Dakota breakdown publishes October 22.
Ohio
Yes.
Full Ohio breakdownOklahoma
No. No Oklahoma statute requires a person to give a name during a stop.
Full Oklahoma breakdownOregon
No. ORS 131.615 lets an officer stop a person on reasonable suspicion and make a reasonable inquiry, but no Oregon statute makes it a crime to refuse to give a name.
Full Oregon breakdownPennsylvania
Not a general one. Pennsylvania does not require a person to identify themselves at a Terry stop.
Full Pennsylvania breakdownRhode Island
Our Rhode Island breakdown publishes October 23.
South Carolina
No. South Carolina has no general stop-and-identify statute, so refusing to give a name during a detention is not itself an offense.
Full South Carolina breakdownSouth Dakota
Not covered yet. South Dakota field reference has the statutes in the app.
Tennessee
Partly. Since July 1, 2025, Public Chapter 409 lets an officer with reasonable suspicion ask a person to identify themselves, but refusing to answer is not a crime.
Full Tennessee breakdownTexas
Only if you've been lawfully arrested. Under Penal Code § 38.02(a) an arrested person must give name, address and date of birth.
Full Texas breakdownUtah
Yes.
Full Utah breakdownVermont
Our Vermont breakdown publishes October 24.
Virginia
No. Virginia has no statute requiring a person to give their name during a stop, and refusing is not itself a crime.
Full Virginia breakdownWashington
Only for traffic. RCW 46.61.021(3) requires a person stopped for a traffic infraction to identify and give a current address, and willful refusal is a misdemeanor.
Full Washington breakdownWest Virginia
Our West Virginia breakdown publishes October 17.
Wisconsin
Not as a pedestrian. Wisconsin has no stop-and-identify statute criminalising refusal.
Full Wisconsin breakdownWyoming
Not covered yet. Wyoming field reference has the statutes in the app.
Reference guidance for law enforcement, not legal advice. State law changes; check the current statute and your agency’s policy. Spot an error? Email nick@mnsindustriesllc.com.
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