On 16 Mar 2004 23:02:19 -0800, tokyoelbow@totalise.co.uk (Elbow)
brought down from the Mount tablets inscribed:

>I spent 40 mins of my precious birthday yesterday
>afternoon in the Kawaguchi Police Station. Why?
>Because Im a gaijin and I didnt happen to have my ID!
>
>I got stopped because apparently 'gaijins have been
>doing bad things around Kawaguchi Station' and their
>response was to stop every single gaijin  and ask for
>ID. I hadnt bothered to bring mine as I was just out
>to pick up my Japan Times. 
>What utter f*ckwits. Surely there is a law against
>this bullshit?

Carry your fucking card as you are required to do by law and you can
avoid this sort of inconvenience.

>I got the coppers names and IDs and also I got him to
>write down the reason why I was stopped, which at
>first he said was too difficult , I had told him to
>write this in Japanese! Too difficult in Japanese?
>After he managed to get hold of my wife (she gave him
>some advice) we arranged that he would call and I
>would give him my details over the phone.
>
>As I left the Cop Shop I went to get my paper and saw
>3 coppers escorting another gaijin to the cop shop.
>
>Is this legal?  

Detaining someone who is in violation of the law, as you were, is
certainly legal.

>Anyone else had similar shit happen to
>them?

No. But then, The only time I don't have my card with me is when going
to the 7-11 100 meters from my home. 
>
>Would appreciate some comments or just plain old
>ranting  (insert horse).

Uhhhh......obey the law?





--

Michael Cash

"I am sorry, Mr. Cash, but we are unable to accept your rap sheet in lieu of
a high school transcript."

                                Dr. Howard Sprague
                                Dean of Admissions
                                Mount Pilot College