Hi all Maybe there is a similar post already and if there is, sorry for the spam.
I just wanted opinions on how worried I should be about Japanese police taking photocopy of my liscence and residence card and noting down my phone number as well.
Back story: I had to change address on my liscence and thought that maybe the lunch break of around 45 mins at work would be enough and drove to the only police station in my area that can actually do.
While I was doing the procedure for address change, an old policeman came and started talking to me. He asked general questions and later asked me let him copy the residence card and drivers liscence (apparently he deals with overstaying foreigners) to which I couldn’t say no because I wanted to finish quickly to go back to work.
I don’t have any visa related problems but since I never got stopped by police even while over speeding on car or motorbike up until now, should I be worried ? Does police harass you here in Japan as well ?
They're going to copy your license and residence card for the actual address change procedure anyways (cuz you kind of need to hand them those things).
Now, Im sure there will be someone that shows up here with the whole FuCkThEpOLIcE attitude, but you dont have anything to worry about.
Nor do you have a right to refuse a police officer asking for your residence card.
In practice, do you think I could get away with "I leave it at home because someone tried to steal it before, but here's a notarized photocopy"?
Because I know I'm a dumbass that would lose it at some point, I once left my Suica *on* the subway gate.
No. Because a notarized copy isnt a drivers license. Also, driving without the license on hand with you is a traffic violation that carries a pretty big fine.
Also because the license cards have ID chips in them that need to be updated as well.
I meant the residence card
No because its illegal to not have your residence card on your person when leaving your house.
Not doing so is a violation of the Immigration Act.
Really. How do they deal with people who lost it by accident, or were robbed?
You report it stolen immediately and are given a slip to keep on you until a new card is issued by immigration, I believe.
It’s not a fine just a point
You cant get a point for driving without a license.
https://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/menkyo/torishimari/tetsuzuki/hansoku.html
forgetting your license or not having a license? big difference
I was originally talking about forgetting your license. Not having a license at all, is obviously a big fine.
completely normal. not an issue.
Moat people replying need to read OP's comment again.
This old omawari-san came up, unrelated to the procedure that OP was there for, and asked for his ID. Not as part of changing his address on his license.
Seems pretty shitty to me, especially given the context that the old copper deals with overstayers (like any overstayer would be waltzing into a police station for anything at all, let alone updating their address on official documentation, lol).
OP, where do you live, roughly? And did you ask why he wanted your ID? If so, what was his response?
You went to the police station and asked them to change the address on your licence. And you’re surprised that they looked at the address on your licence?
Tune in for our next instalment, I bought a thing with my credit card and the store asked for my credit card details.
What op has described isn’t part of the license address change.
Maybe you need to read again ? The lady who was doing the address change took both the cards and changed the address and handed them back to me. This another guy who has nothing to do with the procedure asked for the copies.
While you’re at it with your credit card, maybe you can get some glasses as well.
I just meant that it all sounded pretty routine and not much cause for alarm. But if you want to be alarmed, be my guest.
> ...and later asked me let him copy the residence card and drivers liscence (apparently he deals with overstaying foreigners) to which I couldn’t say no because I wanted to finish quickly to go back to work.
This is the point in time you could (should?) have asked for what reason/purpose; and then make an informed decision whether to agree or not.
Why did you feel that you could not say no?
Not to mention, if your objective was to finish quickly and go back to work, then the answer should have been "No, sorry, I need to return to work now..." and to leave instead.
Nothing to worry about. They can get all that info anyways if they want it.
None of what happened is part of the license address change procedure. I did it last July. This is not to say that the police can’t ask you for these things cause they very much can. Did you have kiosk at your police station or was it all in person?
Unfortunately, completely normal here in Japan, with a high chance of those photos being printed and just lying on a desk, right in the view of visitors or a window for all to see.
As much as Japan has privacy laws and "strictly" adhere to it in public, behind the scenes it's a gigantic mess.
What? lol
A lot of people from different countries have a natural aversion or distrust of law enforcement, either for corruption or abuse of authority. It can be hard to come to terms with the police (generally) being good and trustworthy
Is the common experience here that police are generally ok and just doing their jobs? Coming from the state there’s an absolute aversion to dealing with police simply because of the (not always unfair) notion that it’s going to be an unpleasant and potentially dangerous situation even if you’re not doing anything wrong.
Nothing unusual. They could get all that info from city hall anyway, they're just too busy checking registrations for mama chari so it's easier if they make a copy.
No, police don't harass me. I don't trust them, unless I'm on the job, regardless
How did they harass you?
They haven’t yet. The question is is there a possibility that they can after taking your information separately to what was required.
They put these into reports, to chart what they do so their bosses know they are busy. JUST in case you turn out to be The Harbor Butcher or the like. If you are NOT The Harbor Butcher, nothing to worry about.
I did address change on my license. And there was 2-3 machine. Kinda we place our license and residence card ( or mynumber) , then touch some agreements and all. It then printed the details including license pic and all. Handed that paper with license to police and it was done within 5 min. No one asked me again for copy after address change procedure was done. Wonder why they asked you again.
I changed my address from Tokyo to Kansai one here recently and they did the same. They photo copied my residence card, not the drivers license (they have it on their system). Staff helping me, her boss was nosey and asking me why it was taking long to write my new address. Usual stuff. And I've been stopped many times by Tokyo police for racial profiling purposes.
A driver license is not a valid identification for foreigners. Your residence card is. I renewed my driver license a couple of months ago. Phone number, old driver license and residence card. The lady just checked my address.
It depends what you’re doing, right? A DL is certainly a government issued ID & may suffice in certain circumstances where your nationality and permission to work aren’t relevant or required.
Anything related to the government, residence card. For traffic stops, police will ask your residence card along your driving license. Even hotels refuse my driver license and want to copy my residence card.
Though the hotels have no business with your license nor residence card.
Fully aware about police. You don’t need to show hotels your zairyu card, I don’t.
Seriously you need to tell them no copies. That’s just not good. How did you allow that
Not showing, cannot stay. Their policy. It is an old and recurrent thing about foreigners and hotels. Will ask passport or IDs. If my wife (Japanese) reserves, they won’t ask anything.
In several decades of living here, hundreds of hotel rooms, and never once had anyone refuse my drivers license and demand a passport or residence card.
Same
That's illegal policy. Then again I have never had to show anything after I told them I am resident.
That’s unfortunate. I don’t know if identity theft is as bad here but I would be cautious. I’ve shown places my card before but I’ve always been adamant about not allowing copies. It comes off weird to places when I did it until I got my license.
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/0000130600_00001.html
Agree. I was just worried that someone unrelated to the whole procedure asked for identification and copied the cards as well but looking at the comments I’m a bit relaxed now.
I mean, in the moment, it can be hard to make the ideal choice (i.e. the one you later think might have more appropriate), especially if it's not your default stance to refuse the police every single request, just as it's not mine.
However, in this case, I would (probably after the fact, like you) prefer to have said "I'm already being dealt with by this officer, thanks." Then it's up to him whether to try to get the other officer to take those details. Which he'd be quite likely to do anyway, though you hope he'd just give up and find something else to occupy himself with.
Wah? What do you mean a license is not valid id?? I use it all the time for all kinds of things
Not for government related things.
I just don't think that's correct... Zairyu is only for residence related stuff. Unfortunately I can't think of a non-residence related government thing I've done and what id i would have produced. But also I don't recall having my zairyu card checked when renewing my license
You’re not doing anything bad right? What is there to worry about lol