I got stopped for the first time today and I remember hearing somewhere you aren’t legally obligated to let them physically hold it you just have to show them it. So she asked to see it and I let her see it, she tried grabbing it and I didn’t let her and she asked why, I told her she can SEE it.
Was I in within my legal rights to do that? Rather double check and make sure it’s okay.
Update: for the people asking WHY I did this, because her excuse for stopping me was that I went in one direction and then a couple minutes later I returned and went the other direction. Then she proceeded to ask why I was in this city when my address says I live elsewhere. (a place only 2 stops away by train) so yes, I was more than a bit annoyed by the whole thing. I was dressed proper and was not being suspicious at all.
Update: I did give her all the time she wanted to see FRONT AND BACK just did not let her hold it.
by TheLongestRanger
9 comments
Are you currently in custody spending your 23 days in legal limbo?
There’s your answer.
Jesus I honestly can’t stand people like this.
You NEED to be an ass just for the sake of it.
All you’re doing is making their job more difficult, you risk upsetting them (with all that could follow) and you gain NOTHING from it.
They didn’t ask you to spread your ass and let them probe it, it’s simply easier for them to search your weird gaijin name if they can hold the damn thing. What are you worried about, that they’d steal it?
You worried they would run off or something? Lol
There has been many cases of fake zairyu cards used by people overstaying illegally, so I’m sure in most cases they want to hold it and examine it. There are often updated addresses on the reverse side, too. Be polite, let them do their job and you’ll be on your way before you know it. Why create friction?
Searched in Japanese, and Tokyo Metropolitan says you must show (miseru, 見せる) it if asked and the MoJ site says you must present (teiji, 提示) it if asked. Neither site goes into further detail.
What benefit did it have for you to not hand it over? It probably made the whole procedure longer than necessary, could’ve been over with it sooner but decided to be the annoying person and make it tedious for everyone involved.
If you were a teacher and a student would ask you “Can I go to the toilet?” you’d be the type to say “idk, CAN you?”, eh?
I guess you like to fuck around and find out, even if you got the big disadvantage. This time it went well, but keep that up and probably sooner than later it you will be on the “find out” end of the saying.
You’re free to explore the legal boundaries of these stops until your heart is content, that isn’t going to stop them continuing to do them. What being maliciously compliant and videoing them is going to do is put a target on your back though, and before you know it you’re being harassed every time to try to go to the train station and finding yourself stopped every time. The second you lose your cool over it they’ll have you and you’ll find yourself thrown inside for 23 days. So really, think about what is worth your time and what isn’t. If you have the time and energy in your day to push it then by all means go ahead. You wouldn’t be the first. But don’t be surprised if you play around that you get it right back.
Most people are NPCs and will give you flak for that. Better to ask a qualified lawyer than weeb central here on Reddit.
You should watch TikTok, there are Japanese people there who get the police to stop them and then refuse to cooperate with them by quoting the law to them and telling them that their line of questioning is illegal and out of bounds. The police are really persistent with these people and are not deterred. Eventually the police will give up and let you go.
If you want to make a point to the police and tell them why they are wrong sure go ahead but if you want to persist and make their life difficult and annoy them they can delay you for a long time and are better at deflecting the public’s complaints than the average member of the public are at giving them.
The TikTok guys obviously are filming the whole interaction.
There was really cute interaction once where the police stopped a Vietnamese guy for being in the park at midnight but then realised that he wasn’t a teen but around 30. Everyone ended up laughing and the situation diffused.