Collection of Identifying Information

For the most up to date information on the Collection of Identifying Information please visit ontario.ca/streetchecks.

 The rules and what they mean for you:

If a police officer asks you for ID in a situation when the rules apply, they must:

• have a reason, which cannot be:
  • based on race
  • arbitrary (not meaningful)
  • only because you are in a high-crime area
  • because you refused to answer a question or walked away
• tell you why they want your identifying information
• tell you that you can refuse to give identifying information
• offer you a receipt - even if you refuse to share information - that includes:
  • the officer's name
  • the officer's badge number
  • how to contact the Office of the Independent Police Review Director, which handles complaints about police in Ontario
  • who to contact to access personal information about you that the police service has on file
• keep detailed records of their interaction with you - even if you refuse to share information

If a police officer does not follow these rules, it is a Code of Conduct violation under the Police Services Act and they may be disciplined.

Exceptions:

In rare cases, if following the rules above could negatively affect an investigation, threaten public safety or force officers to reveal confidential information, police officers may not have to:

• tell you why they are asking for information - for example, the reason involves a tip from a confidential informant
• tell you that you have the right to refuse giving ID - for example, the officer suspects a car passenger may be a victim of human trafficking
• give you a receipt from the interaction - for example, the officer receives an urgent call for service and must quickly end the interaction

In these cases the officer must record their reason for not following the rule.