In my opinion, it changes the narrative if Daniele Watts and Brian Lucas were engaged in sex

[jeff47]

160. Again, description of the car is not reasonable suspicion.

because there's lots of similar cars, and the cops have no idea if the old one pulled away and a new one took it's place.

Again, it is enough for the police to investigate, but it is not enough to arrest. And in order to check ID in CA, you either have to be doing something like operating a motor vehicle, or you have to be arrested.

The cops can, of course, ask for ID but the couple did not have to comply and the cops could not force them to comply.

The couple was in the back seat, so no dice on the "motor vehicle" part of the rule. So now they need sufficient cause to arrest, or they can't demand ID. They had nowhere near sufficient cause for arrest.

The cops had plenty to talk to the couple, and even ask the couple to move along (though they probably could not enforce that request).