You'd think. The culture in the US just seems to tolerate too much of this "Show me your papers!" attitude imho.
Source: I grew up in the UK where you (still) don't need to carry a drivers license. Meanwhile in the USA where I'm now a citizen I get a cold sweat if I forget my wallet when I take a 10 minute drive to buy some milk in case I'm pulled over by the cops..
For clarity, what you say is not true (see section 164(7) in the reference cited above). You only have to produce your license upon request within 7 days at a police station. Nothing bad can happen to you (e.g. you can't be detained) for driving without your license on your person.
Section 164(7) requires the driver to either immediately produce a receipt (option a) or produce within 7 days a receipt (option b). But that receipt is for surrendered licences under the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988.
By not immediately producing the document you've committed the offence. (Section 164(1-6), unless section 164(7) applies (it almost never does)) It's a defence to produce them not more than 7 days later, this is in section 164(8).
Strictly speaking: you need to carry your licence and produce when asked. You commit the offence if you do not immediately produce the licence, but it's a defence if you produce the licence within 7 days to a named police station.
> Nothing bad can happen to you (e.g. you can't be detained) for driving without your license on your person.
That's not correct. If officers need to identify you and they can't from the information you give you're going to have a bad time. They most certainly can detain you until they identify you. (If you're the driver.)
I've been pulled over without my license in the US. Nothing happened. I've also had no proof of insurance. I just had to provide within a specified time period. No big deal.
Lots of US law enforcement experts from overseas on the Interwebs these days.
Source: I grew up in the UK where you (still) don't need to carry a drivers license. Meanwhile in the USA where I'm now a citizen I get a cold sweat if I forget my wallet when I take a 10 minute drive to buy some milk in case I'm pulled over by the cops..