Most people aren't used to being questionned by the police. If we act a little annoyed, it's just because we aren't doing anything wrong!

I had a recent experience myself with police questioning. There are a lot of homeless people near where I work, and I am forever giving them money. One evening after work I rounded a corner and met a panhandler I already knew. As I was handing him some cash, a couple of cops sprang out from nowhere and one of them started asking questions, while the other one brandished a gun.

I was asked for ID and showed it, but told him I didn't think he could demand ID. He wanted to know where I worked and all kinds of other things, including my social security number. I told him I didn't think he had a right to ask that either, but gave it anyway because I wasn't sure. When I said I worked in a law firm he quoted a precedent at me to supposedly justify all this, but when I checked it turned out not to be relevant. Of course, he's a cop, not a lawyer, so no surprise there, but I suspect he knew it didn't allow him to do these things. I'm a patent agent, so not an ace on the criminal side of the law myself.

As Hospitaller obviously already knew, US law only requires that you provide ID if you are in a vehicle, and not otherwise. Apparently, also, I only had to tell him my name and address, and no other info, certainly no social security number or place of employment. I know this now.

I wasn't attired in a kilt, but I do have waist length hair and a beard. It is obvious that the cops first thought that I was buying drugs from the homeless guy. Why they had that particular spot staked out is a mystery, though. If they thought someone was dealing drugs on that corner, then it's pretty clear they had no description.

Maybe some of you are cops. Please be aware that the average person can get a bit irritated when there is suddenly someone waving firearms at us and asking inane questions, and we haven't done anything. If that annoys you, remember it cuts both ways.