[1320junkie]

Originally Posted by DCSS

I'm not quite sure what you mean by this. Of course you'd have to have due cause to hold someone for any reason for even 1 minute. At least the law I've enforced for the last 20 years doesn't include holding any person without probable cause or reasonable suspicion...and simply because someone doesn't tell you why they were at Kmart or where they are going does not give any officer, federal or local and anything in between to hold you for any period of time...the only exception I can think of is if a crime was just committed there and you match a lookout, then one could be detained until it's determined if you are the suspect or not. In DC this would be considered kidnapping by our law. And 1320junkie-no disrespect- could you please quote a code from somewhere saying you can do this, federal, local or your orders if your allowed to disclose them...I'm interested, it would be new to me.
I've only glanced through this thread and noticed some cop bashing-I say so what...I've learned to live with that, it is part of the job...but I do think people who do this are just ignorant of what the job is all about (not saying they are ignorant) and only understand it from what they see on tv or hear in music, maybe from what happened to a friend or personal experiences on a traffic stop and I bet on that stop, as long as they kept their cool they only recieved what they deserved if anything, and nothing more. If you don't know...most officers know what would cause complaints or discipline or even criminal charges and wouldnt jeopardize their families or their own well-being just because you called them out of their name.
I just tell people I have conversations with who think along these lines that they are welcome to come down and go on a ride-along anytime they want. My 2 cents.

there are portions of the Patriot Act that allow detenions without traditional due process protections. H.R. 3162 Sec 1 Title 2