Kilted encounter with my city's finest

[hospitaller]

There is a MacDonald's about 3 blocks away from my office, and I usually have some drive-thru lunch from them 2-3 times a week.

Right across it, there is a Public Library with a huge parking lot, which is roughly 70% empty on a daily basis. Right next to the library there is a Police station, so cop cars come and go and shifts change all the time.

So, I drive there and I eat my lunch, and afterwards I either read a book or listen to the BBC1 in my XM/Sirius. I have been doing this for the last 3 years or so, which is since I started working where I currently do.

Now, I wear my kilt daily to work, so of course I was sporting one.

Yesterday I am sitting in my car, finishing what was left of my drink after eating my delicious fish sandwich, you know, sort of daydreaming while listening to the always delightful Edith Bowman when I hear a knock on my window.

And there's this police officer, the typical courtsies ensue and then asked me if I had an ID.

Being that I work as a Security Consultant, and one of the principals in the firm was the previous Police Chief for the city, I am well versed in Civil and Constitutional Rights when approached by police.

So, I replied that yes, I had one. SILENCE.

So of course, he asked me to produce it (since I am inside a motor vehicle, I am ALWAYS required to produce it) which I did. So I asked him what the problem is and why am I being questioned.

He proceeds to tell me that he has been watching me for a couple of days and that I just sit there watching a government building, so I said 'you mean the public library? since when is a library a government building?'. No answer from him of course.

So I looked him back in the eye and say something to the effect of 'hard not to look at a building when it is right there in front of me as I parked'

Then he asked me about whether I am a citizen or not (because of my Scotland stickers in the rear window and the kilt) and where do I work.

I asked him whether he had reasonable suspicion that I was doing something illegal, and if not, I was not going to answer those questions. I did however hand him one of my business cards where it clearly details my position, address and telephone.

Then he asked me something to the effect of 'why are you mad', to which I replied that I wasn't so much mad as I was annoyed at being minding my own business and suddenly being questioned for no reason and treated as a suspect. He then replied something like 'well you can be annoyed all you want, let me see your license and registration', so I gave those to him.

5 minutes go by while he is checking me in his car's laptop, when a second police car arrives and start to check my truck, the sticker, the saltire flag license plate, my kilt, etc.

So now with 2 policemen the questioning continues as to why am I 'watching a government building', or 'you said you were eating your lunch but you're not eating' (that was hard not to laugh about, specially when I had my empty bag and sandwich tray, with crums everywhere right there for them to see), or 'why are you still here then if you finished your lunch?', my reply? 'because I still have 20 minutes left', and 'why are you dressed this way'

I replied that men dress like this, and asked them whether they were detaining me or was I free to go, and reminded them that I would not answer their questions.

They sort looked at each other and gave me my documents back, have a good day and they left.

I could see however that one of the cars parked 2 aisles in front of me and kept watching me. About 5 minutes later, my lunch time was up so I drove off back to work...and what do you know, the car followed me all the way to my office.

I parked in front of my office, got out the car and waved my hand and the kilt at the officer as he drove by.

You just can't make this stuff up.

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