Stopped by police

[Bugbear]

Ted I think that must have been a different one.
This was on sidewalk in the city,and I believe more recent.Not sure.
Does sound similiar though.

I think the Cops show should be listed under humor because it is pretty funny at times.

Maybe so, LOL!, it might have happened twice, once every ten years. What you described sounds very much like what I wached, though. I really don't watch TV anymore, so I wouldn't have seen what you were watching. I think it's just that the world is weird...
Take care Tommie.

[Rogerson785]

You should understand that police officers are supposed to be curious of their surroundings and it’s their job to be inquisitive of something new or unusual. Granted to the members of this forum wearing a kilt anywhere is not considered unusual, but had it been 45 Celsius (113F) and you were wearing a knit watch cap and trench coat you would be questioned too, at least if the police were doing their job. Were you wearing a Sgian Dubh with your kilt, because that could have caused the initial interview?

[BozemanboB]

I've been "questioned" a couple of times here by cops. Never a big deal. They approach the encounter as any other curious at-work onlooker would. If they have a friendly tone and appear genuinely curious I have no problem with that. One of them even asked The Question; I responded with "shoes and socks" and he and his partner just busted up laughing.

Happens at airports with TSA folks ("Dude! Is that really a kilt?!" was the line of questioning on my last trip), concerts with the hired security guys ("Cool kilt, man. You don't have any weapons in your, uh, the thing on your, um... no weapons, right?") that sort of thing.

boB

[Tommie]

concerts with the hired security guys ("Cool kilt, man. You don't have any weapons in your, uh, the thing on your, um... no weapons, right?") that sort of thing.

I would not be able to resist sayin"Nothing but the hole in the back.Ya wanna look?"

[ccga3359]

Nothing overly unexpected. No doubt I'll be stopped and questioned by the Police at some point with no problems. Outside of Scotland kilts are not a common sight. There may also be concern on mainland Europe due to drunken rowdy kilt wearers of past. I'd wouldn't be offended, it is his job to investigate things out of the norm.

[SteveB]

Disclaimer: I have worked in Law Enforcement for a local municipality.

The Polizei were likely only interested in what (if any), your slightly different appearance may or may not have to their efforts to maintain the peace. In most communities that I have visited, it is comforting to be noticed by the polizei. I lived for three years in Germany. The polizei stopped me a few times, while I was kilted. The questioning was friendly. On two occasions, the officer that spoke with me advised me of potential problems that I should avoid if possible. I was in the U.S. Air Force at the time, stationed in an occupational role, as were troops from Canada, and the United Kingdom. It seems that some U.K. Troops had gotten into a fracas with some of the locals. The officer was kind enough to give me some advise on what to avoid so as not to be mistaken for the group that had recently committed the offense.
On occasion I have spoken with people, who by their initial appearance stand out from the crowd. The purpose is to find out if I should be nearby if a conflict seems to be possible. This always seems to be oriented to the local alcoholic beverage consumption facilities closing time.
I would take it as official friendly contact.

--- Steve

[BoldHighlander]

I'd wouldn't be offended, it is his job to investigate things out of the norm.

It would be dependant upon the manner of the questioning / attitude of the officer,
otherwise I wouldn't be offended either.

[ccga3359]

It would be dependant upon the manner of the questioning / attitude of the officer,
otherwise I wouldn't be offended either.

Agreed, to me GG's encounter did not sound at all confrontational.

[BoldHighlander]

Agreed, to me GG's encounter did not sound at all confrontational.

I agree

There may also be concern on mainland Europe due to drunken rowdy kilt wearers of past.

You know Grant, this came to my mind initially too.

[GG]

Thank you for all the answers.
I might, of course, have been overreacting as it is the overall opinion here. As Grant says, it was not confrontational in any way.
"If it had been a random citizen asking you the same thing, would you still be insulted?" Streetcar asks. No, I wouldn’t.
The difference is that a cop in a uniform is an “official” person and in our society he, as a principal rule, is not supposed to talk to citizens unless he has observed something illegal or he is investigating a committed crime. I guess that in your countries the police may have other rights.
Recently we have experienced increasing violence and the usage of knives and guns in Denmark. Here new rules established by the Minister of Justice specifically allow the police within certain well defined areas of Copenhagen and for a limited time on a random basis to investigate and check if people are carrying knives and other weapons. It is no longer permitted to carry knives with a blade exceeding a few inch unless you are a scout. The possessing and wearing of guns is and has always been strictly forbidden. But outside these neighborhoods cops cannot without reasonable suspicion check if people are breaking the law. In neighborhoods where drug dealers operate the police cannot legally check position of drugs unless they observe something unusual.

That is why I being - and with my camera around my neck looking like - a tourist feel offended when a policeman stops his car and is telling me that wearing a kilt is uncommon.

Greg

www.dress2kilt.eu