Know your rights
When someone asks for identification
Educational distinction between casual questions, detentions, and state-specific identify statutes.
Educational information only. Laws vary by jurisdiction; this is not legal advice.
Do not memorize a slogan and call it law
A private security employee, a public clerk, and a sworn officer are not the same actor. A friendly question is not automatically a legal command.
Some states have stop-and-identify statutes that apply only in defined circumstances. Source placeholder: add the current citation for your state after attorney review. This draft does not invent a code section.
Last reviewed 2026-08-29 · verify before relying on this page