Your on the internet right? And internet shares it's root word with interstate,right? So maybe you can email several police agencies/ Highway Patrols, townships,local branches of your religious affiliation, Freemasons, VFW, ALPHA KAPPA ZIPPO fraternity, etc? Just a friendly ' Hi, I'm walking through your area and want to be a polite guest and not cause undo concern. I am carrying this knife, but it's for spreading peanut butter, not a interstate crime spree, and I will be wearing a pink watchcap and my name is X.I helped plan teh route for two buddhist monks on a walking meditation THE LENGTH OF THE PCH. They stopped every third step and bowed in prayer and one took a vow of silence. I communicated with the three pacific state Highway patrols, several monasteries of several religions, local police etc. The only problem they encountered were a bunch of Hare Krishnas trying to convert them outside of Portland. I think half teh people we contacted went ahead and told other people, building an entire network of folks looking for the two monks.

:-) Excellent point- I'm actually in the process of compiling sites along my route that I can obtain information through.... Though I'm not sure if they'd buy the "spreading peanut butter" story, but I'll get creative!

Chris,

Great suggestion... If you contact certain municipalities before you head through, you may save a lot of grief. If an officer approaches you, the best thing you can do is tell them what you are carrying and wear it is. Since you are through hiking, it shouldn't be too bad.

Keep your appearence neat and always be curteous... That goes a long way.

Wouldn't hurt if you could get your hands on an FOP card. Sort of indicates that you are a "friend" to the police.

Excellent suggestion Chris but it depends on the locals. I did a series of week-long walks, as a prayer for peace and healing, back in the early '90s and sent letters to each County Sheriff's Office detailing what I was doing and when I expected to be walking through their county. For the most part the deputies I met on the walks were polite and professional and a few were very interested in what I was doing and friendly. In one county however, various deputies stopped by at least 3 times a day (their record was 7 times in one day) and tried to convince me to let them give me a ride to the next county. It took 2-3 days to get to the other side of that county and I was very glad to put it behind me each year.

Always keep forty or fifty dollars in your shoe.

When you're passing an LEO, make eye contact, nod and smile. You don't even have to speak. I used to work with a few ex-LEOs, and they said a guy passing them who studiously ignored them tended to raise their hackles. In London, it has even been known to get you arrested.

Don't talk to yourself in public.

Sue

Hi Sue,



Also don't attempt to walk cross the country whilst being naked either as you may get yourself arrested as well.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/6542329.stm

Edinburgh Sheriff Isobel Poole ruled the case 'not proven'.

I'd recommend keeping a written journal. For your own memories of course, but it might also serve as a type of "log book" that could help prove your actions and whereabouts should a problem arise.

This is a definite- I will be keeping a written account of my trip:-) Although I didn't think about it creating an alibi... I shall keep it in mind:-)

I'm reminded of a line from the movie Braveheart.

"...they wouldn't be able to randomly search me, correct?..."

Wrong. A "pat down" search for the officers protection is court approved, happens all the time, day or night, any location. If the knife is in your pack (or whatever you use to carry your stuff), you should be OK. If it is on your body, then the type of knife comes in to play. In CA it is illegal to carry a "dirk or dagger" concealed on your body. In some counties, Los Angeles for one (at least in the '70's), the DA's office had decided that any folder with a locking blade was a "dirk or dagger." Lots of Buck 110's got lots of guys into trouble. A multi-tool or SAK, or your old Boy Scout knife, on the other hand, even if it has a locking blade, "probably" would not cause a problem...