re: #179 SteveMcG

I’m not a lawyer, but I think the phrase “Lawful contact” that appears in the beginning regarding peace officers has a connotation different from you and me. I believe lawful contact in this context means that there is a probable cause for that contact. For example, if a policeman observes a person doing something in plain sight, whether it’s a robbery, selling drugs, etc, he may act. He may not just walk up to you and frisk you for drugs or other contraband. I think the same still holds in AZ. By this “lawful contact” language, I think it means that the officer must have a lawful reason to ask for your id.

That was my understanding as well. But it’s still extremely vague and extremely clumsy, and good luck with any sort of rapprochement between the police and the immigrant communities.

It’s just bad legislation.