Stopped by police

[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.

[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

[ccga3359]

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

I assumed in Denmark, as it is in Canada and from what I remember In England, not common at all to see a man in a kilt unless it was an official function (parade or such). Then perhaps this Policeman knew something about traditional Scottish attire including the carring of a sgian dubh and was checking to see if you were indeed "armed". The laws and police proceedure do indeed sound similar here.

[mbhandy]

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

Well you were wearing a Kilt in Sweden.
Wait that is close to Scotland.
Now if you had spoken English to him he might have said "Carry on".

MrBill

[Woodsman]

There's a policeman in Bethlehem, PA that wears a kilt as part of his official uniform during the Cletic Festival. He looks pretty sharp. Someone posted a picture of him here some time ago if you haven't seen it. Sorry, don't have the link.

[Streetcar]

..."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...

Wow. That is a truly sad state of affairs. Can you imagine not being able to tell someone "Good morning," "Nice day," or "How much do I owe you for the coffee?"

[GG]

Wow. That is a truly sad state of affairs. Can you imagine not being able to tell someone "Good morning," "Nice day," or "How much do I owe you for the coffee?"

OK. “Talk to” might not be the correct description. I should have written “ask questions” or something like that.
That said; to my experience Americans in general are by far more open minded and better at small talking than are we. Don’t misunderstand me. I like the way you do it.
But these, shall we say cultural differences, do that we don’t expect to be stopped in the street by a cop – unless he has a good reason to.
If he was standing in a bar having a cup of coffee it would be quite another matter. Then he is no longer “official” despite his uniform. Then he could make all the comments and ask all the questions he liked to.

A sad state of affairs? We don't think so.
Have a nice weekend!

Greg