A police officer stopped me after I was walking home from my sisters apartment in Beltsville, MD. He did this because he saw me going through a bag inside the opening of a dumpster at the apartment where she resides. I do this all the time, and found some nice things that I could use around the house. It is illegal to do this, as I don't make a mess and I have been doing this over 30 years now? People go through the trash all the time there inside and out of them. I felt he was wrong to ask for my I.D. as I didn't have anything on me but my purse.

A police officer stopped me after I was walking home from my sisters apartment in Beltsville, MD. He did this because he saw me going through a bag inside the opening of a dumpster at the apartment where she resides. I do this all the time, and found some nice things that I could use around the house. It is illegal to do this, as I don't make a mess and I have been doing this over 30 years now? People go through the trash all the time there inside and out of them. I felt he was wrong to ask for my I.D. as I didn't have anything on me but my purse.

Was there a sign on the dumpster not to go though it.
Did you ask the officer if there was specific city codes on this.

Thanks for responding to my question above. No, there was no sign(s) stating do not go into the trash bins. Also, he followed me and flagged me down when I crossed the street to the park, heading home. He told me to come to him, and asked for my I.D. I told him that I was just looking for a cord or something that I could use for a scanner that was on the outside of the bin. I didn't have anything from the bin. I only had my purse. I felt he was interrogating me for no real criminal purpose. Everyone picks through the stuff that is thrown out and either it is outside the bin or in the doorwell of the bin. He stated that they have to make sure that no criminal activity is going on. And, no, I didn't ask him about the county code(s) on this issue. I still feel that anything thrown out, is up for grabs for anyone passing by the bins though. Should I stop? It is hard, since I have been doing this for over thirty years now. I give the stuff away to family or friends if I can't use it.

Hello audry

Trash is no longer anybody's property. That's why the police can go through it WITHOUT a warrant. So, if THEY can, so can you.

But, as long as the cop didn't arrest you, there's nothing you can or should do about it. Just remember, you don't have to answer ANY of his questions when you're stopped. That doesn't mean you have to be rude. What you should do, in response to HIS questions, is ask HIM whether you're free to leave. If he says no, ask him what you're being arrested for.

The bottom line is don't let HIM run the interview. You're a sovereign citizen and he works for you. Treat him that way.

excon

Thanks for answering my question. I thought nothing was truly wrong in what I was doing because the complex apartment workers never told me I couldn't go through the stuff that was thrown out. Of course, opening a black bag, was, I guess, a bit much when the officer saw me doing this. I didn't take anything though. It was a little messy. I saw a radio for a car, but I left it there because it was a Honda product and not a Dodge product. I did feel he went out of his way coming across the street and asking me to come to him. I know I didn't do anything wrong for him to do this. He just didn't have anything better to do with his time before he went inside the apartments to go to his unit of residence. Another person told me that if there are no county codes on this matter, than he had no reason to stop me. And no, I am not taking this to court because it wasn't a need to do so, since he didn't take me in for trespassing.