Have you been stopped for engaging in "suspicious" activity?

The federal government has made concerted efforts since 9/11 to gather intelligence from around the country. Since Janet Napolitano took over as homeland security secretary, local police, private security and everyday Americans have been encouraged to report any activity they consider suspicious.

But discerning meaningful tips from merely suspicious or paranoid reports is sometimes more an art than a science. Federal officials eventually came up with this definition of suspicious activity: "Observed behavior reasonably indicative of pre-operational planning related to terrorism or other criminal activity."

Have you been stopped and questioned for engaging in suspicious activity that did not seem to break any known rules or laws? You could have been taking notes, snapping photographs or shooting a home video. Watch our video below to see what may happen when people are stopped.

MPR News and The Center for Investigative Reporting are looking to hear from those who have experienced brushes with security personnel or have otherwise bumped up against the nation's increased security measures. Share your insights with us and help inform our reporting. Everything you share within the Public Insight Network is confidential unless you give us explicit permission to publish it.

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First Name *

Last Name *

E-mail *

Phone *

Postal Code *

Have you been stopped and questioned for engaging in "suspicious activity?"

Yes

If yes, what happened (please include when and where)?

How did you react?

What, if anything, occurred as a result of this stop?

Did you feel singled out because of your race or ethnicity?

Yes

If so, why?

If you are politically active, how do you identify?

What do you do for work?

Your Information

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