Monday night, I had to visit Sky Harbor Airport to pick my wife up from racing in the Ironman triathlon in Madison, Wisc. She flew United, which is based at Terminal 2. For a person stiff and sore from completing the 140-mile course -and with extra injuries from a crash- it’s the perfect terminal: It’s small, and you can see the un/loading ramp from the baggage claim.
She called me from the baggage claim, and I was there moments later at the farthest end to pick her up. I could actually see her headed slowly my way (that soreness was taking its toll).
As I was waiting, some guy in an unmarked polo shirt and shorts tells me to keep driving. So who was this guy? He had no insignia. He wasn’t wearing a TSA or Phoenix Police uniform. He wore an orange vest, but so do the schmoes at LAX who solicit you for their church. I told him I’d be away in a moment, but I wasn’t eager to tell more to someone who wasn’t identifiable as any sort of authority.
Then he went to the back of my car and started writing on a pad. I got out when my wife walked up with her bags. I popped the rear hatch and helped her load.
This is where it gets interesting: I asked the guy for identification.
“It’s right here,” he said, pointing to a lanyard around his neck. I inspected the card hanging there, which seemed to be some sort of security swipe card. There was no photo ID, and no name of any agency. There was some acronym I hadn’t ever seen before.
“This doesn’t tell me anything,” I told him. “What agency are you with?”
He ignored me and kept writing.
“Are you an Arizona POST (Peace Officer Standard & Training)-certified law enforcement officer?” I asked.
Again, he ignored me and kept writing.
I’d had it, so my wife and I left. As I got near my driver’s side door, he said “if you drive off, it’ll be mailed to you.”
“Fair enough,” I said. “I’ll contest it then.”
Let’s review: This person had no insignia. He refused to identify himself or his agency. How can we provide authority to this sort of person? I still have no idea who this person was, for what agency he worked, or what exactly he is. That’s unacceptable. If I can’t ascertain someone’s identity, function and scope of authority, I am absolutely not going to comply with any instructions. Nor should I be required to.
Good for you! It will be interesting to see if you get something in the mail about this.