When You Must Identify
Wis. Stat. 968.24 — name, address and an explanation, on reasonable suspicion, near where the stop happened
Reasonable suspicion of a crime. After identifying themselves as a law enforcement officer, a Wisconsin officer may stop a person in a public place for a reasonable period when the officer reasonably suspects the person is committing, is about to commit or has committed a crime.
During the stop the officer may demand the person's name and address and an explanation of the person's conduct. The detention and questioning take place in the vicinity where the person was stopped.
A frisk is for weapons. If the officer reasonably suspects that the officer or someone else is in danger of physical injury, the officer may search the person for weapons, or for anything readily capable of causing physical injury of a sort not ordinarily carried in public by law abiding people.
The officer may take such an item, or any property the officer reasonably believes it is a crime to possess, and keep it until the questioning ends, then either return it if lawfully possessed or arrest the person.
Sources for this section (2)
- Wis. Stat. 968.24 — Temporary questioning without arrest
- Wis. Stat. 968.25 — Search during temporary questioning
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Wisconsin attorney.