Warp wrote:
>   Wouldn't that mean that the police can lure anybody to do a crime with
> impunity as long as they don't identify themselves as the police?

Pretty much, yes. It's not so much identifying themselves as a cop as much 
as it is saying "because I'm a cop, I'm using the powers vested in my 
authority to permit you to do something you would not be allowed to do 
without my permission."

If there's a cop in the intersection, he can wave me through the intersection.

A cop is allowed to bring illegal drugs into a classroom to show students 
what they look like, or to bring a gun into a classroom to teach firearm 
safety.  Cops get to do things like that here that average citizens don't.

If a cop says "Look, all the prostitutes know who I am. Take this $50, drive 
over there to ask her for a trick, and if she agrees, I'll arrest her," and 
then he arrests *you* for doing it, that's entrapment.

-- 
Darren New, San Diego CA, USA (PST)
   Forget "focus follows mouse." When do
   I get "focus follows gaze"?

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