But in general, your factually true statements that...
SOME counterfeit gold can be easily checked for authenticity. Counterfeiting is within the purview of the US Secret Service. Impounding that gold-colored “substance” in the presence of supporting circumstance would be good police work. Laboratory examination would lead a detective to a determination of guilt or innocence.
...should not be misconstrued as meaning that the Police are entitled to stop random passersby or motorists just because they might be up to something.
Or would you approve of your wife, carrying what appeared (to a callow, 22-year-old policeman) to be a Louis Vuitton handbag, being stopped on the sidewalk with the justification of, "That might be a counterfeit handbag!"?
"Counterfeiting is within the purview of the US Secret Service."
Yes - But there has to be additional "reasonable cause."
We seem to be arguing at cross-purposes, here. I am well aware of the issue of counterfeit gold ingots with Wolfram cores, I know that there are "tests," etc. - But I'm also aware that there are over-eager cops.
Do you want to be stopped on the street and required to prove (per receipt) that the shoes you are wearing aren't counterfeit, or stolen, or made out of the leather of endangered species? After all, "theft is in the purview of the local police," and "there are tests..."?
Regards,
LEOs have a term, “Mopery-Dopery”.
One can hear radio transmissions using the term.
Anyone with a Louis Vuitton handbag can be assured they’re going to be left alone UNLESS they’re “up to something”. (In the wrong place, behavior, odor, possession of altered serial number, or presence of known felon associate).
There’s a reason suspicious characters are called “suspects”.
They’re given a “Property Receipt” for anything removed as “suspect”. Oftentimes, fearing arrest for even a misdemeanor, they don’t show up to claim it.
It’s sort of like when an officer is suddenly demoted or fired.
Nearly-forgotten offenses pile up!
Within the last year, I posted HERE of a Latino on a flight who exchanged suspect cocaine for cash.
I was sitting behind him, and wrote a note to the pilot of the man in seat 8E, thinking we were going to be hijacked. (Common back then).
Highly suspicious activities led to his arrest and recovery of $600,000...!