police state

On Interstate 8 somewhere east of El Centro, California and west of Arizona.

"U.S. Citizen?"

"Yes."

"Were you just taking pictures?"

"Yes."

(angrily)"You know you can't do that!"

"Why not?"

"This is the border patrol!" (Waves me through.)

Half a dozen times along interstate 8 and interstate 10 between San Diego and Baton Rouge I was interrogated about my citizenship. Kind of spooky for a country that supposedly has no internal restrictions on travel.