ABSTRACT
Two years after the Algerian terrorist hijacking of a French aircraft, the police were still dealing with the unease related to the anniversaries of the incident. French law enforcement responded with a massive security operation. On a single day in December the police stopped and questioned 6000 people. These French identity checks are similar to U.S. “stop and frisks” and have similar goals. Both are tools used by the police to prevent crime. However, French law is distinctly different from U.S. law, which must conform to the mandates of the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution under such circumstances. French procedures have been highly effective and bear review within the
context of combating terrorism internationally, although many would ague they would not survive judicial scrutiny in the United States.
