Mississippi is not a classic “stop-and-identify” state in the way some other states explicitly are, but the answer is not simply yes or no. Mississippi does not have a general law that says people must identify themselves to police in all situations. However, under Mississippi law and U.S. constitutional rules, there are specific situations where you are legally required to identify yourself.

First, an officer must have reasonable suspicion that you are  is mississippi a stop and identify state   committing, have committed, or are about to commit a crime before they can lawfully detain you (a **Terry stop**). During such a lawful detention, Mississippi courts and federal precedent allow officers to ask for identifying information. There is no separate “show your papers” statute, but refusal to give your name during a valid detention can escalate the situation and potentially lead to arrest for **obstruction**, depending on the facts.

Second, Mississippi requires people to carry a driver’s license while driving. If you are a driver at a traffic stop, you must provide your license. Passengers are not automatically required to identify themselves unless officers develop independent reasonable suspicion relating to the passenger.

Third, if you are merely walking (not driving) and the police encounter you with no reasonable suspicion, you are not required to identify yourself. In that scenario, the encounter is considered **consensual**—you may decline and walk away. However, if officers escalate the interaction by claiming reasonable suspicion or declaring that you are being detained, the legal obligation may change. Whether refusal becomes “obstruction” is typically fact-specific and may depend on whether officers can articulate a legitimate investigative need tied to a suspected offense.