# "Don't leave town..."
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-leave-town/283990
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [January 10, 2005, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-leave-town/283990 "2005-01-10T03:59:15Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@eyewitness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eyewitness)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2005, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-leave-town/283990/1 "2005-01-10T03:59:15Z")
It’s not uncommon on police and legal TV shows (most recently “The Practice” tonight) for the cops to tell someone that they suspect of a crime, but lack the evidence to arrest, not to leave their jurisdiction. Can this happen in the real world? Obviously if you draw cash out of the bank and head to the airport with a fake mustache and false ID, you will raise some questions, but can the cops force you to stick around without actually arresting you?
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### Author:  [@dqa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dqa)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2005, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-leave-town/283990/2 "2005-01-10T04:17:43Z")
Actually, the show is called Boston Legal now. But good question.
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### Author:  [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2005, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-leave-town/283990/3 "2005-01-10T04:25:21Z")
Nope.