Article first appeared at The Free Thought Project.

For decades our overprotective society has relentlessly taught our kids about the dangers of interactive with strangers. They’re taught to be suspicious of creepy guys offering them candy or free rides to school. They’re told to never ever enter someone’s van, no matter what they say. It’s something you’d think the police would be well aware of, since they’re the ones who often push the stranger danger narrative on our culture.

But apparently the police in Atlanta, Georgia are incapable of self-awareness. They’ve been enforcing truancy laws in the creepiest way imaginable: By driving around in white vans, and ordering kids to get inside without offering any explanation.