Agreed, it would violate the fourth amendment. At the time it was written, though, there was no non-invasive way to search someone's effects. The purpose at the

Agreed, it would violate the fourth amendment. At the time it was written, though, there was no non-invasive way to search someone's effects. The purpose at the time was to prevent searches as a means of harassment, and they did not guess that there would someday be a mechanism by which you could search without imposing. In any case, there is also a component of the probability of misuse (at least, in the way I judge these sorts of things). Your example of the first amendment is less compelling. The mere requirement to convey your identity is an imposition.