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Most states have [[laws]] against hitchhiking that are possible to be circumvented. Look to the map pictured on the right which indicates each state's laws. Most often, the laws state that the hitchhiker may not "solicit a ride" "on a roadway". The word roadway is typically defined in state statute books as "exclusive of a shoulder", making these statutes easy to circumvent.
Even in states where hitchhiking is illegal, the law is rarely enforced. Wyoming Highway Patrol reports that in 2010 (most recent year with available statistics) , they approached 524 hitchhikers but only cited eight of them(note that hitchhiking is no longer illegal in Wyoming.)
If the police pass you walking or sitting by the side of the road without soliciting in any way, they may still stop to check IDs but you are not required to identify yourself except if there is any way that you could have done something unlawful. As a result, the best method is to not use a sign or thumb whenever an oncoming car looks like a police cruiser.
