The Ignorance of Law Enforcement (And Why We Still Have A Long Way To Go...)

[AnnaCalliope]

I am Male-to-Female transgendered, a most of the time crossdresser, living as female part-time, planning on transition in 2-3 years.

And yesterday, I got arrested.

You see, here in Georgia, the state has no policy for telling you when your license has been suspended. If you have no reason to believe its not suspended, and you get pulled over, you are generally screwed.

Apparently there had been a mix-up when I last paid my car insurance and the company accidentally checked off in the Georgia Car Registration Database that my car was no longer insured. I had gotten a call from my insurance company, saying my policy had been cancelled, even though I had just paid the bill a few days earlier. After checking confirmation numbers and my credit card statement, I was able to confirm I had in fact paid the bill on time and the policy was reinstated. Unknown to me, was that now because my car had been listed as uninsured in the DMV database, my license was now suspended.

I got pulled over at a random seatbelt checkpoint yesterday afternoon and thought nothing of it. I have (or at least thought I did) valid registration, license, insurance etc. Once my information had been checked, and I was apprised of the situation and told I was going to jail for a suspended license. Just because you don't know, doesn't mean you aren't breaking the law. *SIGH*

Here's where it gets ignorant. At the time, I was underdressing, wearing leggings, cotton panties, white knee high stockings and a sports bra underneath my boy clothes. The first pat down revealed the fact that I was wearing a bra and the truth came out that I was not a normal member of society. I admitted I was a crossdresser, and was immediately asked by the 3 police officers present, "Do you still have your male parts?". I tried explaining them the difference between a CD and TS, and got laughter and a comment of "Way too much information, son."

Once at the jail, I had to strip everything off. Fortunately, they were not very busy and I was given a private room to do so. I did not have to undress in front of other inmates, but there will still two guards present. It was once again revealed I was wearing bra, panties and other women's apparel underneath my boy clothes. "Wow, it does have a d***" was the comment I most remember.

The next injustice to my dignity occurred when my clothing and personal belongs were processed so I could properly claim them upon my release. Two more guards, different from the ones who watched me strip, went through the bag and entered everything into the computer. "I better not catch you staring at my a**", "You are one freaky SOB" and "You're gonna have to get sent to State [Prison] to meet your future boyfriend".

The final blow to my dignity came from the guard who escorted me upstairs to my cell. He was full of questions, and while I did my best to educate him properly, he still thought it all hilarious. "So, you like it the butt?" "Are you gonna cut it off, like that guy on that talk show?" "How many guys have you tricked into letting you s*** their d***?" and on like this for about 10 minutes. I tried explaining to him that we're [myself and other TGs] all sane and just trying to be happy with our bodies. He asked me if I knew anyone that regretted having "stuff added or taken off", and that "any guy who doesn't want his d***, or any girl that hates her tits, should be in Ridgeview (the nearest mental institution)".

IT WAS AWFUL.

I won't go into the further frustration and terror I had to go through, but to say the least, I had to spend the night in the part of the jail reserved for mental patients, because I have a past history with suicide and depression.

Keep in mind, even though I do identify as homosexual, I'm not in the least bit flamboyant. When dressed in drab, I'm no different than your average white heterosexual male, except that I have long hair.

Before this incident, I had hoped that my eventual transition to female, while challenging, would be still be accepted by the general population. Now I fear that a lot more people are bigoted and uneducated a**holes, and the struggle may be more than my mind can handle.

I just want what's on the outside to match the in, is that too much to ask?

[SamanthaS]

I'm sorry you had to go through that hon. You should go to your insurance company and cancel your policy in person after telling them what happened.

[Melinda G]

I hear you have to fail the psych test to be a cop.

Where did this occur and where was the seat belt checkpoint?

[5150 Girl]

sounds like you have a harrassment suit aginst the police department. Ok, so maybe driveing on a suspended licens (all be it unintentional) my be agist the law and it was apropriate to arrest you for it, all the officesrs in question behaved like jr. high students tahn profesionals. This unprofessonalisnm is unexcusible

[juno]

That really sucks. I am shocked that anyone can be taken to jail for a license that is revoked for an insurance issue, when the insurance could have been checked and verified to actual be valid. Maybe they would not have taken you in of you were "normal"?

I was pulled over the very first time I was out of the house in DRAB. The cop was quite nice, except for asking a few unusual questions like "Have you been taking any drugs?". So, they are not all bad.

It may not be severe enough to sue, but perhaps there is a constructive way to complain that might lead to better behavior for the next victim.

[Coyote]

The bullies you might have had in school grow up and become cops. Except now, they have the law on their side to torment you and still get away with it.

[Kate Lynn]

I have heard when babies are dropped on their heads at birth,they grow up to be cops in Georgia.


The bullies you might have had in school grow up and become cops. Except now, they have the law on their side to torment you and still get away with it.

Isn't that how it always is,either school bullies grow up to be cops,or those bullied by the bullies grow up to be cops.

[2SpeedTranny]

I rather doubt this sort of abuse is unique to people in your situation. Not to trivialize your experience, mind... but law enforcement is just out of control. Nowadays about the only difference between the cops and the prisoners in their jails is the badge. Something was lost when we traded the "peace officer" for the "law enforcement officer."

There seems to be little regard for the Constitution among the uniformed swine in the South... presuming, of course, that any of them have heard of it to begin with.

I'm sure someone will pipe up and say "gee, but 90% of the cops are nice guys doing their jobs." I hear that every time a cop beats someone up or shoots an unarmed man or tasers a kid or snipes a pregnant mom or chokes an EMT trying to get a patient to a hospital. Or any of a number of other stories that come out in this country every single day. It's clear there's an endemic problem, and there's no defense for it. In a free society where men are supposed to be equal before the law, we should not have to tolerate even one bad cop.

Ever.

[Pythos]

It was COMPLETELY inappropriate of them to arrest you for driving on a suspended license. This is not a suing the police department issue, this is a GET THE ACLU on them issue.

this was a complete miscarriage of justice. In my state if your insurance gets canceled YOUR EFFING DRIVER'S IS NOT SUSPENDED!!!. (sorry, but this post just riled me up, I am seeing crimson right now!!).

You need to pursue this. First off, the DMV failed in not informing you of the suspended license. You should also not have been put in jail for this. At most your car should have been impounded. Again, your license should not have been touched, the registration on your car is the only thing that should have been affected.

Your rights were violated, pure and simple.

[Melinda G]

A similar thing happened to my daughter. She changed insurance companies in Florida, and the old insurance company notified the DMV that insurance had been dropped. The new company was a day or two late in notifying the DMV of the new coverage, which caused an automatic suspension on her license. She got stopped up here, and when the cop checked her license, it showed an "administrative suspension". She had no tickets or points. The cop towed her rental car, took her to the station, booked her for driving with a suspended license. Then he rummaged through her purse and took $150, and said this will cover the bond. That was all the money she had. Then they let her walk out of the police station, 1200 miles from home, broke, and with no tranportation. I had to go get her, and drive her back to the airport. Then when she got back to Florida, she straightened it out with the Florida DMV, and mailed a letter from the DMV and copies of her driving record to the court up here. But the @sshole prosecutor said she couldn't handle it by mail, and DWLS required a court appearance and a mandatory 48 hour jail sentence. After her lawyer called, they decided to "let" her pay a $700 fine and plead to some other charge. And they wonder why people hate cops.:eek:

[AnnaCalliope]

I wish I had a case to stand on, Pythos. Unfortunately, that's exactly how things work here in Georgia. I was in the initial holding tank with three other guys in the exact same situation. Some insurance company glitch or letting their car registration expire before renewal suspends your driver's license, and there is no policy or law in the state of GA that says they have to notify you. You have to check regularly with the DMV to verify that its still legal for you to drive, and if its not, you sometimes have to pay a fee of up to $200 to get in reinstated. Its absurd. If you get a nice cop, sometimes they'll just write you a ticket and impound your vehicle, but I got the bigoted one who took me for a freak and decided I needed to go downtown so I could be "straightened out".

[Melinda G]

It's all about separating you from your money. Most states have those annoying "reinstatement fees" now. I listen to the cops sometimes on my scanner. I'm not a cops fan. I just like to know what they are up to. Many times I have heard a dispatcher say, "He's suspended indefinately until payment of reinstatement fee, zero points"! Some of the tow companies are owned by former cops, or their relatives. This isn't the america I grew up in.

[annabellejorden]

This is not a suing the police department issue, this is a GET THE ACLU on them issue.

I agree, this definatly seems like the kind of case the aclu like getting into.
I would at least call them, not because of the ticket, but because of the discrimination your reciewved for being a CD.

That is just wrong.
The cops involoved should be suspended with out pay.

[LizSummers]

This is just horrible :/
It's stories like this that make me never want to step outside of my house while dressed :/

I'm so sorry you had to go through this - to me, this definitely feels like it deserves legal action to be taken.

[joannemarie barker]

that Is a horrendous ordeal to have to go through :( I'd like to kick those uniformed asses all over town :(

[Aprilrain]

Wow that really sucks. I've been pulled over three times in the last three months in three different states and have only gotten one ticket. Not one of the cops said anything about me being dressed as a woman, all were professional. The states were Kentucky (northern), Iowa, and Oregon only the Oregon cop gave me a ticket but it was the most routine traffic stop very short and to the point.
Perhapes you might want to consider moving somewhere a little more trans friendly.

[robyn1114]

Did this take place within the city limits of Atlanta? If so you do have a case for discrimination since it is against the law to discriminate based on gender identity/expression in Atlanta

[RachelOKC]

It's upsetting to to hear that Anna had such a terrible experience with the police and she should absolutely pursue action for the maltreatment she received. It is completely unacceptable behavior from anyone - least of all our civil servants - and speaking out against it is the only way for it to stop. Your greatest allies are your truth and your courage to speak it boldly.

That said, it bothers me to see posters using this as an opportunity to bash officers of the law. Grossly general and inflammatory remarks do not help and only serve to demonstrate the ignorance and bias of the one making the statement. Some of your fellow transpeople are police officers (including one of my dearest friends) and they serve to protect your rights and safety - as do many police officers. Respect that police officers are people too, and come in all varieties as do we. If you don't want to be painted with a broad brush, then don't do it to others.

[robyn1114]

Nicely said Rachel

[Chickhe]

You shoud demand the money lost from the insurance company and threaten to sue them for damages and the police too. It is sad to think that these companies get away with treating people like this.

[Loni]

i do not understand were ones dl get suspended due to a insurance getting stopped...maybe you have multi cars and multi insurance company's. sounds like a time for a change at the state level. and as for the bigot cops check into and find out if the areas were they had the unneeded comets has a hidden mic with the cameras and get a copy of the tape the aclu will love the law suite and you might even get some cash out of it.

.

[Coyote]

It's upsetting to to hear that Anna had such a terrible experience with the police and she should absolutely pursue action for the maltreatment she received. It is completely unacceptable behavior from anyone - least of all our civil servants - and speaking out against it is the only way for it to stop. Your greatest allies are your truth and your courage to speak it boldly.

That said, it bothers me to see posters using this as an opportunity to bash officers of the law. Grossly general and inflammatory remarks do not help and only serve to demonstrate the ignorance and bias of the one making the statement. Some of your fellow transpeople are police officers (including one of my dearest friends) and they serve to protect your rights and safety - as do many police officers. Respect that police officers are people too, and come in all varieties as do we. If you don't want to be painted with a broad brush, then don't do it to others.

Yet this did happen, and points to some deficiency that needs to be corrected. Someone was painted with that broad brush already. Using the idea that its not fair to use the same brush is tatamount to saying sometimes you need to be screwed over becuase others are not like that so sorry, you need to live with it.

Umm, NO.

[RachelOKC]

Coyote, you may wish to reread my post, because I believe the first paragraph made it perfectly clear how I feel about the issue. Law officers who mistreat citizens, abuse their authority, and betray the public trust shouldn't get a pass, ever. No victim should "live with it."

[dominique]

Makes me glad I live in the UK. Sounds a complete and utter horror story from begining to end. Sounds the major part of the blame should be put on your old insurance company.

[Gerrijerry]

Do any of you girls think that maybe going thru this once is enough and going to court over it puts it all out there for everyone to see. Not everyone can afford or deal with being a CD out there in the news. Yes I know it was wrong and she can sue everyone etc. If she was a TS woman I would aggree. Then she would be out there and everyone would already know. Being a CD and out does not mean she wants or is ready for every one else to know. Just my 2 cents.

[Charise52]

What a horrible experience! I thought when I left grade school and became a professional, i had left bullies behind forever... now they carry badges... I miss the days when they were professional and were called "Peace officers" and were there to help us... I am appalled... this is not America... a simple citation that you could have cleared in court would have been sufficient... what they did is a waste of tax dollars in an already underfunded economy... and they have computers... they could have checked... you can sue for big bucks...

[Melissa Jill]

Makes me glad I live in the UK. Sounds a complete and utter horror story from begining to end. Sounds the major part of the blame should be put on your old insurance company.

I doubt our police force is any better.
Im so sorry for what you had to go through Anna.

[Jay Cee]

I am so sorry you went through that, Anna Marie. I cannot begin to imagine how horrendous that was for you. It says a lot for your character that you tried to educate the guards a little bit. You never know - some of it may have soaked in.

Side note: I am absolutely shocked that an invalid license would get someone sent to jail. Seems pretty severe.

[Noel Chimes]

Although the police are suppose to be trained to deal with us you cannot change a closed mind. I too had to deal with officers here in St. Louis coming from a gathering. I misread a sign and made an improper turn. Much to my dismay the police were right behind me. So there I was fully dressed, no DL, and scared to death. I guess it is procedure now to call for back-up because another unit pulled on the scene.
I sat there trying to keep my composure and call someone who could come get me in the event of arrest, but the officer seeing my plight wrote me 3 tickets and informed me that in most cases 3 tickets means a ride to jail. He said, " however in this case just go straight home and get things in order". I thanked him for the break and did exactally what he told me to do.
There are many good officers out there that take their positions seriously and have respect for everyone. It's that sometimes a narrow-minded knuckle drager slips through and gives an entire department a black eye. We just have to make use of the powers that be to identify these persons and let it be known our displeasure of their performance of their duties.There job is to protect and serve,; not harass and intimidate. And for what it's worth, your insurance company should remburse you for the fines. They were at fault for not updating their system in a timely manner.

[Jennie1975]

I just want to say I am sorry you had to go through all that.

As some of you might remember over thanksgiving I too was arrested and booked into county jail in WA state. My experience was vastly different, albeit due to different protection laws here, I was treated withe respect and dignity. It is not all law enforcement that has ignorant views and vbehaviors.

Once again I am sorry to hear of your horrible experience. And I hope that this isolated incident does not keep otherd from stepping out of the door and participating with the world.


Jennifer

[Bethany38]

Nicely said Rachel


Well said to both of you. I have worked closely with law enforcement for years, on both sides of the line. Further more my Mother was a Police Officer. I have a ton of respect for the Officers whom are professional and well balanced, however, there are those like the ones our Anna encountered. Let me tell you as someone who knows there is a very, very thin line between Cop & Criminal, and the way the officers behaved with Anna was criminal. Know one should ever have to endure that kind of derrogatory commentary from any person. If that had happened with me I would Hire a lawyer, have him/her get hold of the cruiser tapes, the tapes in the sally port, the tapes from the proceesing area, well you girls know the rest. But that is just me.

[JohnH]

There are a lot of law enforcement personnel that are jerks. And there are ones who act and talk in a professional manner as I explain below:

When I got busted for public intoxication while going for a walk wearing a dress, panties underneath, women's sandals, and a purse I was carted off to jail. However, everybody treated me in a professional manner and did not make me feel uncomfortable for wearing the femme clothes. When I was processed in I was asked if I was wearing a bra since I have a slight bust. I was issued an orange jumpsuit and I was treated like any other male inmate with the utmost courtesy. For the first night (the only night) I had my own cell.

The food was adequate and I even had a shower in my cell, and I was given deodorant, toothbrush, and soap. I asked for a Bible and they gave me an English-Spanish New Testament.

What was embarrassing was when I had to put my street clothes back on [the femme outfit] and walk past visitors and walk across the street to the bail bondsman office. At no time did anyone taunt me or embarrass me.

So you can see I was treated with respect the whole time.

Johanna

[Sarah Michelle]

I worked in law enforcement for over 30 years before I retired. I cringed every time I heard one of these stories. I've investigated many of the complaints that they trigger. I've also had to defend the entire L.E. community at family dinners, B.B.Q.s and every time it comes up anywhere-else. Those of us on the job know where the mould and the rot is in our organizations but the same external agencies that protect the civilians protect the rot. Canadian L.E. had a spate of cross-dressing arrest/search issues a few years ago that we were embarrassed by and hopefully learned from. That said; a generation ago (70s) L.E. was being accused of harassing the gay community, most of that has been corrected. It is always especially harmful when those with authority abuse it. The true tragedy is, if you were to ask them, the officers would say they didn't mean any harm, they were just having a bit of fun at your expense. They wouldn't see their mistake. Weed carefully, nurture broadly.

[KristaE]

Wow... call an attorney. I wish I practiced in Georgia to help you out. That is unacceptable.

[Sarah Doepner]

These guys are dangerous, poorly trained jerks and it will cost that agency a lot of money one of these days if they are allowed to continue behaving that way. And you will not be the only TG person they encounter during their careers (if they don't get fired first). I also worked with Law Enforcement for many years and I recommend that you contact the Internal Affairs office for that agency. They will listen politely and tell you they can't do anything about the insurance SNAFU. Remind them the call is about the way you were treated on and after the arrest, not the original violation. In the end, if you want to get anything officially done you will have to go in and talk to them.

The company of an attorney and the demand for the videos that Bethany38 mentions would be a good idea. Check with the local ACLU and any TG support group in your area.

[Babette]

Anna Marie, I'm sorry this happened to you or to anyone for that matter. This is simply inexcusable behavior by the offending persons. I really hope there will be no long-term consequences for you.

I've seen posts and replies in the past with themes very similar to this one. The report of someone's poor and often illegal behavior resulted in "torch-carrying" outcries against that person and/or anyone like them. When a cop does something bad, a lot of people quickly think all cops are bad. When somebody from the Southern US does something stupid, then a lot of people will characterize everyone in the South as stupid. When a member of the clergy does something unforgivable, then other members of the clergy are wrongly lumped in with the offender. When a teacher is jailed for abusing children, public trust of the teaching profession erodes. Worse yet, when a crossdresser commits an act of sexual violence or crime, then a lot of people are quick to assume we are all dangerous.

I have known and worked with many law enforcement officers throughout the years. The vast majority of men and women forming that community uphold the professional standards expected by society. One can only hope the offending officers in Georgia get their due because they are truly the rotten apples in a barrel full of good ones.

Babette

[RachelPortugal]

So that is what happens if you live in the so called land of the free!

What a stupid system they have in your state. So if you take your car off the road and don't renew the insurance, you no longer have the right to drive another vehicle - a hire car for instance where you take out insurance with the hire company or a car that is insured by a friend of relative for use by any authorised driver.

Then, what with the way these so called upholders of the law treated you, I can only offer you some simple advice.

If you don't like the way things are run and you don't have the power to change the way things are run, there is only one course of action to take. Get out as soon as you get the chance. This goes for workplaces, the place you live and even marriages or relationships. Life is too short to have to live in fear or unhappiness.

[Coyote]

Coyote, you may wish to reread my post, because I believe the first paragraph made it perfectly clear how I feel about the issue. Law officers who mistreat citizens, abuse their authority, and betray the public trust shouldn't get a pass, ever. No victim should "live with it."

Your right and I appologise.

[Lorileah]

There seems to be some real questions here that affect your civil rights.

First two people have stated that their not having insurance on the car led to suspension of the license. To the best of my knowledge at this time you don't need to own a car to be licensed to drive one. If you had sold the car would your license be suspended until you get another car?

Second, it does not seem like it should be a felony that leads to arrest (see Pythos' post). It would be a misdemeanor. A speeding ticket isn't a felony, running a red light isn't a felony and not wearing a safety belt isn't a felony. Every state has these laws and parity should rule. But that is Georgia, where they still are assuming the Civil War is just on hold. Fair disclosure of your license being revoked or suspended would have been in order. Entrapment laws are in place for similar things.

Finally, you are to be treated with courtesy and respect by the law enforcement community. All people are equal under the law (at least that was what the Constitution used to say). Making rude and uncalled for remarks about what you wear and how you live is definitely an ACLU matter. In most civilized parts of the US everything you did after being brought in to the station would have been on camera and recorded. If there is audio to go with it even better. There will be a board of regulation for the police and often there are oversight boards who have police and civilian members who can review how you were treated. It won't take the place of how you feel now but it may give you some resolution.

Also look for a new insurance company who is on YOUR side and will make sure that this does not happen again

[Melinda G]

First two people have stated that their not having insurance on the car led to suspension of the license. To the best of my knowledge at this time you don't need to own a car to be licensed to drive one. If you had sold the car would your license be suspended until you get another car?
Very interesting questions. What if you had a car that was not currently drivable?
My daughter was driving a rental car in Michigan. In my daughters case, in Florida, the insurance companies notify the DMV when insurance is dropped or expired. This results in an "administrative suspension", which is apparently all done on computers. However, the lady at the DMV told my daughter in Florida it is only a ticketable offense. She would not have been arrested. In Michigan however, driving while suspended carries a mandatory court appearance and 48 hour jail sentence. The cop in Michigan should have been tipped off that something was amiss, when he was told it was just an "administrative suspension". The laws are different in every state. In Michigan, if you have proof of insurance, that is accepted. The insurance companies do not yet notify the DMV. In this day and age, I guess people need to be more aware of the various laws and keep on top of things.

[JulieC]

YOUR CIVIL RIGHTS HAVE BEEN VIOLATED

Get angry, get mad, fight back!!!!!!!!!!

Atlanta itself has legislation to protect your rights from discrimination against you for gender identity. You were verbally abused and humiliated. This is something you should do everything in your power to see about prosecuting these *******s!!!!

Were you arrested by the Atlanta police? This is very important. If you were, what they did was blatantly illegal. Please see The Atlanta Bill of Rights (http://library.municode.com/showDocumentFrame.aspx?clientID=10376&docID=25) which states unequivocally; "The City of Atlanta shall not, directly or indirectly, discriminate among persons because of ... gender identity" Clear as day. First step, you should contact the City of Atlanta Human Relations Commission. Their contact info is here (http://www.atlantaga.gov/mayor/humrela_comm.aspx). Second, consider contacting Lamda Legal (website (http://www.lambdalegal.org/)). Their southern office, located right in Atlanta, can be found at the address on their regional site (http://www.lambdalegal.org/states-regions/southern-regional-office.html).

Even if this did not occur within Atlanta city limits, your rights have been violated and approaching Lamda Legal will help you a great deal. At least get some consultation with them to assess the best way to proceed.

Please please please please do not accept this laying down!!!!

[eluuzion]

hiha Anna...

Sorry to read about your episode of the "Twilight Zone".

Law enforcement has never been known for having a great sense of humor...

Unfortunately fairness, honesty and “justice” have little to do with the legal process. What you can or cannot prove in a court of law has everything to do with the process...and the outcome.

Sounds like an attorney might be worth the investment...
:hugs:
:love:

[Mary Morgan]

This couldn't possibly happen. Afterall, these upstanding public employees are sworn to protect and serve. You must be mistaken. Unless they only protect and serve "normal" people. I suggest that you file a formal complaint with the department at the highest level, and that you copy the Attorney General in your state and your elected congressional representative. This is BS.

[Jill Devine]

I am totally disgusted by the story and feel terrible for the OP. It was a series of bad judgement calls by various officers. DISGUSTING. it's not like just one bad cop - they were all like that.

I swear to god I would get an appointment with a local reporter and then invite the reporter along to a meeting with the station commander. I would fight for an apology and then take that apology as evidence and sue. If they have to pay hard cash then the prick cops would get into real trouble.

I'm so angry right now. I hate bullies.

[meri]

This is Georgia, right? ... and these are cops, right? That's a double wammy!

It takes a long time to change internal culture -- the cops are connected to the old ways in Georgia and there are still plenty of old-timers around to reinforce that old culture. Further, when you consider what "type" of person is drawn into the police service, then this kind of behavior in this place is not at all unexpected.

[bridgetta]

light and power and strength

[Natalee]

Wow. I am sorry to hear you had to deal with those idiots.

I have always been paranoid of being pulled over, by a small-minded idiot, while in full dress under my winter coat. I always keep boy shoes in the car just in-case of such a situation..

I'm now thinking I need prepare my my telephone to quickly record audio.

These people are PUBLIC SERVANTS; you pay their salary. Being treated as a non-CITIZEN is despicable.. Glad you made it out alright in the end.

[Joanna_81]

Apalling, horrible, despicable, beyond comprehension... I wish You will be able to somehow get over this, and perhaps also have Your rights defended (like it was earlier mentioned: a lawsuit, maybe with help from ACLU). I hope You'll be fine.

[Suzette Muguet de Mai]

I would be strongly considering moving to another place, unfortunately their are idiots wherever one goes and it is disgusting that law enforcement officers have a such a view. You are right in the subject of your posting, we still have a long way to go, especially with that attitude of some law enforcement officers. I remember posting a reply on wearing high heels when driving and possibility in causing an accident. What does one endure if one is sent to jail and it is found out in jail that one is a CD, what happens to a CD in jail? Chin up, straight back, shoulders back and move forward with honour and respect but learn from past experiences.

[Yolanda_Voils]

I too live in Ga.

I have something important here to say.

The Jail personnel and most officers of the local variety(Not GSP) are trained to humiliate, degrade, enrage, to do anything possible to see your reaction, to test for a violent reaction.

This is standard procedure generally used regardless of reason for arrest, or in your case, driving on suspended license.

Driving while CD'd in Ga is Not Illegal (AFAIK)

You were being "Tested" to see what your reaction would be, violent is the one they worry about.

I've been in a pretty similar situation, but not CD'd, and got 9 miles of crap from EVERY officer that I encountered.

I was in jail 2 months, it took them about 2 or more weeks before they quit trying to set me off and started treating me with respect.

I am NOT supporting the specific comments made to you, but I do KNOW Why they did what they did..

Generally the GSP (Ga State Patrol) will not comment much, just ask pertinent questions, cuff you and turn you over to the jailers who ALL have this type of training.

Lorileah, in Ga, the insurance companies are required to notify the State when your insurance is void.

If you own only "ONE CAR" it is automatic for GA. to suspend your license, if your insurance is dropped.

You'll get a letter, sooner or later from the state.. And one from the insurance company.

The officers did have the discretion to allow you to call for a ride, but you were unable to drive.
This is not a Felony, and AFAIK you could have been cited and let go.
(Unless Ga Code has changed)

The vehicle Must be impounded if driven without insurance.

BTW, the fine in Ga for driving without insurance averages $375

Gluck
Yolanda

[seanmuscle]

Yes you were treated bad but you have to realize that these men were probably turned on by you which is why they made perv comments and kept asking questions. A man that shows you friendliness will be mocked and accused of being a tranny lover. But deep down they do secretly have a crush on you.

[Kitty Sue]

Wow. That is really sad. Ignorance is bliss I guess. I got read today in the tanning salon and I will not be going back. They saw my bikini top under my shirt. Not nearly as bad as what you went through, but I did find it embarrassing. Oh such is life, KS.

[Natalee]

Yes you were treated bad but you have to realize that these men were probably turned on by you which is why they made perv comments and kept asking questions. A man that shows you friendliness will be mocked and accused of being a tranny lover. But deep down they do secretly have a crush on you.

And I would gurantee, within 1 year, curiosity will over come at least two of these guys, and they will "try" their SO's panties, or bra, etc when they're at home alone.

[Yolanda_Voils]

For 2+ months, I was treated with the same disrespect.
Different comments, same line of bs.

In Ga, they can hold you until you get a bond, they can "delay" bond hearings up to 90 days,
at this point they must grant a "reasonable" bond.

Why do they hold you so long ?
Simple, so the thieves can steal everything that you've worked decades for.
No matter if it's your FIRST offense of any type, this is a "punishment" imposed before trial !

They'd tell the guys waiting for prison to get ready for their "Boyfriends" and say many ugly things like
"Get your mustache trimmed up for your daddy" etc etc

I reacted as if it were my 1st day at boot camp.
No matter what they'd say, regardless how personal and rude, I'd reply with of few specific words:
Yes Sir
No Sir
Thank You Sir
May I (whatever)Sir

When they'd call out "Line UP" I tried to be first.
NEVER talk during line up or risk a D.R. (Discplinary Report)
a "D.R" is given for;
unauthorized talking
extra linens
extra socks
unauthorized cleaning
smoking
feet on table
hanging things on the wall or windows
cell phones
radio or any electronics
refusing any order
fighting
unauthorized reading material
the list goes on as they make it up as they go.

At night, every hour they'd do a "head count"
The steel door would BOOM shut, then a 5 watt LED blasted in your eyes.
I finally turned around in my bed so they'd see only the top of my head.

a minor "D.R." (Discplinary Report) gets you :
3 days suspension of phone, visitors and store

In our jail, that meant NO Store, Visitors for a whole week, and no phone for 3 days.
(the Store is the only thing keeping off starvation)
They feed you, but the calories are minimal and sometimes the food is inedible by everyone.

The jail in Rome only allows ONE visit per week, all calls are "Collect" and cost $4.00 min
So a D.R. punishment varies from jail to jail.

Rome jail was reported in the Rome News Tribune as feeding inmates "rancid / spoiled" food
This resulted in some having to be sent to the hospital.
If a jail sends you to the hospital, you are near DEATH, as they don't care how sick you are.
After all inmates are criminals and don't deserve decent treatment(they think)

Lots of guys in there with me had been there for up to 5 months, waiting for a "Bed" in prison to become vacant.
The guys who had been to prison said they had "RATHER BE IN PRISON THAN JAIL" !!

In prison, they actually feed you, you can move around, have a TV, DVD, Mp3, CD player etc.
Also you're allowed almost unlimited reading material, you can use the phone whenever, you get more visits, etc etc

The "Rule Book" given to me in jail said that we'd get 1 hr "Yard Time" 3-4 times per week,
'weather depending'
In 2+ months, there were 3 yard calls, not 24 to 32 times.

When we asked about the book, they said we could go outside when they "felt like it"
IN other words you inmates, are scumbags ,, you are in here because you're garbage.

Yet, the majority of us had not seen a Judge or Jury to determine our guilt..

What's that saying ? "Guilty until Proven Innocent" I think that's the one..

I found it very odd that the ex-cons preferred Prison to Jail !

Gluck
Yolanda

[seanmuscle]

If one of the guys were alone with the poster they would definitely treat her like a lady and make moves on her. Many men are curious about CDs but do not want any of the boys knowing

[Debra Jane]

Wow, sounds like your state likes to persecute it's inhabitants.

I can't believe that the law can be such an ass, why would any sane government make a law that suspends your license to drive ALL vehicles if you have not renewed the insurance on ONE vehicle? And better yet make it so that it is not the governments responsibility to inform you if they have suspended you, that's just ludicrous.

And this happens in a lot of states judging by some of the replies here, and here was I thinking that the USA was the home of litigation junkies, maybe you can't fight City Hall after all.

Such a law would be laughed out of existence here in Australia, the media would have a field day.

This story reminds me of some bad 1950's B grade movie.

[Donna June]

They acted childish and vulgar and it's a shame you had to endure that....Wanting your inner self to match your outer self is not too much to ask for, but there will always be boneheads out there to put up with.

[TV Wannabe]

At the very least you should send a letter to the ACLU. Maybe even the local papers or government offices.

[Christy_M]

I am so sorry you went through that. I understand how you must have felt. I am not familiar with the laws of Georgia but at a minimum, contacting lambda legal and/or ACLU should provide information on your options at no cost to you. You have to decide how much you want to fight and then take the steps necessary to do that level of battle. I didn't have the stones to go beyond the ACLU letter campaign but i do believe there will be positive from it. We can all write our congressional delegates to ask when they will support legislation that provides safeguards for transgendered people. There are bills working through congress that have some of those safeguards but they are being blocked by republicans in the "moral majority." we are a minority that only has a voice when more of us stand up. letters are a great way to do this without outing ourselves. I am sending a letter to Senator Patty Murray and Representative Jay Inslee this week regarding this treatment.

Please know that time does heal these wounds. While I am still fearful of something like this recurring, You should know it isn't your fault. You are still special and we all care about you. We are here to support you.

Hugs, :hugs:
Christy

[RikkiHauser]

{...}

I got pulled over at a random seatbelt checkpoint yesterday afternoon and thought nothing of it. I have (or at least thought I did) valid registration, license, insurance etc. Once my information had been checked, and I was apprised of the situation and told I was going to jail for a suspended license. Just because you don't know, doesn't mean you aren't breaking the law. *SIGH*

{...}


{...}
If you get a nice cop, sometimes they'll just write you a ticket and impound your vehicle, but I got the bigoted one who took me for a freak and decided I needed to go downtown so I could be "straightened out".

First off, let me say I'm sorry to hear about how you were treated by those in Law Enforcement in that department. It sounds like they have some serious issues that they need to correct. And if not done soon, it could land them in a very serious court case. Being in law enforcement, I also cringe every time I hear stories like that and am thankful my departments culture does not allow that. I also cringe when I see a post like this turn in to cop bashing and generalizations that all cops are bullies or are criminals with badges. For a group that wants others to be so tolerant of them, it's rather ironic to hear these statements being made about law enforcement in general.

Now to the part you probably don't want to hear. Do you know what the number one excuse we hear from people when we find out they don't have a license, or they have a warrant, or they have 10 pounds of weed in their car, or, well, you get the point. The number one excuse is - I didn't know. "I didn't know my license was suspended." "I didn't know I had a warrant." I didn't know that was illegal." etc. After a couple days of hearing that, the officer pretty much becomes deaf to that phrase, because it doesn't matter to them. As they always say, ignorance is no excuse (even when it's not your fault. That's why they have courts to correct that stuff). I've arrested quite a few people for having a suspended license. I've also let quite a few go with a ticket and a cab ride. I've never let someone just drive off. The reason you were arrested is because it was at a checkpoint. Checkpoints are set up for a reason - to make a point. In most cases, during a checkpoint, the officer will not have any discretion to cite and release you v. taking you to jail. The commanding officer will tell everyone on that detail that everyone is going to jail for certain offenses.

Based on your second comment above, you stated that the cop wanted to put you in jail because you were a "freak." Step back a minute and think about that. How did he know you were underdressing when he hadn't patted you down yet? They found out you were crossdressing after you were already on your way to jail. (I'm not making excuses for their actions, because that type of behavior is something that nobody should go through. Just explaining how I see it as an outside observer, with some inside knowledge - of both sides, hehe.)

Now, here's the good part. I don't know how your state works, but in my state the Sheriffs department controls the jails. Most local agencies bring the people they arrested to the jail or the Sheriff's department comes and picks them up from the city jails. Find out who controls your jail. If it is the Sheriff's department, find out who the Undersheriff is that controls the Jail facilities. This info is usually available on their website or just call their main number listed on their website. Write a letter or even an email to that Undersheriff explaining to him/her how you were treated by those officers/deputies while in their custody. Send a copy/CC to the Sheriff/Chief/or whoever runs that entire department/jail. Send a copy to their Internal Affairs/Professional Standards Division or whatever they call it and tell them that you would like to file a formal complaint.(More than likely you will need to go to their HQ and file the report). Find out if the department has an Office of Internal Review(OIR), which is an outside agency that usually reports to the county Board of Supervisors or other agency that has oversight over the agency running the jails, and contact them about your treatment and that you would like to file a formal complaint (The OIR may or may not exist in your location. It does in Los Angeles because of instances similar to this.). However, this may all fall on deaf ears if this is indeed an problem with this departments culture. And unfortunately, it can take a very long time to change the culture of an entire department. If you don't hear back from anyone or don't get a response you like, forget the ACLU, go to your local media. They'll take on a story like that in a heartbeat. Change can come a lot quicker in that situation.

I honestly couldn't imagine that every officer you encountered would have gone out of his way to make comments like this on his own. They must be required to do it to people in their custody. And that sounds like this place has a serious culture issue that needs to be corrected. It was like that in LA even back in the early 90s. The gay dorms in the LA Jail used to be known as the "queen tank." That was a common term back then, but now you could get fired for saying it. The more complaints that are received, the quicker things change.

[2SpeedTranny]

Now to the part you probably don't want to hear. Do you know what the number one excuse we hear from people when we find out they don't have a license, or they have a warrant, or they have 10 pounds of weed in their car, or, well, you get the point. The number one excuse is - I didn't know.


Yeah? Well, guess what?! Speaking from some personal experience, and that of people I know... those aren't excuses, they're the God's honest truth.

And that's no excuse to treat citizens as criminals anyway.

Be honest here. Most of what "law enforcement" hauls people in for nowadays is bull****. But nicely, it ends up collecting revenue.

I've seen it. I've sat in city council meetings where members of the council -- and the mayor -- debate the virtue of hiring more cops to enforce more codes to -- you guessed it -- collect more revenue for the city. Brazen, in your face, no excuses made. I have recordings. Wanna try me? This is how it works -- never mind your idealistic vision. We live in a totally ****ed up system. Deal with it.



Further more my Mother was a Police Officer.

Would you care to explain for me why "Police Officer" is capitalized in your post, as if cops are somehow better than everyone else?

Orwell rolls in his grave, awaiting an answer.




These people are PUBLIC SERVANTS; you pay their salary. Being treated as a non-CITIZEN is despicable..

Oh, you're funny!

Here's an idea: try to get even one of your "public servants" to do anything which serves the public. That should be a wake-up call.

[MiamiMarie]

Wow. Your story makes me want to vomit in my mouth. How horrible that you had to endure such injustice.

Please don't give these bigoted morons power over your future. Make the transition you want (you may find yourself less suseptable to depression) and try your best to avoid "good ole' boy" situations like that one.

[Nicole Erin]

I can tell you EXACTLY what those M.F.'ing pigs were trying to do -
They were trying to get you to screw up.
When cops do that, DO NOT take bait.
DO NOT talk to the cops. ALL you have to say to them is - "I have nothing to say". Not "I didn't know" or "it isn't mine". You say - "I have nothing to say".

Cops will try to taunt, will lie, will try to get under your skin, lie about what they know etc. It can be aggravating but it is just a game - they talk enough crap hoping you will give away too much info, say the wrong thing, or worse yet, assault them.

You do NOT have to talk to them. You do have to identify yourself but never answer their questions.
I can tell you they probably do this crap to about everyone they arrest in hopes people will screw up. Ignore their taunts, their threats etc. Cops are nothing more than bullies looking to get you to screw up. Remember growing up how there would be the one kid who would cause all the problems but somehow come out being the innocent one? COPS.

[TiffanyTgirl]

Just when you think we have evolved as a society. It saddens me to hear it, but I know it is there. I live in FL and know the same thing would happen to me. Keep your chin up. They can damage your dignity, but they can't take it away..

[herwannabe]

I can only imagine how that must have been I know nothing I can say will make it feel better it does sadden me deeply

Michelle

[Lorileah]

I have a general rule for everything. 90% of any group really does try and do the right and fair thing, it is the other 10% who are the ones who get the publicity.

It is easy to take the low road here and just lump police into a brown shirt bully group of people. It isn't true. It is also easy here to lump this particular incident into one toothed backwoods Roscoe P Coltrane good ol' boys fraternity morons. Rikki makes a point, if that is the case this department is headed for a huge law suit eventually. Cameras are getting smaller everyday and undercover stings on such prejudiced government services are more common. One good piece of advice I had was always pretend you are being filmed.

Many things are wrong in the OP. Every civil right from point A to point Z was violated. There is two sides to this story also and we are getting one. Truth is we need police. We need police because 10% of the population would lie, cheat, steal and generally act like politicians if they weren't there. It does seem in this case that things escalated way beyond what was needed. A suspended license should be a bail by recognizance issue at worst (unless there is more here we aren't hearing). There would be absolutely no excuse to insult or bully anyone no matter what the offense. That is a given in this type of case. The backwoods mentality of "In the heat of the night" or "To kill a mockingbird" should be long dead, but it isn't as we well know. There is little we can do when it is a private citizen who is ignorant and moronic. People who are paid to be protectors of our rights have no excuse. Every department has cowboys. They are the ones who believe that might makes right or that being aggressive is the way that enforcement should be handled. Large cities have quelled such action. Smaller forces are very much still directed and supported by the climate of the area. But we are becoming a larger more melded community thanks to media. Local dialects and accents are fading. There is a McDonalds in almost every town now. Why are we outraged at the OP? Because it is no longer the norm. It is the unusual, anachronistic way things go now. Yes it is aggravating. It is hurtful. It is something that needs to be addressed. Rikki gave many good options but I understand that there may be some repercussions to the OP if they pursue this. If this is truly BF county Georgia and it is a small area (checkpoints are not as likely in small departments though as manpower has to be utilized better), then first she has been "outed" to the department. They know who she is and any action she takes will be known to come from her. So either she has to take what she got and be silent or be prepared for at least local media coverage and if the department is as backwards as she intimates, harassment for the officers. (She will have to be an absolute angel or they will be on her for everything from littering to sneezing at a buffet). I will assume that this is at least a moderately large department like Rikki described and would do what Rikki suggested, file a complaint. I would also go above the local department and contact the state justice with copies of the letter. (actually I am not a chain of command person, I go directly to the top to start...things trickle down faster than they rise). But this has to be done now. Not in a week (memories fade and it looks like it wasn't important).

The main thing I wanted to say is that police in general are not jack booted bullies as some have said. Yes there are some who are, that is the nature of the beast. Most still believe that they are there to make a difference.

[NicoleScott]

I'm sure someone will pipe up and say "gee, but 90% of the cops are nice guys doing their jobs." I hear that every time a cop beats someone up or shoots an unarmed man or tasers a kid or snipes a pregnant mom or chokes an EMT trying to get a patient to a hospital. Or any of a number of other stories that come out in this country every single day. It's clear there's an endemic problem, and there's no defense for it. In a free society where men are supposed to be equal before the law, we should not have to tolerate even one bad cop.


The reason we have bad cops isn't because we tolerate them, but because GOOD cops tolerate them. Good cops, relatively speaking. A really good cop wouldn't tolerate bad cops. They would work to rid their ranks of the bad ones.

I agree with others who say the license/insurance issue is one thing, but the troubling issue is the sexual harrassment issue. The questions asked were totally inappropriate and irrelevant to your arrest. I hope the cops will be held accountable.

[CharleneT]

Anna Marie,

First of all, like the others, I'm sorry to hear you went thru such a horrible experience !!

What you went thru was an example of how badly some people are treated by police here in the US. It may be that in GA things are worse, I'm not sure. I think there are a lot of good, professional LEO's around though.

I wanted to tell you that your future is better than it may appear to you now. I live full time and was pulled over after about 7 months of RLE. It was for a broken tail light, and missing reg sticker. As it turned out, I also did not have my insurance card ( my mistake, it was at home on the table - not a good move). Now the kicker in this story is that my car registration had not come up for renewl yet and so it gave my old name. All of my other documents were in my new name. So, there was a prob there, and I got outed immediately to the cop. He was completely polite, never missed a pronoun and treated me very well. He also did our business pretty quickly when I told him I was on my way to a medical appt. So, there are good cops, and even when they know of circumstances like mine, they are professional.

OH, he let me off of everything but not having the sticker on my plate, just a small fine.

[cdbrandi]

Hey,
Here is some information for you, as I live in Georgia as well. If your license is suspended for ANY reason they have to notify you by a certified letter. I know this because a few years ago I was pulled over one morning on my way to work for having a headlight out. When my DL was ran it came back as suspended. While I did not go through all the stuff you did, I got to go spend the better part of the day in the county jail waiting on my wife to be able to bail me out. My License was suspended, but I was never notified. When you get to court if you plead nolo contesto (I think that is what it is, it is no contest) you are admitting that you were in the wrong but you get a chance to tell the judge your side, and if you tell the judge that you did not get notified of the suspension, and that is verified by the recordes that the court has access to, the ticket will get dismissed, and you will not have to pay court costs or anything. The judge told me that since I had never been notified I could not be held accountable.

As to the rest of what you went through, you do have a harassment suit against the APD. Good luck with everything.

[Christinedreamer]

In California we get fix or repair tickets for taillights etc. All you do is get it fixed and take the ticket to any CHP office and they sign off on it. No fines, no courts and definitely no jail. I had an expired registration ticket a few years ago. I got a court date written on the ticket in another 3 months and all that was necessary was to get it registered and no fine etc. No jail, no impounding of the car although the cop COULD have, I was nice to him and drove away.

I have a had a couple issues with a Barney Fife probie when I was stopped for having a trailer hitch ball mounted on a stock bumper of a Ford ranger that was inspected and registered by the California DMV when I came to California. I printed out the Cal Vehicle code part he cited and took that with me to court. The magistrate had never seen that section cited and certainly never for a legal factory approved trailer hitch.

The "cop" had been on solo duty 3 days and was trying to make points. All he got a was a reprimand from the magistrate in open court and a lot of chuckles as I mentioned Barney Fife loud enough to be heard as I left the courtroom.

BTW just for the record, checkpoints are for one purpose -revenue. Technically, they come under the "illegal search and seizure" and "probable cause" statutes.There are numerous current lawsuits pending on these.

[kimmy p]

The bullies you might have had in school grow up and become cops. Except now, they have the law on their side to torment you and still get away with it.

Not too steal a thread, but that's exactly what happened with the biggest bullies/a--holes I went to school with. 3 or 4 of the worst in my school are now city police officers.

[qqkachoo]

I'm so sorry to hear this happened to you :( what they did to you was just...evil and undeserved
Officers aern't immune from sexual harassment laws, even when talking to persons incarcerated. Everything is recorded now adays, lawyer up and send thoes sob's where they belong...a 10x10 cage with a cell mate that thinks they look real pretty...

[arbon]

AnnaMarieYelton - really sorry to hear about what happened.


The bullies you might have had in school grow up and become cops.


They also grow up to be politicians.

[Julogden]

Amen to that!:iagree:

[Stephanie47]

Not to comment on the unethical treatment by law enforcement, but, that is one reason I have absolutely no inclination to go to Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, and the rest of those states. That's a hold over from my days of being in the army. A to the insurance company, I dropped/changed my company because of their billing practices. Anytime the insurance company changed anything in the policy, the agent, anything, the last digit was changed on the policy number. That canceled the old policy. Of course, my lender got a canceled policy notification and alerted me to buy their policy for collision at an ungodly sum. I always had to take my change into the bank and show them. That's why I changed companies. I would recommend contacting your state's insurance commissioner and the state patrol to see if they could put pressure on them to correct these termination errors.

[2SpeedTranny]

BTW just for the record, checkpoints are for one purpose -revenue. Technically, they come under the "illegal search and seizure" and "probable cause" statutes.There are numerous current lawsuits pending on these.

I believe this is the most important issue in this whole story. Checkpoints are unconstitutional -- a direct violation of the 4th Amendment.

I have never seen a checkpoint in my state (we believe in the Bill of Rights out here in the Rockies), but I have seen them in the South. There, though, not too many checkpoints get set up around the upper class neighborhoods, ya know? They're set up to catch poor people for victimless crimes, justify the existence of twice as many cops as a town needs, and to generate revenue.

Now then... there are plenty of folks who are going to say "well, I'm not doing anything wrong, all my papers are in order, I'm a Party member..." Looks like it's pretty easy for your papers to not be in order. Or maybe someone gets it in for you, and clicks a button on a Motor Vehicle department computer. One click of a button, your life is a wreck.

Is this the kind of country any of you want to live in?

[linda allen]

........That said, it bothers me to see posters using this as an opportunity to bash officers of the law. Grossly general and inflammatory remarks do not help and only serve to demonstrate the ignorance and bias of the one making the statement. Some of your fellow transpeople are police officers (including one of my dearest friends) and they serve to protect your rights and safety - as do many police officers. Respect that police officers are people too, and come in all varieties as do we. If you don't want to be painted with a broad brush, then don't do it to others.

Well said. I have a relative who is a police officer.

[Julogden]

Well said. I have a relative who is a police officer.
It seems to me, risking over-simplification, that there are largely two kinds of people who are attracted to becoming police officers: the first is attracted for altruistic reasons, they want serve their fellow citizens and uphold the law. They are not the problem, and are to be celebrated.

The second group is the problem. They're the ones who aspire to be police officers because they get off on having power over others, were probably bullies as kids and seem to often be very prejudiced against one or more groups of people. It seems to me that they are quite common in larger cities, and not as common in smaller towns.

But it's really easy to forget about the good if we have the bad ones in our face while they drag us to jail or if we're out and about, minding our own business and are being harassed by them. The fact that they have the power to totally screw up our life just because they don't like us tends to make me wary of police as a group, which is sad.

Regarding justice, I once had to go to traffic court in Chicago, and the judge addressed everyone before he started, hadn't heard a single case yet and told us that as far as he was concerned, the arresting officers, in every case, were right, and threatened that if we contested our tickets, he would find us guilty and then assess the maximum penalty that he possibly could under the law. How's that for justice?

The second (and last) time that I had to go to traffic court in Chicago was when a woman turned left in front of me as I entered an intersection, resulting in me hitting her, and I got a ticket for traveling too fast for conditions, even though I wasn't speeding and had the right-of-way. I found out through a friend's brother-in-law who was a Chicago cop that the woman who hit me was the daughter of a Chicago cop, so she got no ticket for failure to yield the right-of-way. Anyway, in court this time, the judge turned out to be from downstate Illinois and not a Chicago regular. He announced before things got going that he was of the opinion that both sides needed to be heard in every case and that he does not automatically accept the officer's word, which was certainly a pleasant surprise. A lawyer from the city approached me about a minute later and informed me that the ticket against me had been dropped, and did the same with several other people.

So it's stuff like that which makes me take a very dim view of law and justice, at least in Chicago, not to mention the harassment against T-people that I've personally seen and experienced from Chicago cops back in the 1990's.

Carol

[LitaKelley]

Wow.. that's really messed up, and really excessive too.. Sorry that happened to you.

Georgia sounds like a really F'd up state.. If you were arrested here for that offense, you would of been brought to the local police station, booked for the offense, then released by the magistrate for personal recognizance by paying a fee and promising to appear in court. WOW.. really F'd up how they do things there