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Please try to keep this thread on topic and not treat it as a virtual whetstone for your own personal axe... :)
I know many of us here have worked with or in law enforcement but the fidelity of individuals or organisations is not at question here, so do try to address the OP - I think she may be feeling quite left out of her own thread...
Katey
Moderator
Yinlingyen, your experience is about what we would expect; police officers doing the job of protecting the public and being professional about it. It has to be difficult when what appears to be a female has "male" on her ID card. In the USA, we are not required to carry any sort of ID card unless we are driving a vehicle although under some circumstances we may be held until our identification can be verified. Police cannot just stop people and demand an ID.
It's shame this incident ruined your mood, but I understand. Once when I was first going out and didn't really have my presentation down well, I got a nasty look from a woman walking in the mall and I turned around and went back home. It ruined my mood just like this incident ruined yours.
I've had cops piss me off a lot when I was younger and never was friendly towards them but I tell you when you need a cop for something you will be damn glad you have one to help you out.Quote:
Originally Posted by Krisi
If I get pulled over and asked for ID it wouldn't really bother me. The only problem is I know a few members that are not aware of this side of me so getting pulled over by some of them could be awkward.
Most police officers are nice folks just like us. There are a few bad apples in many police forces. But most are nice and if you are nice to them, they will treat you professionally.
No states require you to carry ID to be in public. Some states require you to give a verbal identification to an officer if asked. Obviously, if you are driving, you must present a drivers license. Same if you are fishing. Although we are on a downhill slide to a full blown police state, we have not yet reached the point where the cops can simply demand "your papers please"!Quote:
Does anyone have a citation of a law or ordinance in the US that requires ID to be in public?
Police routinely ask for identification. Police do a lot of things they are not legally allowed to do, because people just go along to avoid problems. In most states, you are only required to identify yourself to a police officer under certain circumstances. If you are being detained or arrested, or if the officer has clearly articulable probable cause to believe you have committed a crime, or are about to commit a crime. Absent any probable cause, you do not have to identify yourself to an officer. And you are not "obstructing the officer in the performance of his/her duties", if they do not have a clear duty to identify you. Refusing to identify yourself always raises red flags for a cop. But the Constitution does not say "these rights are null and void if you have nothing to hide"!
Thank you all for sharing.
To be honest I have not gone out again en femme since this episode. I know it sounds foolish. But from where I live, society is not that open minded towards the "third gender" if you want to call it that.
The police do have a right in my country to stop anyone for identity check.
Although crossdressing is not illegal, it does raise more than a few eye brows here.
I guess it's the way I dress too. I tend lean towards more "ultra-feminine" dresses (strappy dresses, halter dresses ect) which admittedly
turns heads whether is a real female wearing it or me.
I am small built and asian with softer facial features, so I pass relatively easily as a female. But when things go wrong......I really dont have the heart to face it again.
Yinlingyen, I would hate to think this one incident would prevent you from ever going out again, but when and if you do, consider dressing down a bit, more like the genetic women dress for the time and place. You are very lucky your build and facial features let you pass easily. Many of us are not so lucky.
Crossdressing raises eyebrows everywhere in the world. If you're worried, go to another town or city. Don't let this one incident change your life.
You should see the eyebrows that get raised when I'm out there. LOL
Look just say F-it and head back out there. It will be a distant memory after a while.
Have had 2 police interactions, both were no problem at all.
1st was a DUI checkpoint on a Saturday night ( I don't drink) was asked for my license, officer looked at it , looked like me as a girl due to my natural long hair, sent me on my way.
2nd pulled over for speeding, again looked at my license, asked me where I was coming from, if I had been drinking (no)
Told me I looked nice, gave me a verbal warning. Works for me.
In Colorado , YOU have to have a valid license, they don't care what you look like ,as long as you're not trying to commit fraud. A valid state issued license or ID card can be gotten in you're fem identity if you have a letter from a licensed therapist.