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.

[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.