What would you do?

[Kimberly A.]

Hey y'all.

Given my recent experience with a Sheriff's Deputy while dressed, albeit a very brief one where he was directing traffic from an accident, that compelled me to ask this question. Now, this is for the CD'ers ONLY, like me, who mostly live life as a male, has all of their ID's as a male, etc.

Anyway, assuming that all of us CD'ers do have all male ID's and the picture on our driver's license obviously differs from the way we look while dressed, if you ever come up on a DUI check-point, or you get pulled over while dressed, what would you do? What would you say? Me, I would probably talk to the officer in my feminine voice and just be honest and tell him or her that I'm a CD'er….. I would be very nervous, though! LOL

[mbmeen12]

Be coupertive as possible...

[Kimberly A.]

I agree, mbmeen.

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I totally understand, Teresa..... I mean, I did go into a little bit of a panic mode when I saw the flashing blue lights up ahead and the backed-traffic, thinking that it was a sobriety check-point, but of course, it wasn't. LOL

And of course, some police officers are of the LGBTQ community, they've seen it all and I do think that they have bigger fish to fry, other than worrying about a CD'er. LOL

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ROFL Doc!!!

But, you're not wrong. LOL

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You're right about that, Micki. LOL

Holy crap!! That's a very macabre law, imho. However, I never make a pass at anyone while out dressed, anyway. LOL

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I totally understand that, Patience.

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Ok, there were 33 replies in total to my post, so for the rest, I'm just gonna reply to all. LOL..... Anyway, all very fine points, ladies and thank you all for answering.

I do agree that, of course being totally up-front and honest with a cop is the best thing. I also know that it's not illegal in the U.S. to be CD'er, or to be out dressed. If transgenderism isn't illegal, then CD'ing shouldn't be either, right? LOL I mean, I'm not worried about being cited or taken to jail for CD'ing, I just think it would be very embarrassing for a cop to see my driver's license while I'm dressed, then me having to explain myself. But yes, I know cops have seen it all and I needn't worry in such a situation. LOL

[Teresa]

Kimberly ,
First thing is don't panic , they've seen it all before , you're not the first and certainly won't be the last .

Second point is some members of the police force are also members of the LGBTQ community , so they are not going to weed you out as a special case , they could also risk losing their jobs if they don't work within the guidelines . Most of them really do have more important jobs to do .

[Sometimes Steffi]

First of all, my community police seem to be transgender aware.

I did come very close to this situation a couple of times.

Once, I was out with a group of girls and came up on a sobriety checkpoint, Fortunately, I had changed back into en homme, so I didn't have the ID problem. I was asked about my drinking that night. I told him (honestly) that I had had 1 drink ix hours earlier. I have firm policy on not drinking and dressing.

If I was still dressed, I would have handed him my boy ID and shrugged my shoulders. If he asked me to walk a straight line, i would have said something like, "In heels? Can I change into regular shoes?" Actually, I have a medically documented balance problem and I couldn't pass walking heel to toe stone cold sober. I keep a doctor's letter in my glove compartment.

Whatever you do, don't lie; that in itself will get you into trouble.

And a little bit of legal advice from an amateur lawyer. If the officer asks if he can search your car, your response should be, "Do you have 'probable cause?'" You have a fifth amendment right against unreasonable search and seizure. I think he would have to state probable cause and what he was looking for.

Long story short. My daughter got pulled over at a sobriety checkpoint. She failed the street sobriety test and she was arrested. BTW, she was taken before a magistrate and put in the drunk tank with other women. That gave the police probable cause to search her car. She had two empty bottles of wine in her cars as souvenirs. Empty bottles are prima facie evidence of drinking while driving. If she permitted a search of her car, the open, empty wine bottles could have been used as a cause for arrest.

I cn't imagine getting arrested for DWI while dressed. Hence, my no drinking while dressing rule.

Maybe some real lawyer can correct me.

[abby054]

What would I do? I would own it. I would provide the driver license, insurance card, and registration without comment when the cop asked for it. I live in a TG tolerant town. The cops have seen it all and often. There would be no problem. This town on weekends after midnight, before COVID anyway, makes most college town bar districts look tame. Even if they ask, which they never have, I would just say that my ID is true and correct but I was attired differently for the license photo. I have a personal policy of no drinking any day that I drive.

[Jenn A116]

For those of us who are concerned about being pulled over no matter how dressed I read an interesting (?) story about how to set up an iPhone. Search on line for a Siri short cut called "I'm being pulled over". Once set up on your phone you just say Hey Siri, I'm being pulled over. It then does a series of actions on the phone. will pause any music that you're playing, turn down the brightness of your phone, turn on the 'Do Not Disturb' mode to block any incoming calls, open up your front-facing camera and start a video .

This will help you (and your lawyer if need be) document the stop.

[Bobbi46]

Be honest but dont use a feminine voice, be yourself, as for gender bias as Teresa rightly points out any officer that shows any bias or dislike bang out of order and in any case, they have seen everything, as I have! one new years eve i pulled over a car and Bugs Bunny in a carrot suit was driving with Donald Duck in the passenger seat!! yes they have seen it all so as I say be yourself, be honest.

[Liz Jones]

Star01,
Perhape the U.S is the same as the U.K.--we tend to have "hot spots" i.e, Brighton (on the channel coast) or perhaps i should say more tollerant places.Manchester (Lancashire)is another place, Liverpool has a smalller group.Certainly when i have been shopping in Liverpool (in drab)i have spotted c/d,s, on one occasion two c/d,s were descusing the merits of a blouse&skirt combo....
So we are around &after all most c/d ,s try to "blend in" perhaps in your area they are very good at it............

[Angela Marie]

I limit my drinking when i'm not dressed. When dressed my rule is no drinks at all. I think most police officers, as someone has said "have seen it all". But why take the chance. Just be calm, courteous, and provide whatever documentation they request. It's not against the law to dress so some embarrassment may be the only downside.

[Robertacd]

Well (drinking aside) this has been brought up may times and there's a few things to remember:

1. Law enforcement is trained for this
2. You are probably not the first CD/TG they have interacted with
3. I have yet to see anyone that does not look like themselves but wearing makeup and maybe a wig when dressed. So your male ID is fine
4. It's not against the law

DON'T be that guy on the show Cop's that had a burned out tail light but would not pull over. By the time he stopped there was several cops chasing him. As they pulled him out of his truck it was a crossdresser and he kept saying "I just wanted to take my makeup off first". So instead of maybe getting a ticket for a burnt out tail light, he went to jail dressed.

On the subject of mail ID I use my male ID and credit cards with my male name on them all the time when en-femme and never once has anyone questioned me.

[BrendaPDX]

I was stopped by a County Sheriff on my way to the beach. I was totally en femme, makeup, dress, hoes, heels, wig, earrings, press on nails, the works. I always fully open all windows, turn the motor off, turn on my hazard lights, took out my license (that was in my purse!), and patiently waited with my hands on the wheel. He came up to the window, looked at me did a quick double take, he was totally professional and told me I had expired tags. He took my license back to his car, he came back a couple of minutes later and said that he was only going to give me a verbal warning. I thanked him, and he left. I sat there with my hands still shaking while I closed the windows turned off my hazard lights and buckled up. I had visions of walking a straight line in heels. LOL

[Cheryl T]

Be and act the same way you would if you were dressed in male clothing.
Don't try to be anything else. If you were speeding you'll probably get a ticket. If it's a DUI checkpoint then there should be no issue as I've never been asked for ID at one of those.
The police have probably seen most everything and you won't be anything that will give them pause. Be polite and relax. They are just doing a job and not out to get you.

I had a different situation a few years ago. I was traveling to a vacation home and was 40 miles from my home. My vehicle overheated and I was stopped on the interstate.
I was dressed in a skirt and top with casual shoes as it was fall. After calling for a tow (and very nervous about that interaction to come) I waited in the vehicle.
First a motorist stopped....are you ok Ma'am? Then a State Trooper stopped and came to the window. Again no issue, I'm fine thank you I'm waiting for my tow.
Then a 20 something shows up driving the tow truck. I explain what happened, he asks me to get in the cab while he puts in on the flatbed. Then he drives me home and we have the usual small talk. All the while there are no snide remarks, no weird glances or anything, just professionalism. He dropped me off and I thanked him and gave him a nice tip.

Just be you. Yes you have to be careful and not totally drop your guard, but with the police just be you.

[Jackiefl]

I have been stopped while dressed and fortunately have not had any problems. Now I am retired and the last time I renewed my licence I went dressed and had my picture changed, not a problem at all the people at the DMV were great. Now if I get stopped everything matches. The police I have interacted with have always been fine, I have never acted any differently than I would if I was not dressed.

[docrobbysherry]

I don't dress, drink, and drive. So, I wouldn't be concerned.

By the way, what other option would u have besides confess it's u in a dress?

Tell him u left your license in your other purse?
Good luck with THAT!

[lingerieLiz]

I was stopped years ago when dressed and CDing (1963) was illegal. It was raining and I wrapped my raincoat around my legs to hide my hose. The cops asked what I was doing and I told them I was looking for where the girl I was dating summer home was. They let me go. I shook all the way home.

[KymG]

Ive always worried about being pulled over.
Until now.
Im wearing clothes, that traditionally are made for women, yes.
Im in my own car, Mot, tax, insurance etc., registered to a man, me, which i still am. All my id shows male me...
If it happens, it happens. Ill even get out in heels.
I suspect dealing with the police when dressed should be completely routine, and its possibly easier here in England, as i think they would have to be more carefull than if we were in male mode.
Either way, i would always co operate fully whether im in boots or heels.

[Sometimes Steffi]

Cheryl

I was driving home from Keystone Conference fully dressed. I had gone to an LGBT-friendly church with some friends from the Keystone Conference, so you can imagine how I was dressed. I stopped and parked for half an hour or so and drained my battery. I called AAA for a jump. I had some male clothes there and some casual girl clothes (jeans) so I could have changed. I decided to stay girly.

The guy with a tow truck was very professional. I had my hood up, he jumped me and started my car and left.

The only downside was that I had planned a little shopping a few exits down. I decided not to stop to make sure that my battery was sufficiently charged,

[Micki_Finn]

You hand over your ID and if the officer gives you a hard time, you call a lawyer. There is no law stating that your appearance has to match what it says on your ID.

[RachelB.]

I have been pulled over twice. Once because of a burned out brake light. The officer was courteous and checked my license, registration and insurance. He gave me a warning and told me to be careful Ma'am. I got pulled over for not wearing my seat belt. I was wearing it and again the officer was courteous, asked about the seat belt and I pointed out the belt being properly worn but blending well with my sweater. He checked all the documents and apologized for missing the belt being worn.

The secret was I was respectful and courteous. I provided all information asked for, was honest, and didn't act like I had something to hide. While it scared the crap out of me it helped my confidence greatly. One of the stops was in Mississippi and the other in Alabama. One was a county deputy and the other a state trooper. Like others have said"They have seen it all."

[AngelaYVR]

Well, you use the opportunity to talk yourself out of whatever you’ve done wrong, of course!
I partly jest, but every woman I know has managed to bat her eyelashes or cry her way out of a speeding ticket, now it’s my turn!

[alwayshave]

Kimberly, When I go out dressed, it is usually to a restaurant or bar, and therefore don't drive but take an Uber. So the license is not rally an issue for me.

[Cassiek]

Just be yourself. One thing that bothers cops is being lied to. The lie will lead the cop to believe you are hiding something. As mentioned before an overwhelming majority of cops treat everyone with dignity and respect. Yes even those of us that enjoy expressing our feminine selves. I know this from experience after all I am one of those cops.

[wendy]

I would comply with any and all police orders. My POV, they are looking for infractions, like drunk driving, up to date insurance papers, speeding, breaking traffic laws, ... last time I looked, CDing is not an infraction nor is it against the law. Yes, it would be awkward but unless you are breaking the law or being non conpliant, they have no reason to haul you out of your vehicle.

[Fran Moore]

Years ago I was attending a Southern Comfort Conference in Atlanta and made friends with a gal from Florida. Turns out she was a state trooper. Not only have they seen it all....... As to drinking and driving, plan ahead no matter how you are presenting, and if the consumption of alcohol or other substances are going to be part of your evening (or day)it's always best to leave your car keys at home and use an alternative means of transportation or go with a designated driver~