Susan's Place Transgender Resources

So I have my name and gender change hearing coming up April 5th.

But today I got a citation that is going to turn into a ticket... Apparently it will be mailed to me and I'll get it within a month.... likely NOT before April 5th. We all know how the "Justice System" is in California (I swear it's like the Vogons from Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy).

So my name and gender will LEGALLY be changed. But the Ticket was received under my CURRENT name and gender (it states all that on the citation).

The cop was kind of a douche, Calling me Sir, even though I was pleading him literally crying NOT to do so (in the end he was doing it to be a jerk. He WOULDNT give me his name or badge number).
I asked him about the name and gender change, and how it will impact me.

But as he tossed me the ticket (Yess, he threw the ticket at me) saying "Yeah you can kiss that goodbye, it will for sure be delayed, have a nice day"

There was NO need for him to be rude like that, I was nothing but pleading and nice. "But was he right? Will it delay it"

Not answering your question you should file a complaint with his agency. Even if you don't know his name or badge number the police keep records and if you give date time and location something can be done. It is a shame he is in uniform. Shame.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I think the officer who issued the ticket is always recorded. If this becomes a problem, definitely file a complaint. As always, you can show up to the court hearing for any ticket before payment comes up and you can address what happened. I really hope you don't live in one of the handful of states pushing anti-lgbt laws through.

I do believe his name and/or badge number will be on the ticket so you can use that to file a complaint. If not the police department does track what officer gives what citation so you can find out who it was.

I am going to assume this was for a minor traffic violation so it should have no effect on your name change.

What will cause a problem with a name change is any sign that you intend to deceive people with the name change. As long as you are open and honest about everything, it shouldn't be a problem. If you pay the ticket before the court date, bring the receipt or an image of the canceled check if you paid by mail incase the ticket comes up.

On that ticket should be his name and badge number sweetie, and here in Oregon you don't have to go to court you can go into the country clirks office and pay it with out going to court or having a hearing.
He sure sounded like a jerk.
If I was you just pay it so that you will have no issues with the courts

The cop's name and badge number will be on the citation he gave you if you look carefully enough. 

You should really hire a lawyer to handle this ticket.  If can't afford to pay one, call the Transgender Law Network.  There are lawyers on there who will work pro bono.

I am not a lawyer but this was only a traffic ticket. A lot different than a criminal code conviction/charge. I don't think it will change anything for you, I really don't.

As for the professionalism of the officer, his actions give every decent police officer out there a black eye. You can lay a complaint, but with no independent witnesses, I don't think it will go very far.

Just put it down to a total loser overstepping his authority.

Up to you if you want to protest the ticket or just pay the thing. Depends on your values and principles.

I worked on the tail end of law enforcement, not as a police officer, but as something else. I am sorry that you got dealt a bad hand by a loser and I apologize on behalf of the decent ones out there.

Love,
Clare

If his name and badge number are not on the ticket, I don't think it would be valid.  File a complaint with his agency for misconduct.  I was at a meeting tonight addressing the exact same thing happening by members of the Atlanta Police Dept although no one from the APD showed up.  Some Atlanta officers handle contact with transgender people quite well but more than a few do not.

He crossed out his name and badge number in Sharpie. I think to avoid any legal repercussion. But I will look into the citation time and date.

And California is kinda getting some noise about the Anti-LGBTGQ stuff. There are a lot of people who agree with it all. Last time I had to report an incident, I was hit from behind... the cop placed the blame on me, gave me the ticket. In court he was saying "I saw him back up"  (called me him, even though I was dressed like a woman- the police do NOT take kindly to trans-folk around here :'() but my snapshot device showed NO such thing. It showed I was STOPPED and the person behind me ran into ME. The court ruled in their favor.

Quote from: jessilynn on April 01, 2016, 09:28:24 AM
He crossed out his name and badge number in Sharpie. I think to avoid any legal repercussion. But I will look into the citation time and date.

That's pretty blatant....  Wow.  Yeah, I think research on the police department's part is warranted. If he was recording, and there is a suspicious missing time period with coincidence, there is really no defense for him. If you can't get anywhere on your own, see if any of the community support groups in your area have ideas to help.

The more I read and hear about, the more those cheap in-car recorders are appealing. I saw one this morning being hawked on our local station for like 39$. 

Another tactic I plan to use if it ever comes up is to have my phone recording video. To my knowledge it's not illegal. I plan to courteously make sure the cop knows they are being recorded, and let any ->-bleeped-<-tery come out on it's own.


As far as the name change, I would imagine you will get a document of some type covering it, maybe keep it handy for a while.  When you report for your ticket, have that with you.  Heck, at your name change hearing, bring your ticket and ask them about anything special you may need to do. As stated above, unless someone is trying to deceive, there is little reason for the court system to take issue with it.

Good Luck!

*hugs*

If you have a smart phone just turn on your voice recorder and when the cop approches alert them that this conversation will be recorded, that generally calms police down. as far as i know at least in wisconsin the name change is allowable even if u have criminal record however the only time that it does not get allowed is if you are trying to change your name to avoid prosecution or debts. items of that nature just go to court. even if its not mandatory your more then likely able to get the fine dropped down some or erased completly, remember that it costs the state money to go to court, if you dont its nothing to them.

Quote from: jessilynn on April 01, 2016, 09:28:24 AM
He crossed out his name and badge number in Sharpie. I think to avoid any legal repercussion. But I will look into the citation time and date.

I don't think he can really do that. Plead Not Guilty, and take it to court. Ask for a deposition from the officer.

And I don't really see how a traffic ticket is going to hold up a name change.

You can go online and look up the ticket information may take up to a week but every officer is assigned a book and everything is public record. I'd file complaint and tell them how he crossed out his name and badge.

Sent from my SD4930UR using Tapatalk

Also if you are going to record an officer don't tell them you are doing so.

Sent from my SD4930UR using Tapatalk

Twelve states—California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Washington—require the consent of all parties for you to record a conversation..  :police:  say something like "Officer, I'm not interfering. I'm asserting my First Amendment rights. if recording something you are not a part of.

The lesson for you is this: If you want to limit your legal exposure and present a strong legal case, record police openly if possible. But if you videotape on-duty police from a distance, such an announcement might not be possible or appropriate unless police approach you. If you live in one of the 12 all party record states, you might say something like "Officer, I'm familiar with the law, but the courts have ruled that it doesn't apply to recording on-duty police."


since op lives in California i said she should mention it because some of the states have been ruling that this "law" is unconstitutional.

I'd just pay and forget about it. If you complain chances are nothing much will happen, and worst case he and his friends might make your life hell. People like that don't operate in a vacuum, there will be plenty more where he comes from. I've read of an endless stream of abuse by police in the US.

Quote from: jessilynn on April 01, 2016, 09:28:24 AM
He crossed out his name and badge number in Sharpie. I think to avoid any legal repercussion. But I will look into the citation time and date.

You know he's going to say you did that. Your word against his.

Quote from: AnonyMs on April 02, 2016, 10:23:24 AM
I'd just pay and forget about it. If you complain chances are nothing much will happen, and worst case he and his friends might make your life hell. People like that don't operate in a vacuum, there will be plenty more where he comes from. I've read of an endless stream of abuse by police in the US.

You know he's going to say you did that. Your word against his.

Thats actually one of my worries.  This guy was SO rude.

As for recording, Even IF I were recording I think he would have probably told me to step out.

In California you are NOT allowed to touch anything until they tell you to grab your registration (likely of which is in your glove box), their hand is on their gun, if you go for ANYTHING else, they WILL retaliate.

And I have experienced just that. I was reaching over, my phone was on my passanger side, and digging into my side. I moved it, I turned around and I had a tazer pointed at me with him telling me "Step out Hands UP!" While they searched my car, and got in trouble for having Prozac on me which was found after he searched my car for a weapon... which I didnt have the prescription ON me. Though it WAS prescribed to ME.

And did I mention this recent one was a motorcycle cop? They are not known to be the nicest individuals.