Last year, in 2022, I wrote an article to share my experience as a driver with identity papers that don't really match my gender and my current appearance, it was here: Police control , what to do ? and the advice remains valid


Today, a small update of this article is necessary since in 2023 - for the moment, the year is not over - I have been checked at least three times. Always in the car. It seems a little higher than average to me and I think that my car which is 32 years old has nothing to do with it, they must be saying that there are possibly things that are not in order. Tinted windows (at the rear) and black plates may also play into the equation, but it's all legal, so I have no concerns in that regard.

This year each time it was during the day, more on the weekend and always by the Gendarmerie, the 3 controls were a little different but in all cases it went well with professional and respectful staff and without any misgendering.


Anti-junkie control

A sunny early afternoon, in summer, somewhere on the vacation road heading west, a little before Chartres, in the car with my submissive. Police officers in the distance carrying out checks, I come up to them and they signal me to stop, I do so. I specify when giving my driving license that I am a little different now. No particular comments on my license or the car. And off we go for an alcohol test, which will be zero (this is normal, I hadn't drunk anything) and then a drug test (saliva test) which was a first for me. If you've never done it, it's pretty special, he asked me to open my mouth, stick out my tongue before inserting... a covid style swab which he rubbed against the inside of my cheeks left, then right for several seconds. Then, he clearly explains how it happens and how the test works. We wait several minutes to see what the test will reveal in terms of consumption of illicit substances. Negative result! I hadn't consumed anything illicit so it's normal and it didn't worry me. Ah, anyway a little remark before leaving: “Put on shoes please” (yes I was driving barefoot, and I'm still waiting for someone to explain to me why it's problematic), no problem , I do. Everything went well.

The suspicious check

At the end of the afternoon, in November... arriving at a roundabout, police and... they signal me to stop. Vehicle paper, driving license, classic. I don't specify anything and then after a few moments he also asks me for my identity card “We don't recognize you, we wonder if these are really your papers”. I think it's better when I warn beforehand, it avoids having to explain and justify afterwards which is always a little more painful, even if it went well. There too, blood alcohol test, still zero, I had had a few drinks the evening before but nothing as I had waited until the next afternoon to get back on the road, it was largely good. Careful inspection of the car, questioning the absence of a technical inspection sticker "Collection is from 30 years old" the gendarme retorted to me (I have a legal "classic car" status) but finally after checking the registration document, everything is in order. Yes the Clio 1 was already more than 30 years ago since it was released in 1990 and mine is from 1991. Time flies.

The kinky control (but they saw nothing)

This one happened before the other two but we have to save the best for last. It was also during the summer, two days before the first check, a large roundabout, full of police... they signaled me to stop, I gave my papers, I clarified that I am a little different today , the gendarme is smiling and says he's used to it, he asks me if he hasn't seen me before, but no it wasn't my region... unless he follows me on the networks (but I didn't say that). I was also barefoot but he didn't say anything... everything is in order, I can move around, another check is going well. Oh, small detail, in the back I had two super stressed passengers with ball gags under their covid masks XD but as with every check, they are only interested in the person who is driving! So if this happens to you (you never know) you know that it will pass without problem^^

The conclusion is that there is no reason to stress in the event of a check by the authorities, even if your papers do not match your gender expression. I only have (control) experiences with the gendarmerie and for the moment I have only had professional and respectful soldiers. Well, obviously it's better to be in compliance and lay your cards on the table with elements that may seem curious. Tell yourself that they have seen others anyway and that by being relaxed, courteous and disciplined, things will go well.

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