# Kissing your husband while black? Not if the LAPD can help it. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 14, 2014, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492 "2014-09-14T19:21:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492/41 "2014-09-14T20:52:38Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I’m saying that showing ID when there is no cause is encouraging this behavior by cops. Showing ID is encouraging cops to mistreat people for not showing ID? ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492/42 "2014-09-14T20:53:15Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > And she made it harder on _herself_ in the process. So what? Who said being a good law-abiding citizen is supposed to be easy? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492/43 "2014-09-14T20:53:41Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I’m simply saying she didn’t make things any better by refusing to identify herself. Are we so onboard the “cops = EVIL” train that we can’t acknowledge that refusing to identify yourself to a police officer who’s already assuming the worst of you is a bad idea? She did identify herself to the police officers. You’re wrong here. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492/44 "2014-09-14T20:54:55Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > She did identify herself to the police officers. You’re wrong here. [QUOTE=The article in the OP] Lucas said he gave the officers his identification when asked, but Watts refused. Watts was handcuffed and placed in the back of a patrol car, according to Lucas. Once police identified Watts, Lucas says they let them go. [/QUOTE] Cite? ---
**Author:** ![Skara\_Brae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Skara\_Brae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skara_Brae)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492/45 "2014-09-14T20:55:23Z")
According to the comments on the article (Unreliable, I know…), someone had called the police and reported them as having public sex, which is what prompted the police to ask. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492/46 "2014-09-14T20:56:30Z")
If the man confirms it’s his wife, why exactly is further ID required? ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492/47 "2014-09-14T20:56:43Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > They had a solid reason - they thought she was a prostitute. > > It was a _stupid_ solid reason, but it’s solid nonetheless. Unfounded reason. Why did they think that? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492/48 "2014-09-14T20:57:36Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Showing ID is encouraging cops to mistreat people for not showing ID? Showing ID when there is no reason to do so increases the number of times cops ask people to show ID for no reason, resulting in an increase in the number of times cops mistreat people for not showing ID. Showing ID doesn’t do anything to fight this practice. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492/49 "2014-09-14T20:58:01Z")
> [@Skara\_Brae](#): > > According to the comments on the article (Unreliable, I know…), someone had called the police and reported them as having public sex, which is what prompted the police to ask. > [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Unfounded reason. Why did they think that? Well, there’s _that._ Is it possible that a single 60-second article from one TV news station might not possibly contain the entire breadth of the story? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492/50 "2014-09-14T20:59:00Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > They had a solid reason - they thought she was a prostitute. > > It was a _stupid_ solid reason, but it’s solid nonetheless. No it isn’t, because they cannot back up their suspicion with anything other than “saw black woman kiss white man”. At some point that suspicion is going to be deemed “not reasonable” (like as soon as 4 working brain cells think about it), so no, their “reason” is not solid. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492/51 "2014-09-14T20:59:02Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > If the man confirms it’s his wife, why exactly is further ID required? The article identifies Lucas as her “partner”, not her husband. I’m not sure where the OP got that word from. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492/52 "2014-09-14T21:00:16Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Well, there’s _that._ Is it possible that a single 60-second article from one TV news station might not possibly contain the entire breadth of the story? If that’s true, and they came up and didn’t see actual sex perhaps they should’ve used their judgement and critical thinking skills… Someone could call and assert anything. Bottom line, when they came up no one was doing anything wrong and they had it confirmed she was with her so/spouse/partner. Time to walk away, boys. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492/53 "2014-09-14T21:00:34Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > So you’re saying that cops stop people in the hopes that they can mistreat them for not showing ID… and the way to fight this is by not showing ID when the cops stop you so they can mistreat you for not showing ID? > > And that by thinking that you should just show ID, I’m encouraging the cops to stop more people hoping they can mistreat them for not showing ID? Are you under the impression that there is some law that requires people to have government issued identification? ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492/54 "2014-09-14T21:02:36Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Showing ID is encouraging cops to mistreat people for not showing ID? Detaining them for not showing ID does, certainly. Why is this so hard to understand? Furthermore, it perpetuates the mistaken belief that showing ID is always a requirement rather than a simple courtesy, in doing so giving the state more power than it is entitled to have. You strike me as a pretty conservative person. I thought conservatives were all about individual rights and small, non-intrusive government. A cop who detains someone for lawful behavior should be anathema to you. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492/55 "2014-09-14T21:04:07Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Well, there’s _that._ Is it possible that a single 60-second article from one TV news station might not possibly contain the entire breadth of the story? When you can come up with _THE REST OF THE STORY_ that can justify handcuffing a black woman for kissing a white man in public because police asked to see her I.D. (thinking she was a prostitute) and she rightfully refused, just let us know, o.k.? In the meantime, this shit about how it’s alright to have rights when it comes to interacting with police but lets not get too crazy about actually _using_ them? Screw that. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492/56 "2014-09-14T21:05:40Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > Detaining them for not showing ID does, certainly. Why is this so hard to understand? Because both California law and the Supreme Court specifically grant police that authority? > [@](#): > > Furthermore, it perpetuates the mistaken belief that showing ID is always a requirement rather than a simple courtesy, in doing so giving the state more power than it is entitled to have. I didn’t say that it was. I said that the cops have the authority to detain you until they determine your identity, so it’s in the best interest of everyone involved that you show them that simple courtesy instead of wasting your time and theirs. > [@](#): > > You strike me as a pretty conservative person. Then you’d be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492/57 "2014-09-14T21:06:48Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > When you can come up with _THE REST OF THE STORY_ that can justify handcuffing a black woman for kissing a white man in public because police asked to see her I.D. (thinking she was a prostitute) and she rightfully refused, just let us know, o.k.? In the meantime, this shit about how it’s alright to have rights when it comes to interacting with police but lets not get too crazy about actually _using_ them? Screw that. She exercised her right under CA law to not show identification. And in so doing, she chose to instead be detained while the cops verified her identity by other means. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492/58 "2014-09-14T21:07:10Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Because both California law and the Supreme Court specifically grant police that authority? I don’t read _Terry_ as giving that right. Perhaps you can look at my earlier post and point out where I’m wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492/59 "2014-09-14T21:07:48Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Are you under the impression that there is some law that requires people to have government issued identification? There is not, in CA at least. There _is_ law allowing the police to verify one’s identity. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492/60 "2014-09-14T21:17:01Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > If the man confirms it’s his wife, why exactly is further ID required? To play devils advocate, because I’m pretty sure that if the guy was with a hooker that he could plausibly come up with the same excuse. So, the police aren’t going to be inclined to take anyone’s word for it that the babe on his arm is really, really really his wife. And looking at pictures of him, I guess I can kind of see how the police, if they didn’t know who they were, could jump to that conclusion, especially the part about them being called for a case of supposed public sex is true. It’s hard for me to believe that the police in California are going to pick up every black woman with a white man who kiss in public. I might believe that in Mississippi or somewhere else in the deep south, but California?? It’s not exactly an uncommon site to see a black man/white woman or white man/black woman pairing…hell, it’s not that uncommon to see a black man/white man or black woman/white woman pairing for that matter. Yeah, it was stupid of the police to accost this couple. But it was kind of stupid not to simply resolve all of this by the expedient of producing ID and then going your merry way, perhaps going on Twitter afterwards to complain. For the life of me I can’t think of why anyone would refuse to produce ID when asked if that would clear things up, instead of going through all that hassle. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492.md?page=4)