The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #52007   Message #800584
Posted By: NicoleC
10-Oct-02 - 04:19 PM
Thread Name: BS: Traveller Discrimination in the US 3
Subject: RE: BS: Traveller Discrimination in the US 3
I think more is being made over the multiple driver's licenses than is really called for. At various points I've have more than one driver's license in multiple states, which is not -- as far as I know -- illegal, although some states require you give up your old license before they give you a new one.

It's also not unusual for a woman to have multiple names on various documents. A married name, a maiden name, a former married name, etc. I can't tell you how many variations my Mom has aquired after 5 marriages!

Nor is it really unusual for native americans to have a cultural name and a public name -- I can see something similar happening here with Travellers, maybe.

The issue is really whether we are talking about one person with documents in multiple names or one person who has multiple *identities* and tries to pass herself off as different people. I don't know if that's the case here or not, although if she isn't keeping her names straight when she talks to the police, it could have quite serious consequences for her. If she is using multiple identities, then it brings up the issue of fraud. If not, it's not really valid criteria in this case, is it?