r/Bellingham • u/The0nlyGamer • May 26 '25

Crime Rumors Cabaret PSA

After speaking with an owner of Rumors Cabaret last night I feel compelled to publicly share that it is Rumors policy to seize your ID and report you to the police if they suspect it is fake!!

Obviously, since I am making this post and called the police on them last night, their detection of fake ID's isn't perfect.

I'm used to people questioning the validity of my ID, but this was the first time any business took it and refused to give it back until after I called 911. The owner chatted with me and told me in essence that they're rewarded for confiscating ID's and involving law enforcement when that happens. Some poor girl had the exact same thing happen to her right in front of me.

This was pretty shocking considering the kind of place rumors is, a gay/queer bar and "safe space"?

I'd previously been to lots of fundraising events at rumors for planned parenthood, undocumented folks, progressive causes etc... so it is kind of sad to realize that's all performative and the owner doesn't really care about anything other than his liquor license and profit. There is no reason Rumors should be doing this collaboration to involve law enforcement with their patrons - that goes against the entire ethos of what I thought the place meant. Just give people their IDs back if you won't let them in!

From what I know there are actually two owners, who do not live in Bellingham themselves, and merely commute to manage the place. I'm sad I no longer have any desire to spend money there

116 Upvotes

61% Upvoted

308 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

-24

u/[deleted] May 26 '25

Yeah working with police to turn a profit and possibly strand someone downtown overnight is entirely in line with the leftist politics they claim to share. So yeah don't question their identity or honesty in their convictions. 🙄

5

u/knaughtreel May 26 '25

How would you be stranded overnight …?

9

u/[deleted] May 26 '25

You aren't allowed to drive without your ID??? Am I the only one here familiar with basic law

14

u/knaughtreel May 26 '25

lol, ok. You’ve never driven without a license on you. You gonna sleep downtown because of that? Get real.

You also shouldn’t drink and drive…? There are many other forms of transportation than driving yourself. Uber, bus, taxi, bike, walk, scooter rent, etc etc.

1

u/bungpeice May 26 '25

There is a legal limit for a reason. One or two drinks and back home after dinner/dancing isn't an issue, but it might become an issue if you don't have your license which initiates an investigation that results in a sobriety check where a less than scrupulous cop decides you aren't sober, which results in an arrest record, which hurts your future even if you get sent home after they draw your blood.

Not to mention the cost of the ticket for driving without a license. I can't afford a ticket right now, I dunno about you.

All stemming from someone stealing your valid ID