Stripes in Spain!!
I'm a flight instructor in Madrid.
Another instructor and I, last summer, decided to do a bit of night flying in a PA28T whilst "off-duty" and obviously NO uniform and NO stripes. We landed at Barajas International Airport that only welcomes general aviation between 23.00 and 07.00h.
On our departure two days later (we had a slot for 4.00am!), we showed our IDs and pilot licences at the police control so as to be able to access the parking area and the words of the policeman on duty were:
"Hey, if you're really pilots...how come you're not wearing a uniform??! And where are your stripes??!"
He really seemed more worried about the fact that we were'nt wearing our stripes than our licences and IDs! In the end we were allowed to continue, but I have the funny feeling that he really didn't believe that we were REAL pilots!
In general, here in Spain, "Stripes" get you through police controls even if you're carrying a bomb in your bag!