If pulled over for a traffic violation or if stopped at a DUI / seat belt check point, are there best practices for notifying the officer that you are carrying? Do you mention it first? If they run your license plate, do they know you are a permit holder? When they ask for your license, do you hand over the permit as well? I'd like to know what to do and what to expect if (when) this happens to me.

I believe notifying the officer is dependent on the state you are in. I know if Maine you do not have to disclose the information to the officer. So for me, if I am carrying and am pulled over I would just supply the information the office requires. If they did ask if I was carrying or ask me to step out of the car for some reason, I would reply that I had a concealed weapon, tell them where my firearm was, and offer to show them my CCW permit. I have read on other forums that some states require disclosure no matter what. So you should really check with your State laws.

If you have a CC permit the notification requirements of your state should have been part of your training.
Most states have their laws regarding CC posted on the state's department of justice or other state regulatory agency website.

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John

In some states, your carry permit information comes up on the computer when the officer runs your driver license, and if required by law in that state, you better have already told him!

If you use the Find feature on this forum, you should be able to locate past threads where member law enforcment officers gave some preferred suggestions for handling this situation.

For a little excitement you could always open the door, step out and yell "I have a gun".

In Ohio you HAVE to notify for ANY "official" interaction with a cop. Just tell him. If you have to shout over him, do it because failure to inform in a "timely" manner is a crime. "Timely" has never been defined. A guy over at Ohioans for Concealed Carry was charged for taking something like a minute or so to inform.

Hi:
Being I am in a "Gun Friendly" State I assume
that there is a weapon in every vehicle and watch the drivers hands. Also ask "Do you have firearms, drugs, knifes or anything that can be dangerous to me or buystandners? Please keep your hands in view during this traffic stop.
Jimmy

As others have stated, a lot depends on state law.

In Nevada, you have no duty to inform.

Should you inform? In my opinion, it depends on the situation.

If the stop is "routine," I wouldn't inform.

If the stop "goes south" for any reason, I would politely inform; "Oh by the way, I have a ..."

I have been through the check points in TN a few times and I always have my license in hand as I pull up, show it and just calmly say, "I am legally armed too". The last time I did that, the State Trooper just said, "Well alright!" Of course I am in TN and the mature officers seem to be ok with well behaved people legally carrying. I have never been asked for my permit so far in the 12 yrs I have had one. Now on two occassions, I have been in rental properties I had business with and pulled my pocket gun on a buglar/tresspasser (depending on one's view). The officer pulled his too. Even then, after two times of catching someone, they never asked later if I had a permit. I think my demeanor and how I safely held the pistol showed I was safe to be around. If ever asked, be sure to show your permit and move slowly. Rookies seem to be nervious sorts around TN, probably are in other states too.

And my stock answer to that is: "I really couldn't say."
In my state I am not required to inform. If asked I must produce the permit. That's as far as it goes.
With some LE's I feel like telling them to unload and make safe their weapons for my safety.

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"Vus ken men tin?" -Irving

It depends on the circumstances. If it’s a routine stop and the only firearm(s) I have are concealed I’m not inclined to mention that I’m armed. I simply comply with the officers directions. If the officer asked I would comply with his request and tell him what and where, i.e. pistol concealed on my right hip etc.

If for some reason I had firearms in plain sight I’d mention them right away with the intent of avoiding the officer becoming startled.

I generally prefer to have my wallet with driver’s license, registration, and proof of insurance out and on my dash prior to the officer approaching my vehicle. I don’t like making the officer work any harder to insure his safety while watching me reach for items out of my glove compartment, or wallet out of my back packet.

Hands in plain view on the steering wheel as the officer approaches my vehicle, and of course no quick movements.

I got pulled over the other night after midnight on my way home from work for allegedly speeding on I-5. The officer approached from the passenger side and I was not aware of his presence until he tapped on my passenger side window, just the way he liked it. I was armed, he didn’t ask and I didn’t tell. I’m a sworn LEO though not a street cop, I have no idea if he knew I was a police officer or not. I was only 7 mph over and he was fishing for bigger game then me and told me to have a nice night and watch my speed.

I see no reason to inform the officer unless your state requires that you do, or they ask.

Emory

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Hard To Kill

Two rules to remember:
1. You must obey the laws of the state you are in when stopped.
2. In states like OK and TX which require immediate notification, failure to notify is a separate and serious offense.

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Science plus Art

In Arizona you need only show a permit or say you are carrying if asked.

david

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My Mother likes me.

Having the wallet out and on the dash seems a wise idea. While I'm certain the info is digitally connected to my plate registration and D/L, I've got three items paper clipped together in the fold of my wallet. If stopped, I'll pass my CCW permit, insurance card, D/L. Did I mention that once on the shoulder I'll turn on the interior lights, and put the ignition keys on the roof and keep my hands on the wheel?

Hey folks!
OKFC is correct. And 99 times out of 100 if you hand the officer your DL, insurance, and CCW at the same time they will simply let you go or at worst a warning.
Also if you get pulled over, shut the vehicle off , put your hands on the steering wheel, and turn on the cab light. Again, with theirs and my safety in mind, not only will the officer appreciate it, again they will usually just let you go.
Unfortunately I know this from personal experience. And being decent to them also goes along way.
After being stopped for 20mph over, the Trooper just smiled and commented on how I handeled the situation. I knew I had a ticket comming, but was plesently surprised when he handed back my stuff and told me to slow down.
Hope this helps.
Take care and God Bles...HT

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Jesus is Lord
John 3:16

I think you will want to watch the wording when you are approached by a LEO, I.E. don't say " I have a gun and a permit to carry". Him or they may just hear you say,"I have a gun" and get nervous real fast. Just hand him your D.L. and Permit and let them act from there.

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You'll shoot your eye out kid

This posting has given a lot of great suggestions, that I never thought about. As I carry my wallet with licence and carry permit in my front pocket, it has made me rethink about putting the wallet in the open when I am carrying, as I really don't want to be at gunpoint after telling the officer I have a concealed weapon, and then reaching for my wallet. The interior light was something I had never thought about before either. Fortunately, I don't get pulled over very often, but good to be prepared.

Read and be intimate with the laws of the state in which you reside and are carrying. PERIOD. This issue gets bandied about like a badminton shuttlecock and it needn't be. Simply abide by the law of the state in which you carry. For example, if in Virginia, one does not need to proactively disclose CCW carry; however, in Ohio it is the law that CCW be disclosed directly. Bottom line is that I would no more disclose CCW, unless required by law, than I would disclose how fast my car would go.

Go forth and remember YOU are not the criminal so don't act like one.

Well put, DD. In Texas, one must display DL, CHL and insurance card when stopped on traffic. If you fail to display the CHL, AND if you are carrying (no duty to display the CHL if you're not carrying), it is a 90 day suspension of the CHL, but it is only an administrative suspension, not a crime, on first offense. Most peace officers won't bust your chops about it. The CHL is tied to the DL, so when the officer either swipes the magnetic strip on the DL or the dispatcher runs your DL, it will show up that you have a CHL. If one does display the CHL, most LEOs will simply ask if you have a firearm and where it is, and it will be the end of the discussion unless you smell like whiskey or get horsey.

A bill was introduced this legislative session in TX to repeal the requirement to display the license, since vehicular carry without a license is legal, and those folks have no duty to inform. Unfortunately, the bill died in committee, along with some other excellent legislation, due to the irresponsibility and outright stupidity of many of our legislators...

In many states, the "training" you mentioned is "Here's your permit.. and here is a paper with the rules listed."

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- The Federalist #46 -

In Georgia, you don't have to tell. If I stop you for a traffic violation, I assume that you are armed. It doesn't bother me if you are because I am too. Just keep both hands in plain sight, speak politely and move kinda slow, and it all works out well. I like the driver to tell me if I have him/her get out of the car for any reason, if he/she is carrying on their body...just keeps my blood pressure normal. From a libertarian view, it ain't any of my business. Rookies get kind of silly about it, but there is no good way to tell a veteran cop from a rookie one.

Steve M., I commend you! All LEOs could learn a lesson from you, not just about freedom, but about survival.

However, there is one way to tell a rookie from a veteran: When arriving at a hot call, a rookie will lock up his brakes at about 120 mph and slide to a stop, exiting his cruiser before it stops, gun drawn. A veteran will roll up slowly and quietly, stop, and look 360 degrees before opening the car door.

What do you Leo's do when you are stopped. Show the officer your commission with your Dl?

I'm a retired LEO; my agency ID card says retired on the front of it and my badge says retired on it. I carry both in my wallet along with my driver's license and firearms permit (Mississippi's CC permit). Many agencies in this state conduct roadside safety checks, i.e., roadblocks. I have my DL and proof of insurance (mandatory for all drivers), along with my retired badge and ID out when the officer/deputy/trooper approaches the car. I've never had to produce my firearms permit, even though it has the same number as my DL.
Technically, under the LEOSA, I don't need a firearms permit to carry, but since I get it at no cost as a retired LEO, it doesn't hurt to have it if I don't want to reveal my status as a retired LEO. Also under Mississippi law, a person over 18 who is not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm, may carry a firearm in their vehicle as if it was their home or business. So any person, driving on the highways of Mississippi, not just a Mississippi resident, who gets stopped at a roadblock, may legally have a fiream in their vehicle with no requirement to produce a firearms permit.

If I get stopped, I don't usually say anything. I'm usually in uniform, either going to/from precinct or an extra job, so it doesn't come up. I have been lectured before, and i take it in stride. I have been on the job 24 years (a street sergeant the last 9), so that lends a certain perspective. I had a buddy tell me that when I protect a perp's rights, I am protecting mine and yours, too. I am nowhere close to being burned out...I have just learned to appreciate the power that I have. Just can't run rampant with it.

I was told by my instuctor that if stopped, hand over my license and permit at the same time. That way to cop knows right from the get-go that I'm one of the good guys and not a bad guy. I don't see any reason not to tell the officer.

Am I missing something?

You are not missing a thing. It makes common sense everywhere and is in fact the law most places. Most LEO's recognize a permit holder as a (at least potential), good guy. It won't get you out of a ticket you deserve but disclosure sure won't hurt your cause.

In fact, you may be missing something very important. That little phrase, "...and that anything the person says may be used against that person in court.". Handing over a document can be the equivalent to making an oral statement. Is that the instructor's opinion or is he citing the law of the state in which you live? Did he reference or cite which code for this advice? Again, opinions of we'uns (mine certainly included) mean doodly squat. It is up to each CCW holder to be INTIMATE not just familiar with the laws that regulate the CCW permit of the respective jurisdiction in which the CCW permit is issued. For example, does the state have a preemption clause over local codes? What is the legal definition of, "... an establishment that serves alcohol"? When traveling in states with reciprocity, knowing the vagaries of the various states' codes can be a real pain but not in comparison to a night in the pokie and the cost getting out of the same.

Do not depend on the opinion of even your buddy the local police precinct sergeant for the answers to these questions. Find your state's legal code and read the thing and be sure to understand it as fully as possible. Consult with the state's/commonwealth's attorney office, your state's version of Virginia Citizen's Defense League (VCDL) for answers as well.

Know your rights and the law under which your CCW is granted.