What do you do during a routine interaction with LEO while carrying?

[jtpur]

agreed, always follow the local law regarding showing your concealed permit. In Texas its a must. I was stopped once whilel living in Florida, I had my permit and the gun in the glove box.....I also had my registration in the glove box and when asked to prodcue the registration, I informed the Deputy there was a gun in the glove box. He asked why and I told him, I then asked his permission to open the glove box and told him I was reaching for the registration and would have to lift the gun to obtain it.....I did not want a nervous Deputy to blow me away and he did not. I always appreciated being told about concealed guns....I never worried about the licensed guys, it was the guys without a license I worried about, especially when I had to find it on my own....

 

[38-44HD45]

I always shout, "Hey, I got a gun! Wanna see it?"

Seriously, Texas is now in the unusual status of a "shall inform" state with no penalty for not informing. The penalty for not informing an officer during a traffic stop was repealed because it made no sense to penalize a CHL holder when non-licensed vehicular carry was legalized, and non-licensees don't have to notify. The CHL statute still says a CHL holder must notify, nonetheless, so I do, and tell my students to do likewise.

I think Mas's advice is good, mostly because you never know if the officer who stops you is Mr. Professional or a rookie with a grudge. Intelligent officers who live long lives always assume that everyone they stop is armed, anyway.

 

[MaximumLawman]

There's a misconception that the requirement to tell the officer you're carrying in some states is for the officers' safety. It's not. Any experienced police officer is going to treat you like you're armed whether you tell him or not. The requirement is for YOUR safety. So you don't get shot in the head when you go for your wallet and the cop sees your gun or go for your registration in the glove box and the cop sees your gun and thinks you're about to shoot him and beats you to it.

If you're in a state that requires you to inform the officer, hand him your cpl permit with your license and tell him you're armed. If you're not armed don't. If you're in a state that doesn't require disclosure, do what you want, but make sure the cop doesn't see your gun and get the wrong idea if you don't plan on telling him about it.

Whether or not someone has a CPL has no bearing with me on whether they get a ticket or not. None at all.

 

[38-44HD45]

Excellent points, Max!

 

[Out West]

Do whatever your instructors advised in you CCW course. In the few encounters I have had in the 15 years or so that I've had my TX CCW license its never been an issue. If anything I'd say its worked to my favor. I don't depend on the license for any kind of favorable treatment; however, I have never encountered predjudice as a result of the license.

Out
West

 

[Moondancer]

I'll second (or third) the posters that say follow the law.
I live on the border of Michigan and Indiana, on the IN side. Here in Indiana we do not have to notify. If in MI, you must notify. I've been stopped in Indiana and didn't notify, I've been stopped in Michigan and did. (BTW, the Michigan stop ended up with me getting a warning and the Indiana stop ended up with a $135 ticket. I was the same speed over in both cases. Draw your own conclusions from the Michigan stop but I'm convinced the Indiana stop would have went the same way if I'd notified as the little town I was stopped JUST outside is notorious for being a speed trap.)

 

[gamedic]

Both hands on top of the steering wheel palms up.

 

[Out West]

I see many of the posters in this thread are TX permit holders. Here is an interesting little tidbit the instructor laid on us at my last renewal. Now that the CHL database is married to the TXDL database, go ahead and present your CHL even if you are not carrying. The instructors reasoning is that if you don't, as soon as the policeman runs your DL, he will know you have a carry permit. And now he will be wondering why you didn't present the the CHL license with the DL. According to the instructor, this will be a red flag to the officer and the rest of the interaction may not be very friendly.

As they say, YMMV.


Out
West

 

[sheriffoconee]

The OP is from Georgia, and so am I.
There is no requirement that you inform or announce to any LEO that you are armed, or have a GFL/GWL
There is no link or database statewide to determine whether or not the driver or occupant has a GFL/GWL
Each encounter will be different. My stepson has been stopped twice while armed. BOTH times the officer insisted on running the numbers on his Glock 19 that I bought him on his 21st birthday. There is no legal justification in Georgia for doing so, but it has been done anyway, and it is done often.
No one can tell you what to do if you are stopped in Georgia. A lot of times an deputy/officer/trooper will ask you if you are armed. Lying usually isn't a good option.
If you are stopped, then go with the flow. Even if it isn't required, it is a hard argument to win on the side of the road.
MY deputies don't care, unless you are a felon or otherwise armed AND dangerous, but my people are well trained.

 

[hobby-gunsmith]

Again, in the state of Florida, most of my students ask me--What are your rights when the Police stop you? Do you have to tell them you've got a gun on you, etc.? Let me reiterate my previous response. As a general rule, in Florida, you have no obligation to tell a police officer you have a gun or weapon on you, or in your vehicle if you are a law abiding citizen. Now, just because this is legal, don't think you can't get arrested. The problem is that many police officers have not been trained very well in this area, and they have their own idea of what the law is. Unfortunately--they just didn't know the law. More unfortunately, some innocent slob gets arrested for being legal. That's life in the big city. It happens. Do not argue with them. Even, in a tough situation try to be respectful. Most of them really deserve your respect. Again, know the law in your state. Most of us do not take the time to research this area. The laws are changing all the time and if you carry concealed or in your vehicle, you need to know the law. And, that holds true if you are traveling to other states.
Nick

 

[sipowicz]

When confronted by LEO's while carrying, I usually start to twitch violently and scream at the voices in my head, "Shut up, he'll let us go...we haven't done anything wrong!"

 

[cmannie]

Being stopped...

I keep both hands on the wheel...
And tell the Cop,(even if I have to interrupt His sermon)
"Officer,I need to inform You that I am a CCW Holder,and am carrying a firearm.What would You like Me to do?"
Have been stopped 4 times in the last 3 yrs..(speeding!)
Gotten off EVERY time...(and thanked for telling them upfront what's going on)
Put Yourself the cops' shoes...You'd want to know,too...And respect that You were told from the get go.
Safest way to handle it,IMHO.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

My stepson has been stopped twice while armed. BOTH times the officer insisted on running the numbers on his Glock 19 that I bought him on his 21st birthday. There is no legal justification in Georgia for doing so, but it has been done anyway, and it is done often.
No one can tell you what to do if you are stopped in Georgia. A lot of times an deputy/officer/trooper will ask you if you are armed. Lying usually isn't a good option.
If you are stopped, then go with the flow. Even if it isn't required, it is a hard argument to win on the side of the road.

I agree, winning arguments is done in court.

I live in TN and we have no requirement to inform. Displaying a permit is one thing... but displaying, producing or otherwise handing over a concealed firearm is quite another. If in my car the answer is you do not have my permission to search my vehicle. After that, the officer is going to have to determine what course of action he'll take. I won't physically interfere or otherwise protest any actions he decides take. As such, I've done my part to prepare for a court argument.

 

[bitstream]

The OP is from Georgia, and so am I.
There is no requirement that you inform or announce to any LEO that you are armed, or have a GFL/GWL
There is no link or database statewide to determine whether or not the driver or occupant has a GFL/GWL
Each encounter will be different. My stepson has been stopped twice while armed. BOTH times the officer insisted on running the numbers on his Glock 19 that I bought him on his 21st birthday. There is no legal justification in Georgia for doing so, but it has been done anyway, and it is done often.
No one can tell you what to do if you are stopped in Georgia. A lot of times an deputy/officer/trooper will ask you if you are armed. Lying usually isn't a good option.
If you are stopped, then go with the flow. Even if it isn't required, it is a hard argument to win on the side of the road.
MY deputies don't care, unless you are a felon or otherwise armed AND dangerous, but my people are well trained.

THANKS for the Georgia info. I live down in Warner Robins. With the thugs in Macon that sometimes spread down here, I like to carry daily whenever I'm out. I got my GFL and read all the laws (including the new SB308). I drive carefully and such, so I don't expect to have any reason to interact with LEO, but, I know that even a good driver, being careful, can and will get stopped for various things. I just wanted to know what to do so everyone is happy.

If you don't mind, I have a few SB308 questions? The way the school zone is worded left me a few questions: If you are just dropping off/picking up, but you need to walk into the office to get the child or pick them up, do you have to lock your firearm in something in the car? It wasn't clear as it says the exemption is dropping off/picking up, but it doesn't define only in the parking lot, or if you can walk in for just the moment it takes.

The other thing, both O.C.G.A. § 16-11-130 and SB308 contain an exemption (Code Sections 16-11-126 through 16-11-127.2 shall not apply to or affect any of the following persons if such persons are employed in the offices listed below or when authorized by federal or state law, regulations, or order) to "Persons in the military service of the state or of the United States". If I read that correctly, that states plainly that a military member can carry anywhere and without a license? I'm not sure if that's what they meant to do, but the plain reading of the statues is pretty clear to me that this is the effect. I went ahead and got a GFL and do not carry at any of the enumerated off-limits places left over with SB308, but it looks like I could if I wanted to?

 

[5 Shot]

i just took my ccw a month or so ago here in texas and what our instructor told us to do when stopped by a traffic officer (in texas) is to give him both licenses and keep both hands on the wheel. if the officer wishes you to turn over your gun during said stop you have to comply. he will give it back when done.

 

[cmort666]

The laws are changing all the time and if you carry concealed or in your vehicle, you need to know the law. And, that holds true if you are traveling to other states.

That's true. It's also ironic and sad that way too many LEOs don't think that THEY need to know or obey the law. That's why there are so many "bad encounter" stories on so many message forums.

 

[sheriffoconee]

THANKS for the Georgia info. I live down in Warner Robins. With the thugs in Macon that sometimes spread down here, I like to carry daily whenever I'm out. I got my GFL and read all the laws (including the new SB308). I drive carefully and such, so I don't expect to have any reason to interact with LEO, but, I know that even a good driver, being careful, can and will get stopped for various things. I just wanted to know what to do so everyone is happy.

If you don't mind, I have a few SB308 questions? The way the school zone is worded left me a few questions: If you are just dropping off/picking up, but you need to walk into the office to get the child or pick them up, do you have to lock your firearm in something in the car? It wasn't clear as it says the exemption is dropping off/picking up, but it doesn't define only in the parking lot, or if you can walk in for just the moment it takes.

The other thing, both O.C.G.A. § 16-11-130 and SB308 contain an exemption (Code Sections 16-11-126 through 16-11-127.2 shall not apply to or affect any of the following persons if such persons are employed in the offices listed below or when authorized by federal or state law, regulations, or order) to "Persons in the military service of the state or of the United States". If I read that correctly, that states plainly that a military member can carry anywhere and without a license? I'm not sure if that's what they meant to do, but the plain reading of the statues is pretty clear to me that this is the effect. I went ahead and got a GFL and do not carry at any of the enumerated off-limits places left over with SB308, but it looks like I could if I wanted to?

First off, the statute does say that you are exempt while dropping off and picking up a child, if you have to go in for a moment to "pick up" your child, I would expect that you are exempt....however, it would depend on the officer who happened to find out you had a firearm in your car. If he wanted to charge you, he likely could. At that point, you might need a REAL good lawyer.

Yes, military personnel are exempt. They can carry legally any where a LEO can carry. I suspect that <5% of the cops in Georgia know that. If you choose to do so, be prepared to discuss it with the officer you are dealing with, as well as his or her supervisor.

I suspect that very few officers in GA know the gun carry laws, and certainly even less understand Terry v Ohio, Jones v State and any number of cases that say that in order to pat someone down, or frisk them, you must have REASONABLE SUSPICION that a person is BOTH armed AND dangerous.....

 

[ColbyBruce]

"I live down in Warner Robins. With the thugs in Macon that sometimes spread down here,"

Excuse me, but I used to live in Macon.

 

[sheriffoconee]

"I live down in Warner Robins. With the thugs in Macon that sometimes spread down here,"

Excuse me, but I used to live in Macon.

mmm, then I guess some of those thugs spread up toward Buford then huh...

 

[ColbyBruce]

Mayor "Machine Gun Ronnie" Thompson protected us from the thugs, back in the day. Your right hand man lived in Macon as a child too. Not evryone from Macon is bad, LOL!