Approached by a cop

That's why I say obey the LAW, nothing more, nothing less.

Good advice. Go outside of this and watch the officer raise his eyebrows! You can just see them thinking .. what's up with this character....

If the LEO wants more, he will ask. I don't think many officers are shy about that.
 
Originally posted by Bill22250:
That's why I say obey the LAW, nothing more, nothing less.

Good advice. Go outside of this and watch the officer raise his eyebrows! You can just see them thinking .. what's up with this character....

If the LEO wants more, he will ask. I don't think many officers are shy about that.
+2
 
Originally posted by thomashoward:
Originally posted by bigt5150:
I usually volunteer it before they ask as a sign of good faith and so that they can't say I was occluding this information.

I was told by a California Highway Patrol "if you have a gun TELL US up front" we don't like surprises.
Then they should lobby the legislature to change the law.
 
Originally posted by bigt5150:
I found this on the official State of Texas website www.texasonline.com.
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administration/crime_records/chl/stop.htm
That is DPS opinion.

If you read through the link to Texas concealed handgun laws, you find nowhere that someone lawfully carrying a handgun has to volunteer such a fact to a law enforcement officer. Only that you have to produce your handgun license if asked for ID.

And obviously you have to asnwer truthfully if asked whether you are carrying a handgun.
 
Originally posted by boomstick:
It still amazes me how many people think that laws requiring them to announce that they're carrying are somehow meant to benefit the officer. It's to benefit the guy who reaches for his gun on the same hip where his wallet is without telling the cop there's a gun there. It's to help him not get his brains blown out by the cop's partner on the passenger side of the car who he may not even SEE at 2:00am at the side of the road with two spotlights and a flashlight in his eyes.

But go ahead, keep kidding yourself that you're so good at hiding your gun that no one will ever see it when you reach for your wallet while seated in your car.

Any cop with more than a week on the job is going to figure you may be armed when he comes up to your car. Telling him you're armed isn't doing HIM any good, but it may save the life of an armed driver. We're not required to let an armed driver on a traffic stop get the first shot off when it's reasonable to believe he's going for a gun.

Bumped +1 and then some for super-mega "bears repeating worthiness!"
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Having been on both sides of the driver's window, this is what I do and why:

1. ALWAYS carry my primary in the exact same place and in the same way: OWB @ ~3:30. Spare ammo on the opposite hip, same manner. ALWAYS.

2. ALWAYS carry my DL and CHP in a separate ID case apart from my wallet, in my LEFT rear pocket: DL is in a window on one side, CHP is in a window on the flipside. If necessary, I draw my ID/CHP with my LEFT hand, while my right hand remains on the wheel, dash, or as otherwise instructed. ALWAYS.

3. ALWAYS keep both hands on the TOP of the wheel and make full eye contact with the officer(s) as I roll up to the checkpoint--an expected routine occurrence where I live (DUIs and mountains/outdoorsy-types/tourists don't mix), or after stopping and as the officer(s) approach(es). ALWAYS.

4. ALWAYS wait for the officer(s) to speak first and answer any question(s) BEFORE moving my hands, before looking away, and only AFTER I have informed him/her/them that for his/her/their/ safety and mine they need to know that (1) I have a valid CHP, (2) I am carrying (3) what I am carrying and where it is located (4) that I wish for him/her/the to PLEASE tell me how they wish for me to proceed. Ya, ya, ya; I can hear the naysayers already: "Shall inform. . ." "Must inform . . ." "Not required to inform. . . ." I have yet to find any state whose regs stipulate that you "MUST NOT INFORM." I just tell 'em as a matter of due course, for my safety and theirs. ALWAYS.

5. ALWAYS REPEAT TO THE OFFICER(S) their instructions to me, and then do exactly as instructed. 100% full compliance. ALWAYS.

Why do this? In the words of Danny Glover's character in Silverado, "[LEOs] don't want to shoot you, and you don't want to be dead." THINK about it. 99.9999% of the time the LEO who approaches you is approaching a stranger. If you've been pulled over for a moving violation, you are then a stranger who has broken the law. Those are the known factors. Now factor in an evasive attitude, nervousness, or suspicious body language--both of which are not at all uncommon in those who have been stopped for garden-variety speeding--and then add the appearance of a gun/knife. Why tempt fate? Be courteous, honest, up front and to the point. It works wonders.

ALWAYS remember that the badge makes the LEO no less human than the CHP makes the civilian any more invincible. ALWAYS. We all share the same common goal: to arrive home safe and sound at the end of the day.
 
I guess the documented cases of people who have been jammed up by cops because they volunteered they had a legally concealed handgun when they did not need to say anything are just fantasy.
 
Having been on both sides of the driver's window, this is what I do and why:

1. ALWAYS carry my primary in the exact same place and in the same way: OWB @ ~3:30. Spare ammo on the opposite hip, same manner. ALWAYS.

2. ALWAYS carry my DL and CHP in a separate ID case apart from my wallet, in my LEFT rear pocket: DL is in a window on one side, CHP is in a window on the flipside. If necessary, I draw my ID/CHP with my LEFT hand, while my right hand remains on the wheel, dash, or as otherwise instructed. ALWAYS.

3. ALWAYS keep both hands on the TOP of the wheel and make full eye contact with the officer(s) as I roll up to the checkpoint--an expected routine occurrence where I live (DUIs and mountains/outdoorsy-types/tourists don't mix), or after stopping and as the officer(s) approach(es). ALWAYS.

4. ALWAYS wait for the officer(s) to speak first and answer any question(s) BEFORE moving my hands, before looking away, and only AFTER I have informed him/her/them that for his/her/their/ safety and mine they need to know that (1) I have a valid CHP, (2) I am carrying (3) what I am carrying and where it is located (4) that I wish for him/her/the to PLEASE tell me how they wish for me to proceed. Ya, ya, ya; I can hear the naysayers already: "Shall inform. . ." "Must inform . . ." "Not required to inform. . . ." I have yet to find any state whose regs stipulate that you "MUST NOT INFORM." I just tell 'em as a matter of due course, for my safety and theirs. ALWAYS.

5. ALWAYS REPEAT TO THE OFFICER(S) their instructions to me, and then do exactly as instructed. 100% full compliance. ALWAYS.

Why do this? In the words of Danny Glover's character in Silverado, "[LEOs] don't want to shoot you, and you don't want to be dead." THINK about it. 99.9999% of the time the LEO who approaches you is approaching a stranger. If you've been pulled over for a moving violation, you are then a stranger who has broken the law. Those are the known factors. Now factor in an evasive attitude, nervousness, or suspicious body language--both of which are not at all uncommon in those who have been stopped for garden-variety speeding--and then add the appearance of a gun/knife. Why tempt fate? Be courteous, honest, up front and to the point. It works wonders.

ALWAYS remember that the badge makes the LEO no less human than the CHP makes the civilian any more invincible. ALWAYS. We all share the same common goal: to arrive home safe and sound at the end of the day.

Thank God all cops aren't as paranoid as you. You sound like someone who has just spent the last year running convoys through Baghdad.

You are just reciting a litany of what you think the ideal citizen should do when you pull him over for a "burned out license plate light", which we all know is an excuse to justify running a LEIN check on the driver and perhaps get credit for another collar. I can't believe you would expect someone to repeat a cop's instructions verbatim before complying with them.

True, we all want to get home in one piece, but I'm damned if I am going to kiss ANY cop's ass just because he thinks I should. It's obvious that you don't trust anyone anymore. I hope that your paranoia doesn't lead to shooting someone mistakenly.
 
REAL LIFE SCENARIO:

Last night I stopped a guy for doing 52/30. Young guy, wife, baby in the car. My dispatcher asks me if I am "clear to copy" and tells me he is "signal 44". This tells me he has a NYS pistol permit. In most cases, I don't consider this a "caution indicator", more of a character reference. If you know anything about the process of getting a pistol permit in NY state, you know what I mean. Anyway, if you are sober, and not acting aggressive or crazy, I don't care where the gun is, or if its in the car or home, or what.

22mph over the limit is like 6 points on the license, and over $150 fine. I issued a summons for the heinous infraction of having his rear license plate totally obscured by snow.
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Personally, I don't understand this debate? I have been stopped for traffic violations 4 times now since having my HCP and ALL 4 times, I gave them my HCP, Drivers license and Insurance card, IN THAT ORDER as soon as he came to my window. All 4 times, I was let off with just a warning. In fact, the last time was just last week, on Christmas Eve, no less. I have a temp. tag in my back window and it had fallen down and the officer behind me, couldn't see it. After giving him my stuff, I asked if I could get out of the car( 2 rods in my back prevent me from turning around backwards to talk to him) and he laughed and said as long as I don't plan on shooting him. We even got into a great conversation about guns. He was carrying a 4506 (which I had traded on my Kimber) and got into a very cool conversation. Ultimately, he let me go.

I see no reason NOT TO inform an officer that I am armed when he stops me. Personally, I think it contributed to getting off with warnings 4 times in a row now.
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Originally posted by ttpete:
Thank God all cops aren't as paranoid as you. You sound like someone who has just spent the last year running convoys through Baghdad.

You are just reciting a litany of what you think the ideal citizen should do when you pull him over for a "burned out license plate light", which we all know is an excuse to justify running a LEIN check on the driver and perhaps get credit for another collar. I can't believe you would expect someone to repeat a cop's instructions verbatim before complying with them.

True, we all want to get home in one piece, but I'm damned if I am going to kiss ANY cop's ass just because he thinks I should. It's obvious that you don't trust anyone anymore. I hope that your paranoia doesn't lead to shooting someone mistakenly.

Please re-read my post verbatim, and note the language, context, and verb tense.

Please re-read your response and note your assumptions, tone, and word choice.

Yours is a very compelling argument, but for whom?
 
I have been pulled over several times in Texas since ive had my permit. I always hand them my permit on top of my driver liscense when they approach my vehicle. Everytime it has been a highway patrolman they have let me off with a warning instead of a speeding ticket.
 
If asked whether I have any weapons (a common interview question for officers on car stops) my reply is "I am exercising my privileges pursuant to penal code 12050."
Most officers don't know that code section to be the CCW law so we will then take it from there. Never lead with the word gun.
 
Originally posted by Eagle 477:
A few weeks ago on my way to work at 4:30am I was stopped by one of our Local Barny Fife wanna bee deputy's, For not comming to a compleat stop at the intersection... As I was getting my Licence from my wallet he noticed my Ct. Carry permit in my wallet... since I live in NY he says "I see you have a Ct. carry permit, you know its no good here in NY" I just smiled and said "YES but my NY permit is". Then he asked if I was carrying this morning, I replied "Yes on the same hip I just pulled my wallet from". He handed me back my Licence and told me to make sure I come to a full stop nextime....

Bob

Yes, isn't NY wonderful?
PC Sheriff?
 
The posts by Eagle 477 and, apparently supported by ladder 13 strike me as a little strange. Obviously, Eagle is not too pro-cop given his description of the officer who stopped him BUT-

He's either one of the most ungrateful cusses I've seen on this Forum or one of the thickest.

HEY EAGLE-YOU DIDN'T GET A TICKET! YOU DIDN'T GET HASSLED ABOUT THE GUN! ALL YOU GOT WAS A BREAK FOR YOUR ROTTEN DRIVING!

The officer didn't ticket you for failing to stop, but he could have. You may think that you don't need to do so, but.... Okay it was 430 in the morning, but you sure never told us in your OP that it was a one horse town with two stop signs and no one moving.

What you did was fail to stop before coming into an intersection and, if we were speaking of dumb, you did it in front of a cop!

Smart move, huh?

Then you seem to complain that he told you the out of state permit was no good. You told him you had a valid NY one. He asked if you were carrying and you told him you were. He never asked to see the NY permit, did he?

All he did was give you a verbal warning and let you go on your way. And he's now a Barney Fife wannabe?

And, ladder 13-where do you get the idea it was a PC Sheriff? Nothing, absolutely nothing in the poster's tale suggests anything different about this cop than the thousands of others across this country who do the same job, day in and day out.

So, the cop gives the traffic violator a break, makes a casual observation, doesn't hassle the driver about his gun and he's a Barney Fife wannabe and (apparently) works for a PC Sheriff?

Amazing!

Bob
 
Thank you, straightshooter1. I apologize for not replying something like that a while back. Any number of us should have. However, you did it particularly well.
 
Err, PC Sheriff is Putnam County Sheriff for us NYer's. The poster happens to live in the same County as I. Chill out.
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I know plenty of cops thru my work with them and off the job. Don't jump to conclusions.
 
OK, ladder 13-PC = Putnam County-but no one outside that area would know it. I suppose, given the comment about NY being wonderful, you can't really blame me for the conclusion I drew.

Besides, jumping to conclusions is about the only exercise I get.

Bob
 
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