Carrying in Arizona with out of state CCW

[jeffrey]

I will be driving to Arizona. I understand that Arizona will honor my New Mexico concealed carry license, but I wonder what I should do if I am stopped by the police while driving. Are you required to alert the officer to a concealed gun? If that's not the rule, is it common practice?

FWIW, there is no such rule in New Mexico and my LEO friends tell me that they do not want to know about guns at traffic stops.

 

[jeffrey]

I will be driving to Arizona. I understand that Arizona will honor my New Mexico concealed carry license, but I wonder what I should do if I am stopped by the police while driving. Are you required to alert the officer to a concealed gun? If that's not the rule, is it common practice?

FWIW, there is no such rule in New Mexico and my LEO friends tell me that they do not want to know about guns at traffic stops.

 

[Wyatt Earp]

Originally posted by jeffrey:
I will be driving to Arizona. I understand that Arizona will honor my New Mexico concealed carry license, but I wonder what I should do if I am stopped by the police while driving. Are you required to alert the officer to a concealed gun? If that's not the rule, is it common practice?

FWIW, there is no such rule in New Mexico and my LEO friends tell me that they do not want to know about guns at traffic stops.

www.handgunlaw.us

 

[RufusG]

Not required in AZ, it's up to you. But I wouldn't take my word for it, check that link. Some folks think you should, some don't. I don't as a rule, but I'm sure I could envision a scenario where it would seem to be prudent.

 

[jeffrey]

Thank you Wyatt and Rufus! I knew of an old site that seems to have vanished, and did not know of this one.

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

You are not required by Arizona law to tell the Officer you are carrying a weapon. However, it is recommended that when you hand him your driver's license you also hand him your concealed carry permit. Do not just say you are carrying a GUN...avoid the "G" word.

It is also legal in Arizona to carry a loaded handgun in your vehicle WITHOUT a permit, provided the gun is not concealed. That means, as strange as it sounds, that the gun is in a holster and left in plain view on the seat, or is stored in the glovebox or center console...but NEVER UNDER THE SEAT. Storing the gun without being in a holster is illegal unless you have a CCW permit.

Don't take my word for it...read some of the links below. Just drive safe and avoid being stopped in the first place.

http://www.gunlaws.com/

http://www.azleg.state.az.us/ArizonaRevisedStatutes.asp

http://www.azccw.com/excerpts_from_arizona_rev_stat.htm

 

[jeffrey]

Thanks Lee. That's strange about the gun under the seat rule, as that's the way many people carry in New Mexico -- although I don't, as it's too hard to get to it if you need it. I guess the holster rule makes some sense as it will be safer in a holster.

 

[El Biblioitecario]

I'm always bemused by questions like this in that I wonder what criminal activity the questioner plans which s/he worries will attract the attention of the police>

The last I heard, AZ DPS said AZ permit holders should show their permit to law enforcement officers during any encounter. Checking my AZ permit, it says "must be presented...upon request." The one time I offered an AZ policeman my permit, he was totally disinterested and acted as bored as if I'd tried to get him to look at family pictures.

 

[flop-shank]

Originally posted by El Biblioitecario:
I'm always bemused by questions like this in that I wonder what criminal activity the questioner plans which s/he worries will attract the attention of the police>

You don't have to be up to no good, or at fault, to get in a fender bender.

 

[RufusG]

The last I heard, AZ DPS said AZ permit holders should show their permit to law enforcement officers during any encounter. Checking my AZ permit, it says "must be presented...upon request."

What DPS wants, and what the law requires, may be completely different. If he doesn't request the info, you are simply not required to volunteer it.

 

[Wyatt Earp]

Originally posted by RufusG:

The last I heard, AZ DPS said AZ permit holders should show their permit to law enforcement officers during any encounter. Checking my AZ permit, it says "must be presented...upon request."

What DPS wants, and what the law requires, may be completely different. If he doesn't request the info, you are simply not required to volunteer it.

+1,000,000

I don't care what the police want or like. I care what the law demands. That is what they get. No more, no less.

 

[Capt Steve]

Lee, Not to beat the proverbial dead horse but...In Arizona: What about a gun, holstered, in a locked gun storage box (that is approved for air travel), located under the drivers seat, secured by a cable to the seat frame? This is where my truck gun resides whenever I have to leave it behind because I am visiting any of the prohibited carry locations (serves alcohol, posted no firearms, government building etc.). Since it is reasonably accessible I sometimes don't retrieve it for the ride home.

 

[310Pilot]

Capt Steve: What you describe would qualify as a concealed weapon in Arizona - OK if you've got a CWP (though pretty much useless under those conditions), but a problem if you don't have the permit. Best to take the holstered gun out and put it on the seat for the trip home. BTW, open-top holsters do not qualify, the holster must have a retaining snap or strap, thereby qualifying as a "case," and it must be closed around the weapon, this from a court case several decades ago in Arizona relative to carrying a gun in a car, back when only open carry was allowed (no concealed permits were available in AZ until some time in the late 1980s or mid-1990s, as I recall).

 

[Capt Steve]

310Pilot: Thanks for the info. I didn't know about the holster requirement for a restraining snap/strap. My primary holster has the strap. I do have my CCW permit and can access the locked box in about 20 seconds or less - not ideal but far more secure than leaving the gun loose in the truck. Usually it is in the center console properly holstered and easily accessible but it is nice to be able to secure it when I do have to leave it in the truck.

 

[tanksoldier]

Originally posted by El Biblioitecario:
I'm always bemused by questions like this in that I wonder what criminal activity the questioner plans which s/he worries will attract the attention of the police

Tail light out?

 

[scoutsdad]

I have been told that there is a note on your license and registration, showing you as a CCW holder. This would mean that LEO would know before the stop.

 

[jeffrey]

Well, just in case anyone has been worrying about me -- I'm back from the wilds of Arizona without having to chat with the police about my concealed revolver! Given all the comments about how and where to place a gun in one's car, I took the easy way out and kept in my pocket the whole time. Thank goodness that I'm back in New Mexico, where the rules are simple (as are those of us who live here!)

 

[FirebirdV8]

So you survived the Grand Canyon State. Overall the cops and DPS are fairly easy on carrying a gun concealed here. Just don't go to where there is major gang activity in Phoenix.

 

[jeffrey]

Hi Firebird,

Unfortunately, we have gang activity in New Mexico as well. When I got fingerprinted for my CCW, the cop who fingerprinted me here in Santa Fe told me that she assumed that I was getting my CCW just for trips to Albuquerque (about an hour away from here) where there are gangs, drugs and the occasional carjacking.

 

[Smitty500Mag]

Originally posted by scoutsdad:
I have been told that there is a note on your license and registration, showing you as a CCW holder. This would mean that LEO would know before the stop.

Only in a few commie states does your license plate carry that info. The rest of the country is still free for the time being.

Never show your permit to the police unless it's a requirement. Why bring something up that doesn't need to be brought up? I mean what do you intend to accomplish by doing that? If the law says only if requested then leave it alone unless they ask for it. Geese!!

Smitty