CCW Notification to Law Officials?

[~Rascal~]

Back some years when I took my CCW class the instructor told us not to say anything about being CCW qualified if stopped by law enforcement, but recently I was stopped by state highway patrol for speeding and he had a different view. I handed him my license and proof of insurance that he had asked for. My CCW is not shown on my license but on a separate state ID card, and I knew when he ran my plates the CCW would be revealed to him anyway. The FIRST thing he said when he came back to my vehicle was "did I have any weapons on my person or in the vehicle?" I answered, he then said "anytime a member of law enforcement stops you let them know that you have a CCW permit" I thought this strange, what's your view?

 

[Lost Lake]

What is the law in your state?

I don't HAVE to show my permit, but if I'm carrying I will show it.

It seems to get a lot of people out of tickets...

 

[Moonman]

The notification is governed by STATE LAWS, some require, some do not.

Common Courtesy should tell you to NOTIFY the officer and ask for his instructions on how to proceed.

In Ohio you must notify (if armed), AND DO NOT REACH FOR ANY FIREARM, from

the time the officer exits his cruiser until he reenters the cruiser after the

stop has concluded, or you just might be charged with a FELONY, and YOUR FIREARMS ARE GONE FOREVER.

If you travel to states with reciprocity to your home state license,

it's your job to KNOW EACH STATES REQUIREMENTS. They could be vastly different on procedures.

 

[Arik]

Ive told em and nothing ever happened. In fact each time i told i got off with a warning, including the time i was going double the speed limit in the rain. However, when i didn't say anything cause i wasnt carrying i'd get tickets for going 5 miles over.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

 

[Dikinalaska]

In AK you're supposed to tell them there is a firearm in the vehicle first and foremost, no matter what. It's supposed to be the first thing out of your mouth really. If you don't and they ask and you tell them yes it can be a felony depending on their mood. Either way I see it as a good idea, but that's just my opinion. As stated it's the state's law that decides.

 

[s&wchad]

We've had this discussion a number of times in the past and the threads often get locked. Keep this one civil, calmly state your thoughts and opinions and don't get into general LEO bashing.


Here's some additional reading material.

Why Do Some People See LEOs as the Bad Guy?
I got pulled over today while carrying.. Didn't tell the cop
Question for active LEO's
What do you do?
I will never tell another officer I'm carrying again.
Duty to inform?
Tips on what to do when stopped by police
What do you do during a routine interaction with LEO while carrying?
Police traffic stop while carrying

 

[~Rascal~]

I see what everyone's saying and agree it probably is the respectable thing to do in notifying them, yet I'm not a bad guy or a felon, that's how I was able to obtain the CCW to begin with.

 

[SMSgt]

FL CWFL is not tied to your DL. FL has no "Must notify" law. If I were to be stopped, I would not notify unless asked to exit the vehicle, or asked specifically by the LEO..

When traveling thru other states, rather than try to memorize each state's requirements, I would notify upon official contact.

 

[tc55da]

I drive a rock truck in Texas and we are pulled over by Texas DOT for vehicle inspections frequently. I hand my CHL over with drivers license and they look at it, hand it back to me, and have never asked any questions.

 

[Jeb42]

I always tell them. My wife calls it my "Don't get a ticket card."

 

[Old cop]

To my way of thinking it's just common courtesy to inform, and it might just keep everyone from overreacting (e.g., safety).

In the past 10 days here we've had one state trooper murdered, one suffered a gunshot wound to the head (recovering slowly)and another was seriously hurt when someone ran into his cruiser, head-on, purposely. Cops have good reason to be nervous.

 

[inFALable]

Unless you're required to, then no way. It only complicates the stop. You never know what kind of officer you're talking too. They don't need to know.

When speaking with the police always answer truthfully but never volunteer anything. Be respectful and polite, they have a difficult job.

 

[Brien]

Coming from a LE family I was always told the first thing you tell the LEO is you have a firearm in the vehicle regardless if you have a CCW or not.

 

[Aticus]

In Missouri the CCW is an endorsement on your drivers license but we are not required to notify LEO about it. We have an ID called a "Non-Drivers ID". We can get one of those and put the endorsement on that so it's not on the drivers license.

Having said the above I have been advised by an LEO I respect that if you are stopped here the best idea, if you are carrying, is to quietly tell the officer that you are carrying a legally owned concealed firearm. Of course the best thing is not to do anything which would get you stopped in the first place. I have and will tell LEOs if I'm carrying so I guess my vote is yes. Cops don't like surprises!

 

[Waywatcher]

It shouldn't be legally required in my opinion. Thankfully it isn't required here in WI.

That being said, I will present my CCW license simultaneously with my DL should I ever need to present my DL. (But I haven't been pulled over since WI got CC.)

 

[carpriver]

Here I Michigan you are required to inform the officer when any contact is made. I have had 3 stops by officers from the city, the county and the state police, informed them all. got warnings. One officer wanted to know where the gun was. I told him in the holster on my right side, he just asked me to keep my hands on the steering wheel. If and when I get stopped. I turn the engine off take the keys out of the ignition, place them on the dash and get out my documents put my hands on the wheel, And I keep facing forward. Don't want any problems or accidents.

 

[Mike McLellan]

It's the law here. Failure to do so is an arrestable offense.

 

[keith44spl]

This whole ideal of should I or shouldn't I...........

I've made a traffic stop er two and I appreciate folks being forthright in their dealings with me and
discloser that they have a concealed carry permit.

To me anyway, it's an non issue....Everyone now in days should be prepared when traveling or
even at home in times of late, to look out for themselves and their families.

Whenever I'm stopped, I have my Drivers Licenses and CC Lic. along with
vehicle information ready for presentation upon request.
And or any other State Issue I.D. that may be pertinent to this particular point of contact.

I'm always in lawful possession of my vehicle and all it's contents...No surprises here.



.
Someday Soon

 

[MaximumLawman]

The state laws that require you to inform have nothing to do with officer safety, so I'm not sure where the idea that it's "courteous" to inform comes in. The intent of the law is to help prevent an innocent CPL holder from getting shot when he inadvertently exposes the gun that he forgot he was carrying, while going for his license or registration, and justifiably gets one through the head from the cop. The legal requirement to inform, where present, has absolutely nothing to do with "officer safety" since anyone planning on shooting a cop isn't going to tell him first (barring some kind of stupid suicide by cop scenario). The law is meant for CPL/carrier/citizen/driver safety.

As far as expecting some sort of break because you informed me you were legally armed? Not a chance. If you get a ticket, you get a ticket. Exercising your second amendment right has no bearing on my decision to write or not.

 

[Waywatcher]

The state laws that require you to inform have nothing to do with officer safety, so I'm not sure where the idea that it's "courteous" to inform comes in. The intent of the law is to help prevent an innocent CPL holder from getting shot when he inadvertently exposes the gun that he forgot he was carrying, while going for his license or registration, and justifiably gets one through the head from the cop. The legal requirement to inform, where present, has absolutely nothing to do with "officer safety" since anyone planning on shooting a cop isn't going to tell him first (barring some kind of stupid suicide by cop scenario). The law is meant for CPL/carrier/citizen/driver safety.

As far as expecting some sort of break because you informed me you were legally armed? Not a chance. If you get a ticket, you get a ticket. Exercising your second amendment right has no bearing on my decision to write or not.

It's for our own good, sure.

Presumably to protect us from cops like you, who talk about "putting one through a citizen's head" at an otherwise routine traffic stop?

No thanks, I'm glad I live in a state where I'm not legally required to disclose. Your comments are actually making me rethink my position to disclose at all.