Dont-be-a-gun-dork-in-traffic-stops

[Iggy]

I'll preface this by saying I've never been stopped.

In Wyoming, we don't have to notify the LEO of a permit or a gun.

I drive a company truck so the officer will not be alerted to my permit.

Just in case, I carry my Driver's License and Gun permit in a small ID holder in my shirt pocket.

I carry my gun on my belt. By carrying my ID in my shirt, reaching for a wallet near my gun need not occur.

In Wyoming, an officer will not usually accept the ID holder, he will ask you to remove your license from it. He can clearly see what I have in my hands.

At that time I would tell him I have a gun permit and ask him if he wants to see the permit too, and leave the rest up to him.

Don't know how it is today, but back in my time, the officer would probably be more interested in visiting with you about guns than whatever it was he stopped you for in the first place.

He might even have bought the coffee after "show and tell".

 

[pred]

In PA if you get pulled over and the PD runs your plate or License # it comes up on his PC that you have a permit to carry if you have one.
I have been pulled over for an outted brake light on two of my cars in the past couple years,
And never has there been a mention of a firearm either time from either the PD or me.
I have asked a local PD about it and he said that it comes up on his PC,
I have known a few guys in Phila where as soon as the PD sees that you have a permit, They ask for the firearm while they write you a ticket and make sure it's in your trunk when they let you leave,
Not legal to do so,,, But with the PD shootings in Phila I can understand that they are on alert.
Peter

 

[cmort666]

Not legal to do so,,, But with the PD shootings in Phila I can understand that they are on alert.
Peter

Then that's a problem. People get robbed, raped or murdered going between their cars and liquor serving restaurants. It's still unlawful for me to carry into one and I don't do it.

I spent the entire time in Chicago over Christmas "on alert". I still didn't carry a gun, because it was unlawful for me to do so. My being "on alert" doesn't trump the law. It shouldn't for anybody.

 

[jj2am44]

In PA if you get pulled over and the PD runs your plate or License # it comes up on his PC that you have a permit to carry if you have one.
I have been pulled over for an outted brake light on two of my cars in the past couple years,
And never has there been a mention of a firearm either time from either the PD or me.
I have asked a local PD about it and he said that it comes up on his PC,
I have known a few guys in Phila where as soon as the PD sees that you have a permit, They ask for the firearm while they write you a ticket and make sure it's in your trunk when they let you leave,
Not legal to do so,,, But with the PD shootings in Phila I can understand that they are on alert.
Peter

LTCF's are not linked to your DL. A separate inquiry must be run in order to find out if the person has a LTCF. Also, it is a county by county thing.

 

[OhDannyBoy]

I play golf with three State Troopers. I have asked them this question. I told them that I didn't see the need to muddy the waters of a routine traffic stop by throwing a gun into the mix. They all agreed. Unless I am specifically asked about having a firearm in my possession, or I am asked to step out of the vehicle, I will not mention a concealed handgun.

It will be "Yes sir and no sir, answers while following their requests. My hands will remain on the steering wheel unless I am asked to get something. I will usually have my license and registration/ proof of insurance ready when the officer gets to my vehicle. If pulled over at night, the dome light is turned on and hands are on the steering wheel. These things are much appreciated by the law around these parts.

+1

Finally something I have a great deal of experience in. Being pulled over and carrying a gun, often simultaneously. I have had it happen numerous times and I have never advised the LEO. I have read almost everything Massad Ayoob has written for about 13 years. He has been a cop for about 40 yrs, is an expert witness on shooting cases and has his own school, Lethal Force Institute. I think his advice is very good on the subject. Stop vehicle in a safe area, shut it off, dome light on (at night) hands on wheel, license and other documents in hand or on dash. OK, now about that gun. If you stay in car and it is WELL concealed, don't bring it up unless required. If you are asked to get out, before doing so say "Of course, Officer, but I want to advise you a have a concealed carry license and I have it on now. Please tell me how you would like me to proceed". Don't say the word "GUN". If he or his partner only hears that word, due to traffic noise or whatever, you're gonna see his! You are being a true mature responsible citizen. Any LEO worth his salt will respect you for it. The few bad ones are another story. Fortunately they really are very few.

+1

 

[kennyb]

If you are CC here you have to tell the cop your are carrying.

Why I don't believe in the laws supporting cc, the NRA to date ( they are no better than the politicians that have ruined this country and play by the politician rules) and distrust all cops at a biblical level concerning my right to bear arms.

I also work hard to be a good boy with a limited life to enjoy what freedoms I have left and avoid police contact the best I can through obeying the socialist laws in place in this once great land.

wow...a shame about all your lost "freedoms" and "limited life"..sounds like with all that happiness it may be time for you to switch states...better yet switch countries to better avoid police contact thru ...what was it you said?oh yeah,our "socialist laws"

 

[buckeyeshooter1]

On numerous Internet forums, and some email lists, gun owners periodically report being hassled by police when pulled over for routine traffic infractions. These gun owners often complain of being detained for longer than necessary to issue a traffic summons, being temporarily disarmed, and having the serial numbers of the guns recorded.

But often there is a common thread to these stories – the dorky gun owner brought up the gun thing all on her own!

Traffic stop gun dork behavior comes in a variety of flavors, but here are the major ones:

The I gotta show my carry permit gun dork: This gun owner, for whatever reason, insists on notifying the officer she holds a gun carry permit. Maybe thinking the officer will give her “professional courtesy” and not issue a summons if the officer sees the permit, the gun dork slyly exposes her permit while finding her driver’s license, or maybe asks, batting her eyes, “officer, do you want to see my concealed handgun permit?”

The I gotta notify the officer I have a gun gun dork: This gun owner, even when in many or most states like Virginia and Pennsylvania which do not require gun owners to notify officers that they have a gun, always starts the conversation with police officers with “I have a gun!,” or words to that effect. And regardless of how toastmaster smooth this gun dork thinks he can speak, the officer likely perceives the relevant communication simply as “I have a gun!” when his brain processes this spontaneous statement by the unknown subject he has just seized.

The I gotta act like the police might shoot me gun dork: This gun owner, after turning on his dome light even in day time as if his balding head needs illumination, grips his steering wheel in white knuckled determination to refuse any temptation to move or open his wallet and glove box to get his driver’s license, registration, and proof of insurance. Nosirreeee, this gun dork is gonna to wait 'till the officer gets to the window and tells him how to chew soup today.

And sometimes these gun dorks execute more than one of these behaviors, or one of several others oddities – like my favorite: getting out of their car “to meet the officer on equal ground.”

Just compare these gun dorky behaviors to what most motorists do in a traffic stop: First they say “oh [insert favorite explicative]!” Second, they pull over in a spot that gives the officer a place to park too. Third, they take a deep breath and then get out their driver’s license, registration, and proof of insurance – about that time the officer is walking up and observing this normal behavior and saying something like “good morning sir, I need see your license and registration.”

At this point the normal motorist tries to seem relaxed as possible, slightly apologetic too, and does a little Colombo routine, something like: “Oh, ahh, sure officer, I think these are up to date, ahh, do you want that insurance thingy too?” Over the next few minutes the officer runs checks on your docs, gives you a short lecture, and then issues you a warning or summons and everybody is on their way.

Incredibly, gun dorks seem surprised or infuriated when things go differently for them. Gun dorks should think for a minute and realize that what they are saying or doing is frankly very strange and unnerving and creates a problem for the police officer that he must deal with – and deal with in only a few seconds based upon what his training, instincts, recollection of possible department policies, and personal biases tell him to do at that instant.

And let’s not forget the relevant social and economic incentives for police officer behavior – if the officer treats the gun dork like any other ordinary motorist after the gun dork communicates “gun!” in one way or another, and something bad happens during that traffic stop, do you think that officer is goin’ to get selected for Detective anytime soon?

So here’s a great New Year’s resolution for 2010: Don’t be a gun dork in traffic stops!

Happy New Year!

Sounds like YOU are the dork here! Like some have pointed out several states like mine require informing the officer you are armed. Glad you are not 'on the job' in my state, we don't need Dorks with badges here!

 

[roundgunner]

Sounds like YOU are the dork here! Like some have pointed out several states like mine require informing the officer you are armed. Glad you are not 'on the job' in my state, we don't need Dorks with badges here!

Ouch!
Chill out. Is it possible you missed the point, and the attempt at humor?
Tread lightly

 

[BigRich315]

We don't have to inform here, and the subject hasn't come up for me. I've wondered alot about reaching for a license that is right beside my weapon. I suppose I should make an effort to have my wallet more easily accessable in the future.

As soon as the plate is ran the officer will know of my permit, so I intend to not bring it up unless asked. I'm not sure if it will come up when I venture into enemy territory (Ohio), but since I have to inform there I suppose it isn't much of an issue.

I have been stopped prior to my carry days and all I did besides pull over was roll down the window (once in a downpour, that taught him to pull ME over...). The last thing I want is to be seen reaching around when they already know I'm armed. The less stress on the person with a weapon and the right to use it the better.