Got stopped in a highway traffic check yesterday.

[rwsmith]

Unless you are in...

The requirements of our individual states aside, it is just common sense to give a LEO a heads up that a handgun is in your vehicle or on your person. It takes away the element of surprise and puts everyone at ease so there can be no misunderstandings. Even if it was not required by law, the Officer will probably thank you for revealing this.

Unless you are in Wisconsin where they tell people that they are going to kill them right then and there.

 

[leswad]

The dealer that sold me my machinegun told me of a time when he was moving a covered trailer full of class III weapons from Bonham to Dallas in a cover trailer. Before he left he noticed the trailer tags had expired so he moved the plates from another trailer to this one to be "legal." On his way a DPS officer pulled him over after running the tags on the trailer and noticed that the description of the tags did not match that type of trailer. After him explaining moving the tags, the officer asked what was in the trailer, and his response was "you are not going to believe me if I told you." He told the truth and the officer let him go without even looking in the trailer.

I recently got pulled over for 84 in a 60, showed my CHL, and the officer said he would have let me off if I had been doing 74, but 84 was just a little too much.

 

[GaryS]

For most LEO's honesty is your best friend. I would have let you go also without incident. Telling him where it is and that you have nothing on you eases his apprehensions just a tad.

I've been stopped maybe 4-5 times over the 43 years I've been driving, but only ticketed once. That was back when I was in college and was stopped for speeding by the proverbial "cop that would write his own mother". A number of other officers that I knew that knew him said that wasn't possible because they didn't think he HAD a mother. Anyway, it was for 50 in a 30 and the fine was $10.00. Which was real money back then. I went to the gas station, got a full tank of gas, and paid the fine to the owner. Who was also the judge in the town court. Ah, New Hampshire in the old days.

One other time I got a written warning, but that was it.

As Parker357 said, being polite is the key. Honesty is also important. I was stopped by a NH trooper back in 2000. Also for speeding as it happened. Which I was doing. I knew he had me and had pulled over before he had the cruiser in gear.

There are several sites on Al Gore's Internet that will give you some clues to how to get out of a ticket so I won't repeat them here. The short story is that if you are polite, honest, and make the officer doesn't think you are a threat, there is a good chance that you'll skate with a warning. One officer once told me that he and most of the guys he worked with have already decided if they are going to write people they stop before the officer is out of the car.

Mr. Burg's account of his encounter is disturbing as I can't figure what probable cause the officer had for searching his car. Not that I doubt his account, it just doesn't seem to make sense to me.

To the poster from NE. According to USAcarry.org, your state honors a number of other states licenses, including ME from which I have a non resident license. I don't expect to be in NE anytime soon, so I won't be testing that.

As to letting an officer know if you are carrying. MA surprisingly doesn't require that. I've asked a number of officers about it, and it's split about 50-50. I did notify an officer once when I was carrying, but he didn't care, didn't ask to see my license, didn't ask me about my firearm. I've heard horror stories about other people who have notified officers and were treated pretty poorly. I guess it's a **** shoot and if I were traveling out of state I would notify the officer because I can't remember the ins and outs of all of the state laws.

 

[Cdog]

I don't mention anything about a firearm unless asked. Why even mention it on a simple license check?

I assume he/she assumes everyone's armed, so why bring it up?

 

[Lost Lake]

For most LEO's honesty is your best friend. I would have let you go also without incident. Telling him where it is and that you have nothing on you eases his apprehensions just a tad.

This thread is 4 years old!!!

 

[jaykellogg]

In NC you are required to tell the officer. The laws are similar in a lot of states. I do know Ohio requires it.

 

[DWFAN]

For those of you who don't know Mr. Burg, here a pic of him so you can figure out why he's a cop magnet...



... not so much recently, but back before he shaved.

GF

I don't think that was very nice. Not even funny. You sir are a jerk.

DW

 

[Jyezahn]

This thread is 4 years old!!!

Aiiieee! Parker357 is a necromancer!!!

 

[Gunzuki]

My range is at my aunts farm about 15 miles away here in Ohio. Huge dirt mound backstop, took a picnic table and made rifle rests for it, and no one to bother us. However, when we go, we do the whole shabang usually go for many hours and take targets and target gongs set up everything we can. The car is completely filled with firearms of all types both long guns and handguns. There is also at least two .50 cal ammo cans of rounds for everything. I do have a ccw but i never take anything loaded with me and everything is in it's own hardcase,( really the car is freaken full). I have wondered what would happen if I ever got stopped it would be obvious to anyone that the care is full of firearms and ammo. Do you think I am gonna get a rough time for it?

 

[steamloco76]

PA has no duty to inform while lawfully CC in a vehicle. Most State Police Troopers handle being informed of a License to Carry Firearms with gun present calmly, without getting too upset, however many local and municipal officers overreact going so far as to cuff and stuff the permit holder until a check is run.

As for road checks in PA, hand them driver's license, registration and proof of insurance-nothing else unless the ask for it.

 

[Roadtrash]

My range is at my aunts farm about 15 miles away here in Ohio. Huge dirt mound backstop, took a picnic table and made rifle rests for it, and no one to bother us. However, when we go, we do the whole shabang usually go for many hours and take targets and target gongs set up everything we can. The car is completely filled with firearms of all types both long guns and handguns. There is also at least two .50 cal ammo cans of rounds for everything. I do have a ccw but i never take anything loaded with me and everything is in it's own hardcase,( really the car is freaken full). I have wondered what would happen if I ever got stopped it would be obvious to anyone that the care is full of firearms and ammo. Do you think I am gonna get a rough time for it?

I guess it would depend on the guy that stopped you. Who knows he might want to go with you and have a little fun himself.

 

[Cyrano]

On the way out to the Fort Bliss Rod & Gun Club, I got stopped at a check point. They wanted driver's licence and insurace. The nice young (pretty!!) lady officer could see the back of the truck was loaded with targets and guns, but once I had legal insurance, I was OK to go.

Many years ago I almost got into trouble. I was going up to Las Cruces to meet a friend and go out to the Butterfield Trail Range to do some shooting. I was taking a bunch of guns and ammo and he was going to do the same. I came down with a cold the night before and told him I couldn't go. It was the day two murderers went to a Las Cruces bowling alley where the owners were counting the last nights' receipts, murdered all the adults and three of the four children (they've never been caught either). There were roadblocks all over the place. I could have got into Las Cruces OK but we would have driven out straight into a roadblock and perhaps had a hard time explaining what we were doing with enough guns and ammo to start a small revolution. It probably would have turned out OK, but would have been a real interesting experience. Only time I was glad I'd caught a cold.

 

[vjg]

This thread is 4 years old!!!

Not any more!

 

[Cdog]

It's likely more relevant now than it was 4 years ago.

Laws will of course vary from state to state, but I see no reason to bring up weapons on a regular traffic stop here in Ga.

I've had a carry license for 25+ years, but Ga. has only recently added our pics to them. As posted earlier by another member, I accidentally handed my GWL instead of my DL.

The young cop looked at me and asked where my weapons were?

My jaw dropped! I thought, why ask me where my weapons are?

He saw my look of surprise and as he turned my GWL around to show me what I had handed him he told me he wasn't a mind reader, so he would still need to see my DL too.

I told him where my pistols and one rifle were located as he kinda laughed. He was very professional and at ease while talking with me.

The reason for the stop was an improperly filled in dealer drive out plate.

I've been through many license checks, etc and never brought up weapons unless asked. Unless they were in plain view I may have been ask twice in my near 40 years of driving.

 

[Checkman]

Here in Idaho if I run your DL I will be informed that you have a CCW since both ID's use the same number. I don't bother asking people where the gun is - what's the point? They have a legal right to carry concealed and Idaho has no restrictions on what type of firearm you carry concealed. This is Idaho. I just figure that all the vehicles have guns in them. Besides there is an old saying in law enforcement that goes like this.

No matter the call there is always at least one gun present - yours. And the Bad Guy can always make a go for it.

I can affirm that. I had a woman go for my Glock once. That's a felony in Idaho. I ended up pushing her off the porch of her house and came down on her - hard.She claimed that I broke a rib and we had to call an ambulance for her. *Sigh* Later she said that she just got carried away in the heat of the moment and that she was very sorry. Whatever. She put her hand onto the grip of my the Glock and pulled. Close confines and less than ideal tactical set-up. Which happens all too often in situations with cops. It isn't Thunder Ranch in the real world. The BG's often get within inches of you despite your best efforts. Anyone who has been a cop for more than a week and is honest can recall situations where quarters were very tight.

Fortunately my Safariland Level III holster worked. I jammed my elbow into her face (she later had a black eye) and shoved her off the porch. She wasn't expecting the elbow either. Heat of the moment.Okay. Who here would use that argument after trying to grab the officer's gun? The uniformed officer (I might add) who was called to the residence by the same person?

So why bother grilling gun-owners with a legal right to carry concealed?I find that I have less to worry about from them then a drunken idiot who is mad because she doesn't like what you're telling her and has decided that your weapon will suffice.

Oh and how many residences and vehicles have screwdrivers, pocket knives, hammers, big old kitchen knives and so on? There are always weapons available to a person determined to do harm.

I just make sure I'm aware of my surroundings. First and foremost.

 

[old bear]

The sheriff's deputy asked for my license, registration and proof of insurance. I handed him my license and permit to conceal carry along with the other papers. He asked if I had a weapon on my person. I said no but I've got one in the glove box. He was very polite and cool. I've read some horror stories where some cops get real uptight. He checked my lights, turn signals and said "have a nice day".

That is the way this type of thing should happen

 

[Checkman]

The sheriff's deputy asked for my license, registration and proof of insurance. I handed him my license and permit to conceal carry along with the other papers. He asked if I had a weapon on my person. I said no but I've got one in the glove box. He was very polite and cool. I've read some horror stories where some cops get real uptight. He checked my lights, turn signals and said "have a nice day".

That is the way this type of thing should happen

I agree with you there. Which is what I try to do. I'm just one officer, but every little bit helps.

 

[mkk41]

Do not have to inform here in PA , but I always do when carrying. I always hand over my LTC with my D/L.

Funny , but it always seems I'm asked if I'm "in possession of any drugs or weapons?"

One time after being stopped on my motorcycle for an on the spot helmet and motorcycle safety inspection(!) , I pulled my D/L and LTC out , but put the LTC back as I wasn't carrying at that time , the cop actually took a step back , put his hand on his gun , and the whole attitude of the encounter changed , for the worse!