I got pulled over today while carrying.. Didn't tell the cop

[USAF385]

It was bound to happen sooner or later.

I got done working early today so I ran some errands... Picked up some groceries, picked up my dress blues from the dry cleaner, visited my wife at work. I'm generally aware of the speed limit and usually go slower, but I got caught going 50 in a 35 (right where a 50 stretch meets a 35 stretch, by the way). I wanted to pass the car that I had been passing and carried on too far into the 35. I saw the lights coming up behind me and didn't even think it was for me. I got over and when the cop got over behind me, I thought "hmm that could be for me." Even then I still didnt think it was for speeding.

I turned off the road and sure enough the cop followed so I pulled my truck over. Typical encounter (I assume). He asked for my license, registration, and insurance which I provided. He told me I was going 50 in a 35 to which I simply said "ah" and nodded my head. I wasn't about to argue because I figured he was right. He asked where I was going and I told him I was going home. He asked where I had been and I told him running errands. I wasn't about to come up with some story to try to get out of it.

He went back to his car and did his thing. I sat there waiting... sad that my spotless record was no more. After a few minutes he came back and asked me about my dress blues which were hanging up. I saw a glimmer if hope at this point. I told him the short version.. I'm in the reserve and got my blues cleaned. He asked if I served in the wars and I told him that I had been in Iraq and Afghanistan while active and again in the reserve. He told me he served in desert storm in the Army. He then told me that he was just giving me a warning. I thanked him, told him I appreciated it and he told me have a nice day and was off.

Now, there have been threads about what to do if pulled over while carrying. In PA you don't have to tell them (unless I'm mistaken..) I decided to let things play out and see what happened. He didn't ask if I had any weapons so I didn't tell him. So I was pulled over while carrying, didn't tell him I was, and everything was okay. I made sure to keep my hands visible while he was approaching both times just to make him more at ease.

I like to think he let me off because of my politeness and honesty. I didn't argue or tell him stories. I'm not complaining though if it was just because of the uniforms. Maybe it was a combination of the two.

Oh.. Bodyguard .380 IWB appendix, by the way.

 

[P&R Fan]

I've never advised the LEO when I was carrying and got pulled over. Massad Ayoob has a great Youtube bit about this. He says you really don't need to in most states unless they ask you to get out of the car. Then it changes. He says to say "certainly, officer, but before I do I want to advise you I am licensed to carry and am doing so now.....please tell me how you would like me to proceed". Never use the word "gun" in this statement, as his partner may be just coming up, and if that's all he hears, you're gonna get a REAL GOOD look at HIS!
You are being polite and cooperative. Nobody SHOULD have a problem with that.

Oh, I just remembered, I guess I actually did tell the last time I got a speeding ticket. It was the Iowa Highway Patrol, I was on a surveillance and was trying to close the gap on my subject. He was a nice guy and had me come back and sit in his unit. I was not carrying, but had a Glock in the car. He wrote the ticket, was interested in the fact I am a Private Investigator, so I told him I had a Glock in the car. He didn't care, he knew I had a permit. Then I asked him if that was an S&W M&P he was carrying. He said yes, and he really liked it. We had a nice talk, I shook his hand and left.

Some of 'em kinda like to talk about guns, just like the rest of us.
Jim

 

[Kanewpadle]

I was pulled over several years ago. I handed the officer the usual documents as well as gun permit. He asked me where the gun was and I told him. He asked to keep my gun hand in view at all times. He thanked me and let me go with a warning.

There can be pro's and con's to both methods. Just use your head.

 

[ogilvyspecial]

In Michigan we don't have a choice, that is if we want to be legal.
We got's to tell.....

 

[beemerrider]

I've had my concealed handgun permit in Oregon for a little over 40 years, and while I don't think it is required, I would always tell the officer I am carrying if that is the case. Friends who are police officers have told me the majority of officers appreciate and respect your honesty in doing so. In the few times I've been pulled over, I have told the officer I am carrying, have a permit and where the pistol is located. I recall being pulled over one New Years eve in a Lake Oswego Oregon "drunk driver gillnetting operation". The Sergeant appreciated my being forthright and asked what I was carrying, to which I replied "a Glock model 26" at which point he strongly advised me to get a "real gun" i.e. a more powerful Glock in at least .40 caliber or larger. He provided me a great excuse with my wife, providing me the opportunity to add to the collection. Officer and me, 10 points; wife 0, which she rapidly rectified with a trip to the mall shortly thereafter. Hey; "Whadaya gonna do?"

 

[MichiganScott]

In Michigan we don't have a choice, that is if we want to be legal.
We got's to tell.....

Last time I got pulled over I told the officer that I have a permit, but was not carrying. I believe central dispatch gives them the permit info when they call in the stop. I was thanked for letting him know and let go with a warning.

 

[Tliryc]

You are required to show the LEO your D.L. and CHL permit if you are carrying or the gun is about you in Texas. They will find out you have your CHL when they run your D.L. and then come ask you about it. Failure to provide both can result in a suspension of your CHL for 30 days for the first offense. It gets worse with your second (1-2 yrs) and the third offense if a full on revoking of your CHL. May want to check up on your state rules USAF just to be on the safe side.

 

[CigarGuy]

I'm just impressed you were willing to take your ticket, as you deserved it. Grown men don't beg(about anything!)

 

[Biginge]

I always inform the officer that I am carrying, where located, and what are his wishes. What is the downside of this?

 

[Retired LTC USAR]

Just place yourself in the officers shoes............wouldn't you want to know if the person you are stopping has a weapon or not?

 

[ispcapt]

Just place yourself in the officers shoes............wouldn't you want to know if the person you are stopping has a weapon or not?

Ask people why they carry a gun. The usual answer is they carry because you never know who else is carrying and you don't know who the bad guy is. Now put that same person stopping a car at 2 AM 30 minutes away from any backup and ask them what they think about the possibilities of the person they just stopped? I had civilians ride with me on mids who were the tough talkers but when making such a traffic stop refused to get out of the car because they were scared to death. Had one guy who was a real tough talker telling me stories how he foiled burglaries and gave the steely eyed stare to keep attackers at bay. When I made the traffic stop the guy was so scared he urinated his pants. I was tired of his long winded BS by then so good as reason as any to take him back to HQ and drop him off.
They carry because they want to protect themselves from the others who might be carrying and they don't know who is might cause them harm and those who won't but they don't want to take the chance.

 

[M29since14]

The Sergeant appreciated my being forthright and asked what I was carrying, to which I replied "a Glock model 26" at which point he strongly advised me to get a "real gun" i.e. a more powerful Glock in at least .40 caliber or larger. He provided me a great excuse...

Some guys have all the luck! (But the ladies will always find a way to get the upper hand. )

 

[USAF385]

Just place yourself in the officers shoes............wouldn't you want to know if the person you are stopping has a weapon or not?

I can see your point. If he had asked if I was carrying, or had any weapons, I would have been honest. He didn't ask though and since I was legally carrying and was stopped for speeding, it wasn't relevant.

 

[Imaposer]

Hasn't happened often, but when it has I hand them my DL and my permit together. I keep them together in my wallet, so I figure that's the easiest way to handle it. I don't have to say anything that way. Just hand him both documents and let him take it from there. I remain respectful and polite, keep my hands on top of the steering wheel or otherwise in plain sight, and answer their questions.

Once, years ago, while having an argument with my ex gf (long story short, she was really sick and needed to see a Dr. I was trying to take her and she got out of the car and started walking. I was walking with her down the street trying to get her to come back to the car so I could take her to the Dr.), for some reason the cops stopped (we were standing on the side of the street). They asked for my ID. I did as described above and gave them both docs. They asked if I was armed and I told them that I was. He asked where it was and I told him, right front pocket. He asked me to place my hands on the hood of his car, patted me down and reached into my pocket and removed my pistol. He cleared the gun and put it in his pocket. His partner just saw the gun and made some negative remark about it (Keltec P32). Officer #1 corrected him, told him what it was and explained that they were actually pretty good little guns. We talked about guns for a minute or so. I was polite and cooperative the whole time. We then discussed the situation. Once everything was settled he gave me my gun back and told me that I needed to clean it. It was my "always" gun and it had been a while since I had cleaned it. He had felt a little grit when he racked the slide to clear it.

I don't feel compelled to tell them really, but I figure it's best not to take chances. Just be up front and avoid the potential for a problem. I try to put myself in their shoes. While I've never been a cop I would think that the unknown in a traffic stop would be stressful. I would think that I'd rather know, and if someone was honest enough to tell me up front I'd probably be more comfortable. IDK, just a thought.

 

[NYlakesider]

I always inform the officer that I am carrying, where located, and what are his wishes. What is the downside of this?

None that I can think of. (Most times in my state they know you have a CCWP from running your info)

Another positive is it can sometimes reduce or do away with a ticket. I have talked guns with a few officers on the side of a road! More talk normally = less paper!

Way back when was stopped by SP and Encon at a road block during the hunting season. The officers wanted me to step out and open up the back tonau on my pick up to look for animals. I was wearing a shoulder rig with a 4'' 44M and told the trooper that. I said please tell your buddies so nothing bad happens . He said he is carrying a gun and out I came. I opened the back and the officers were cool about my Smith. One even said to me "this is not an official request but could I look at your gun''. I carefully pulled it out cleared it and handed it to the trooper.


At that time .44 Smiths due to Dirty Harry were hard to find and when found most dealers wanted a large premium. He offered me a very decent amount (he had cash in hand)for my gun as he said he had been trying for a while to get one. I said it took me a few months to get it and no sale. He thanked me shook my hand and off we went

 

[Cook74]

Maybe the LEO did not ask if you had a gun because he saw your USAF Dress Blues and figured... AF don't normally have weapons... Just BA planes and bombs and stuff... (jk)...

BTW, thanks for your service...

Now back to the thread...

In our state, we don't have to tell but I have no problem telling a LEO that I am armed and where I am carrying. Only because I would like to know if the roles were reversed. That's me, my choice and I understand others and their reasons for not telling... I think anytime I can put a LEO at ease is good business.

I asked a very good friend who is a local LEO (Helped get his daughter into the Naval Academy) and he said he would prefer to know a stop was carrying. Reminds me, I need to call him and say hi...

 

[thndrchiken]

No duty to inform in PA, I do however keep my permit in the same pocket as my license, so they both come out at the same time. I know if I were on the other side of the encounter I would appreciate it.

 

[moe l.]

What happens if you don't have a CC permit, you get stopped with a bag-o-guns in your trunk having just returned from (or on your way to) the range? Are you obliged to tell???

 

[Tliryc]

What happens if you don't have a CC permit, you get stopped with a bag-o-guns in your trunk having just returned from (or on your way to) the range? Are you obliged to tell???

In my state no. As long as the gun/s is not on or about you (within reach) you're in the clear. No need to even inform the LEO that you have them.

 

[Imaposer]

What happens if you don't have a CC permit, you get stopped with a bag-o-guns in your trunk having just returned from (or on your way to) the range? Are you obliged to tell???

Not unless asked. Of course if he asked me to open the trunk I'd probably tell him before he saw them.

In GA, you don't have to have a permit to carry a gun concealed in your vehicle unless it is concealed on your person. At least it used to be that way. Although I've had a permit for so long now that I haven't kept up with non-permit laws. Most states that I'm familiar with at the very least allow the transport of legal to possess firearms as long as they are unloaded and inaccessible from the passenger compartment, or in a locked container. Of course this may not apply everywhere, just where I tend to travel in the SE.