Range report....

[MrTrolleyguy]

No targets to show you. Just this.



I wish I could give a range report but on the way there I got pulled over.

My vehicle registration had expired. Totally my fault. However in Philadelphia when you are stopped and you do not have current insurance, up to date inspection sticker or as in my case expired registration police impound your car right there and then. It is the Law. Okay, it was my fault.

I could give a nice half hearted rant, "No mercy, no good..." and so on but I quickly got over that.

What I thought that some members might find amusing is what happen after I got stopped. I immediately revealed that I had a weapon in each front pocket and a bag with guns and ammo in the trunk. So the officer calls for back up. I don't blame her. Be safe. In a bit we have five officers there. No problem. They treated me very nice.

I got a lot more nervous when the sarge, who now knew that I am a collector, asked me how many guns I owned. I swallowed hard and said fifty. She kept a straight face but I wondered what she was thinking. "Yes, I have a safe, whole house alarm system, new steel doors, the windows are pinned but don't have cameras yet." Bless her, she was cool about it.

The rub began when they went into my range bag. None of them knew how to open a Dan Wesson Model 15. I holler back that I can tell them how it is opened with the release ahead of the cylinder instead....."No sir, regulations, when we can't clear a gun that is loaded we have to call Swat." Clear it? I start to tell her that they are snap caps and not bullets but I stifle myself. None of the young officers knew what a snap caps was or what it was for. A new class of officers just came out of the Police Academy this month. That was the big surprise that came out of this. I kept my mouth shut. "Okay." I had made up my mind to be 100% compliant.

Twenty five minutes later the tow truck arrived first. Then Swat arrived, driving down an 8 lane (that is just the NB lanes) highway in the wrong direction. Okay, they were careful and it was nothing like an Interstate or controlled access high way. I just thought it was amusing. I needed to keep my sense of humor here and not take my dear self too seriously.

The Swat officers were naturally a bit surprised and suspicious to see the bags of ammo and all my revolvers until an officer explained that I was in route to a nearby range where I am a member.

All the officers were professional and courteous. I did go home with all my gear once my brother arrived. In the end I got to admit that sometimes and with somethings I am my own worse enemy!

And my hat's off to the good guys(and gals).


I thought this might interest some of you. Some more than others. Me, I am on the cop's side. Seriously am. 'cause I also consider myself one of the good guys.

 

[soFlaNative]

Being up front and courteous generally reaps better results than being the fundamental orifice. Glad you got out of there with your gear.

Good luck with your DMV. Daily impound rates down here are a bear.

 

[Mydogmax]

Impound your car for expired tabs right on the spot?? That's outrageous. Sounds like the state is just looking to make some extra money from impound fees.

 

[Maze 686]

Impound your car for expired tabs right on the spot?? That's outrageous. Sounds like the state is just looking to make some extra money from impound fees.

If they didn't tow it and he got into an accident the officer's would be at fault for allowing a vehicle on the road that was prohibited . All he would have to say to the judge is, "the officer's let me drive without registration ". Those officers would be looking at some serious time suspended. They did their job, nothing less / nothing more.

 

[Protected One]

That's quite the story there. Glad you got to make it home with all your guns - the car you can collect anytime. Then again, sounds like you have more "spare" guns than cars!

 

[Hapworth]

Good lord, what a party.

You handled it all quite well, which is a huge reason why it went as well as it did...

 

[Arik]

Impound your car for expired tabs right on the spot?? That's outrageous. Sounds like the state is just looking to make some extra money from impound fees.

State doesn't make money on impound fees. They call a private towing company.

You should have told the cop to blow it out her ### when she asked you show many guns you own. Not because she's a cop or because she stopped you or asked you questions. ....but because this is Philly! That's how we roll!! Stop giving us a soft image!!!

Ok all kidding aside I would most likely have done the same. At that point you choose to be or not to be your own worst enemy. When you said you own 50 guns she probably thought you ment a lot and used the number 50 as an expression of that.

I don't know if I sent you this or not but Philly has all new laws when it comes to gun ownership and they are in our benefit, not theirs.

One thing I forgot to mention. MAKE SURE YOU GET YOUR CAR BACK IMMEDIATELY IF NOT SOONER. The reason is that the city WILL send you notice to come and pick your car up HOWEVER they have a tendency to wait a month before that and in the meantime you rack up storage fees. Roughly $25 a day. When you get your car MAKE SURE you keep the receipt in case they do send that letter weeks after you have picked it up. If you toss it and ignore the letter because you already have your car it might still be in the system as confiscated and will get towed if a cop randomly checks your plates. DO NOT MESS with the bureaucratic nightmare that is the city of Philadelphia. You won't win. Instead you'll hit your head against the wall as you try to explain to the untrained, no common sense, affirmative action desk jockey that you already paid and have your car for 3 months as he or she says "but the computer tells me. ......"

Keep your paperwork!

 

[Arik]

In your case read #11 & 12

1.Not to disclose LTCF applicant information either electronically or in-person;

2.Annual training of the Philadelphia Police Department and Philadelphia License and Inspection Board of Review on the confidentiality of LTCF applicant information;

3.Customer service training for the Philadelphia Gun Permit Unit;

4.Posting a copy of the LTCF Application Notice on its website and where LTCF applications and appeals can be submitted or obtained, as well as, providing a copy to anyone who has his/her LTCF denied or revoked;

5.The City will not require references on the LTCF application and will not contact any references listed on the LTCF application;

6.The City will not require lawful immigrants or US Citizens with a US Passport to provide naturalization papers;

7..The City will not require any applicant to disclose whether he/she owns a firearm during the LTCF application process;

8.The City will not deny an application because the applicant answered "no" to any question regarding whether the applicant had been charged/convicted of any crime where the applicant received a pardon or expungement from the charge or conviction;

9.The City will process all LTCF applications within 45 calendar days;

10. The City will remit $15.00 to any applicant who is denied within 20 days;

11. The City will not require LTCF applicants or holders to disclose to law enforcement that they have an LTCF, that they are carrying a firearm or that they have a firearm in the vehicle; and

12. The City will not confiscate an LTCF or firearm, unless there is probable cause that the LTCF or firearm is evidence of a crime. In the event an LTCF or firearm is confiscated, the officer must immediately provide a property receipt, which shall include the pertinent information

 

[g8rb8]

On initially reading this I was imagining the final scene in The Blue's Brother movie.

That is a harsh law. Impounding your vehicle for a late registration. Think of everything you have to register, license, insure, etc. and imagine it getting impounded if you're late on paying a fee.

Assuming the police officer ran an unremarkable background check on you and your vehicle I do not see any liability in letting you go with a ticket or verbal warning for a low risk individual with up to date insurance and inspection sticker. Due diligence would have been exercised to make certain the driver, car, and paid up insurance were safe to drive on the road.

I would not be surprised if someone on the council that voted for this law has a relative or friend in the towing/impounding business?

When the officer was trying to stop you thank goodness you didn't keep driving and cross a state line. The FBI, CIA, and Homeland Security would have been involved.

 

[aphelion]

That is a wacky story. And somewhat depressing because so many people think that's the way it should be. Good for the OP for not making it worse for himself.

 

[iouri]

Well SWAT team seems a little excessive. Also why did they have to go through your range bag in the first place ?

 

[Arik]

On initially reading this I was imagining the final scene in The Blue's Brother movie.

That is a harsh law. Impounding your vehicle for a late registration. Think of everything you have to register, license, insure, etc. and imagine it getting impounded if you're late on paying a fee.

Assuming the police officer ran an unremarkable background check on you and your vehicle I do not see any liability in letting you go with a ticket or verbal warning for a low risk individual with up to date insurance and inspection sticker. Due diligence would have been exercised to make certain the driver, car, and paid up insurance were safe to drive on the road.

I would not be surprised if someone on the council that voted for this law has a relative or friend in the towing/impounding business?

When the officer was trying to stop you thank goodness you didn't keep driving and cross a state line. The FBI, CIA, and Homeland Security would have been involved.

It's not really like that. This is a city of 1.5 million people. There have been a lot of people who never insure or register their cars. They get the initial insurance and temp tag to actually buy the car and that's it. There are too many thing in the city for cops to remember to go back and see if they guy got his registration. The registration renewal gets mailed to you WAAAAAY ahead of time. Like 2 months ahead. There are no conspiracies here. Too many people will simply say thank you and never bother to get the registration or insurance. So now there is a car on the road that is possibly not insured and when he hits you and takes off you'll be the one stuck paying for your car damage and crying why don't cops do something about it. Philly is not Mayberry, if you don't have proof of registration and or insurance then it's a 50/50 if you even have it.

If he crossed state lines he would have been in NJ which would have been even worse without having anything to do with the alphabet soup. I'm sure that 1/2 his firearms and ammo would have been illegal in NJ

 

[zzzippper]

I hate Philadelphia. Best excuse ever for thermonuclear weapons.

 

[TenTea]

I hate Philadelphia. Best excuse ever for thermonuclear weapons.

Don't hate. Despise.

 

[Arik]

I'm sorry but what would you have them do? And complaining about Philly from Colorado is kinda like the pot calling the kettle black. How are those new gun laws coming along?

 

[wetdog]

Just for the fun of it, how many have checked their registration and inspection stickers ? I did and my car is due next month.

 

[indiandave]

I got pulled over in Stroudsburg PA last year for having a out of date registration. I had my Range bag in open view on the back seat. The officer checked me out, came back to my car handed back my paper work and said when I get home, I should register it on line and print a copy to have until they mail me one. He even gave my PBA card back. No ticket or impounding.
MrTrolleyguy, that really sucks. Another reason I only go to Philadelphia when I have to.

 

[Rick_A]

I've rode to the range on my motorcycle with a small arsenal and a bunch of ammo on my back. I always wondered what would transpire should a traffic stop occur.

 

[Krell1]

I've known and conversed with many LEO's in my time. Each one had a story or two as an example of one of their personal rules; never piss off the police! A minor problem can quickly get out of hand if you fail to see the need to cooperate. A routine traffic stop that could have ended with a warning will most likely end in a ticket if you don't keep your mouth shut and act politely.

 

[LVSteve]

Some folk here in Vegas got grumpy because Metro and the Constable's office started enforcing the "30 days" rule on registrations and licenses. Too many move here then get sticker shock over registration fees and insurance in this state. So they tend to "stretch things" when it comes to getting it sorted. That doesn't fly in a small state with a small tax base.

Add to that the fact many come from California that in the past has had a marked reluctance to refund those who move out of state before their registration is up. This has caused many to complain that they are getting dinged twice. Explain again why this is Nevada's problem?