Traffic stop while carrying

[Steely Dan]

No duty to inform here. Only been pulled over once. Handed my DL and HCP to the officer. I didn't say anything about a gun nor did the officer. That's the way it should be IMO. I'm not going to hold my hands on the steering wheel or act any differently because I'm carrying. In Tenn our DL and HCP are the same number so if he runs my tag before he approaches my truck I'm guessing he knows the registered owner has a carry permit. Seems like most everyone around here has a gun in the car anyway, carry permit or not.

What he said.........
Tennessee CCW Laws, Regulations & Reciprocity Maps

Click on "CCW by State" to view your state

 

[smokindog]

I respectively disagree with clarity of the uniform and badge and I'll add vehicle as identification. This is a rapidly growing "scam" around the country. I'd be wary, especially out and away from any other people/activity. Sorry, I'm just suspicious these days. I guess I've finally completed my life long transition to my Dad, and I'm proud of it

Yes, but only after they ask for your identification (and they've clearly identified themselves as a LEO, which is usually clear via uniform and badge).

 

[Smoke]

I think the best thing you could do is jump out of the car waving your hands around and screaming "I've got a gun! I've got a gun!" like a little girl.

If nothing else you will get their attention

 

[vito]

Concealed carry is brand new here in Illinois (at least LEGAL concealed carry!) so I expect LEO's to be a bit more nervous about the whole idea of citizens carrying firearms with them. I suspect that when my license plate is run, well before the officer approaches my car, he will know that I have a concealed carry license. If he doesn't ask me, or mention anything, I will not volunteer any information on any subject, including anything about carrying. I will be sitting with my hands on the steering wheel, with my driver's license and my proof of insurance in my hand. I will also have my wallet sitting in view in case he asks me to show him/her my concealed carry license.

In truth, I have become a bit more of a law abiding driver since I received my concealed carry license, because I would prefer not to be stopped in the first place and not have to go through any such issues with the LEO. I will admit to having a heavy foot in the past, and having received many, many speeding citations. Now I make sure I keep my speed to no more than 10 over the limit which seems to be effective in avoiding being stopped.

My wife is not comfortable with ANYTHING to do with firearms. She knows I have a concealed carry license, she knows I own guns, she knows I go to the range, etc. But if I have to openly tell an LEO that I am carrying, and possibly have a more intense incident that just getting a ticket (such as having to step out of the car, hand my firearm to the officer, etc.) I know that I will have a wife who is very uncomfortable and very unhappy. So I will try to avoid ever being stopped and let her continue her "don't ask and I won't tell" policy regarding guns. Happy wife, happy life. (I suspect that she secretly feels a bit safer knowing that I am likely carrying at any given time but she would never admit it!)

 

[Stuckless]

As stated, here in Michigan the law requires us to inform (I'm not so sure about the part about telling them where the gun is exactly), but I make it a point to have my license in one hand and my cpl in the other, holding them both near the top of the steering wheel. I keep my hands there until otherwise directed.

 

[Autococker07]

Cmort probably has more info on this than I do but in Ohio I believe a permit holder was charged with failure to in form in a timely manner because it took him 51 seconds to get the cop to shut up long enough for him to get the words out.

Notification is NOT required in Florida, but a friend of mine (a local youth minister) got stopped in a DUI roadblock one night in the wee hours. He does not drink, and had not been drinking. He had been out with his airsoft group and had his airsoft M-4 on the back dash of his Challenger... no tint, in plain view....

The officer asked about the gun and he explained that it was airsoft. He asked the officer if he wanted to check it out, and the officer said no. He explained that he had been playing airsoft, and had consumed no alcohol. The officer asked for his ID, and he provided both his DL and CCW. Officer DID NOT ask if he was armed, and he did nto volunteer this information at this time (he had a full size 45 on his right hip).

The officer asked him to step out of the vehicle, and continued a line of questioning indicating that he was suspicious of DUI.... My friend, upon being asked to step out informed the officer that he was armed with a 45 on his right hip...,, no response from the police....

He got out and performed the field sobriety tests, answered their questions, and interrupted the cop and his partner TWICE to inform them that he was armed.... again, no comments from either officer on the fact that he was armed..... (three ignored notifications, and they had his ccw in their possesion).

At that time, they decided to search him, had him put his hands on the hood of the car, and he for the forth time (with his hands on the hood and back to the officers) informed them that he was armed with a 45 on the right hip (this gentleman is tall and skinny... hard for him to hide a 5" 45). Again no response.... as the original officer started to pat him down, and reached around the belt, he acted surprised to find the gun, pinned my friend on the hood, and berated him for carrying a loaded gun, while he struggled to get the gun out of the IWB holster. The verbal assault continued as the officer could not figure out how to clear the 1911, and had to have his partner show him the safety lever. Verbal assaults continued after the gun was cleared, and the preacher was placed into handcuffs and told he was going to be arrested. (second officer was running the gun for stolen).

Of course the gun came back clean, and when the partner returned he removed the cuffs, gave the gun, round, and magazine back, and told him he was free to go.

Now this fellow is young looking for his age, and has a nice car, nice job, and is a very mild mannered individual. He had never had something like this happen, and we all are still amazed that it could happen to this guy... the best we can figure the offending cop was a younger trainee, or having a bad night ect.... It just really was a pain in the butt for him, all for no reason.....


Reason I post all this is thats what I believe gfy1960 officer was saying.... if you act like an ***, it is an attention getter.... you can always calm down and apologize for being a jerk, but the LEO needs to get the fact that you are armed before things go downhill..... I doubt any cop would hold it against you when all is said and done..... it is just information that needs to be clearly communicated efficiently....

 

[feralmerril]

About 40 years ago in california, I had a friend that wanted to obey the law. He had been out shooting with his .45 auto. His bad was driving a van. At that time and probley yet if you have a gun in your vehicle it has to be unloaded and the ammo stored in a separate compartment, normally, the trunk. Rick didnt have a trunk in his van. He had the pistol laying on the passenger seat unloaded. He stopped to a drive in for eats. The window girl seen the gun and called the SD. Rick got stopped down the road, arrested and spent a few days in the hoosegow as he had no bail money.
I am not sure of all the details but know he had guns after that as we went out shooting.

 

[SMSgt]

Here's what I do. In FL I am not required to inform and won't unless asked to get out of the vehicle--at which point the truth be told. Having said that, I've never been asked to get out of a vehicle by any LEO in any state.

In other states, rather than try to memorize what each requires, I will inform upon being stopped. But first they have to catch me!

 

[Smoke]

Here's what I do. In FL I am not required to inform and won't unless asked to get out of the vehicle--at which point the truth be told. Having said that, I've never been asked to get out of a vehicle by any LEO in any state.

In Colorado Springs if they ask you to get out you are going to be patted down, so I would inform at that point.

I still wouldn't say " I have a gun" I would just hand them my permit and say "I need to give you this before I get out."

 

[CatSnipah]

I respectively disagree with clarity of the uniform and badge and I'll add vehicle as identification. This is a rapidly growing "scam" around the country. I'd be wary, especially out and away from any other people/activity. Sorry, I'm just suspicious these days. I guess I've finally completed my life long transition to my Dad, and I'm proud of it

I have absolutely no problem with what you said. Agree, in fact.

Just making the point that there has to be clear ID by LEO and they ask for your ID before you share (in SC).

However, you are speaking valid points!

 

[gdnagle]

Check the laws in your state. In West Virginia, we're not required to inform the officer during a traffic stop.
Handgunlaw.us

WV is also a open carry so you don't need a CC.

In Michigan the person who owns the vehicle their license plate will tell the LEO when him/her runs the plate that you are a CPL/CCW holder before they stop you. When they do pull you over you MUST tell them that you are a CPL/CCW holder and where your hardware is if on you. I think all states should do this for not only your safe being but also the LEO.

Both myself and my wife have a CC so they know we could have a firearm as it shows up when they run our license.

I carry IWB most of the time so in order for me to get my wallet I have to reach close to my firearm. I would rather let them know first before they see it and maybe go into theatrics.

My theory wherever I'm at is keep my hands on the wheel until the LEO comes to the window and start's his speech. Then Let him know I have a firearm and will have to reach into my back pocket to retrieve my wallet. What do you want me to do. Here they run the serial number a lot on firearms so they may want to see it not sure if they do It if you have a CC though. I hear them run the numbers a lot on the scanner and I hear dispatch tell them if a resident has a permit.

I don't like giving free information out about anything I'm carrying but would rather let them know in advance then catch a glimpse of it. I've seen plenty of videos where some LEO go into theatrics when they find a firearm one threatened to shoot the person carrying and that he would get away with it he thought. This LEO didn't even give the person carrying a chance to tell him, he kept telling the guy to shut up. Bottom line is obey the state you are in law's and do what you feel is right.

 

[Springfeildkid585]

I don't anymore. In Indiana, there's no duty to inform. I was upfront with the officer, was disarmed and treated with open hostility.

 

[cmort666]

WV is also a open carry so you don't need a CC.

Ohio and Pennsylvania are both open carry states, but in BOTH you need a license in order carry in a vehicle, and in Philadelphia, you need a license to carry AT ALL.

 

[Kentucky Dave]

I don't care what state you're in, IF you have a gun on your hip and a billfold with your driver's license in that same hip pocket, and it were me - I'd be informing the officer before I go reaching for anything!

Been there, done that, and it saved a WHOLE lotta trouble!

 

[Smitty357]

I "always" inform the officer than i am carrying from the moment we make contact. It doesnt matter if im carrying on me or if my weapon is just in my truck somewhere. I inform the officer simply because i have nothing to hide from him and I cont care if he wants to search because as I said i have nothing to hide.

Of all times ive been stopped. I've honestly never had an officer take my weapon into his possession during the stop. Most of the time they just tell me thanks for informing them. And usually, i'm let free with a verbal warning to not speed. It may not be the law to inform the officer in all states. But IMO, it cant hurt to let him know. That is as long as u have nothing to hide. And if u have something to hide, i'd hope u arent carrying. And i surely hope u arent dumb enough to tell the officer u have a weapon.

 

[Mike Grasso]

Here's how I do it, every time, wherever I am.

Windows down, interior lights on, hands on the steering wheel.

When the Officer approach's - "I apologize for making you stop Officer, I'm an off duty Police Officer (or CCW holder) and I'm armed with a 1911 on my right side, my ID is in my left rear pocket, what would like for me to do".

Years ago when I drove a B&W, I saw more than one person do this for me, I was always appreciative of the courtesy.

Regardless of the law, let them in on your status (carrying), it goes a long way.

 

[Laddy Smith]

Traffic stop

In Michigan the person who owns the vehicle their license plate will tell the LEO when him/her runs the plate that you are a CPL/CCW holder before they stop you.

Since I am the owner of 3 vehicles, a big thing to remember is to make sure your kids know the proper behavior if they are pulled over.

In our family, any of the plates will come back as a CPL holder. I've made sure our boys understand the officer will already be tipped off about a weapon by running the plate so they are to follow safe procedures even though they don't have a gun.

Lad

 

[memphisjim1]

Here in Mississippi, the Firearms Permit is keyed to the Driver's License so the officer likely already knows by the time he gets to your vehicle. While there is no requirement to inform, I have long since decided that if stopped and am armed (the most likely scenario), I will follow Mas Ayoub's advice: window down, dome light on (if at night), hands at top center of steering wheel and tell the officer,"I am armed with permit, how do you want to proceed?" It just seems like a common courtesy and a way to let him know that I don't intend to be confrontational or pose a threat. Like other posters, though, I've become more attentive to speed laws and driving courtesies. I'd just as soon not draw LE attention that might provoke a stop. The only time I've had to reveal was in the aftermath of an accident in which my car was hit. The city policeman told me to retrieve the firearm from the disabled car "but try to be discreet -- let's not alarm the others."

 

[white cloud]

Respectfully inform the officer that you have a concealed carry license, that there is a gun in the car, and where in the vehicle or on your person it can be found. Keep your hands on the steering wheel and obey instructions to the letter.

Understandably, LEO's don't like surprises. I wouldn't in their situation.

This is great advice. In SC we are obligated to inform the officer. If I was in their shoes I would want to know. I was on the way back from my hunting lease last fall and was stopped for speeding. I got my license and registration out and handed them to the patrolman and informed him that I had a CWP and was carrying. He very politely asked where I had it and I told him. He said that was fine but to keep my hands on the steering wheel when he came back from writing me up. I had no problems except my ticket. In my experience SC law enforcement is very professional and easy to deal with if you are not an idiot. Note to you Yankees. Stay up North and don't screw the South up.

 

[Dirty*Harry]

In Florida you don't have to legally say anything. With that said I've been pulled over on a few ocassions. The first thing the officer asks is "is there any weapons in the vehicle?" I say yes one in my pocket and one in the center console. One cop said you have 2 weapons in the vehicle? I felt like saying "wow you can add."