Traffic stop while carrying

[fdw]

In South Carolina you are required to inform the LEO you have a cwp and a weapon in the car.

But you do not have to inform if you don't have a CWP.

 

[tpelle]

In Kentucky I am not required to inform, but I do anyway. In the few times I've had contact with police officers I've had my concealed carry license card and my driver's license both in my hand, and as I hand them over I immediately let them know if I am carrying at that time.

It's actually only happened twice. Once, in Virginia - a State with a speed cop about every 3 feet on center - the cop asked if I had any weapons at all in the vehicle, then nothing more was said about it.

In North Carolina I was involved in a minor traffic accident, and when the female Charlotte officer arrived on scene I handed both cards over to her. She kept them while making out her report, then when she returned them she very nicely thanked me for letting her know.

Must inform or not, I think that is the best policy.

 

[Warren Sear]

I'm surprised at the amount of hard case responses, I like the adage that if you want respect you have to show respect, oh and a little common courtesy goes a long way in averting a situation of unneeded escalation in the case of a cop noticing a undeclared firearm. In Oregon it is state law that you declare you are CC or otherwise. My opinion is it is a benefit to both parties and have no issues with complying. Sometimes you gotta give an inch.

I grew up having respect for law enforcement officers drilled into me. Later on in my life, after a few unpleasant interactions with the "new breed" of rude, confrontational, aggressive LEO's, I do not tell them anything I am not specifically asked.

In the state where I live, a permit holder is not required to inform unless asked, and in my CCW class we were told NOT to volunteer any information not requested.

 

[tpelle]

A related story:

In Kentucky you have always been allowed to carry a loaded handgun in the glove compartment of your car. No permit required, but it used to be (the law was recently amended to include any storage compartment regularly installed by the vehicle manufacturer) that HAD to be the glove compartment.

A cop friend of mine told the story that he pulled a Camaro over late one night for speeding. When he came up to the driver's window, he asked for license and registration and if there were any weapons or drugs in the car. The driver replied that he had a handgun in the car. When asked where it was, he replied that it was under the driver's seat.

The cop then asked him to get out of the car, and cuffed him while he investigated further. He said he reached under the seat and pulled out a loaded Ruger Blackhawk with as 8" barrel. The Camaro driver told him that it wouldn't fit in the glove compartment. The cop said he got a laugh out of that, and let him go with a warning.

 

[PA Guns & Ammo]

I always inform the officer when I get stopped. I immediately tell him that I'm "legally carrying". I never say gun, CCW or permit. If it is dark out, I turn all the lights on in the car so they can see. My hands are usually out on the window sill or on the top of the steering wheel so he/she can see them. Yes sir, no sir or yes ma'am and no ma'am goes a long way. I usually have my license out first since it is in my wallet before the officer gets out of the car. I do not get my other papers because they are in the glove box and I do not want the officer see me reach in there while he/she is approaching. If they ask me for those papers, I ask if I can take my seat belt off and then proceed to tell them were the paperwork is and ask if I can get it. This way the officer cannot charge you with a seat belt violation because the officer confirmed for you to remove it. You kill two stones with one bird there I have had a few officers who were pricks over the years but the vast majority of them were really nice. I have never been disarmed by any officer during a traffic stop either.

James

 

[Brian41]

As stated in Michigan you must inform. My cousin forgot to when he was stopped by a small city LEO and it came back running his plate he had a permit. Officer asked and cousin said he had one in his console and forgot to inform, cousin was about 60 at the time. Cop got all upset and told him his life was put at risk and cuffed him and bent him over the cruiser's trunk while he searched the truck. My cousin lost his permit for 6 months over it too.
I tell my wife how doesn't have a permit that vehicle registered in my name will come back as owner has a CPL and to keep hands on wheel and answer questions about guns as they're sure to come.
We also have to allow a search of vehicle here if we have a permit or risk losing permit. I have nothing to hide but that law is still troubling to me.

 

[CaptRon956]

In Texas if you hold a CCW and you get pulled over by a police officer you are required to show both your drivers license & your CCW license.

I would add, that in this day & age out of respect for our law enforcement officers, if you're on your way to the range, the ranch or whatever & you have a gun in your car & they ask you if there are any weapons in your vehicle, you say "yes sir".

 

[Yahto]

I have heard conflicting views of handling this issue for years now. I was stopped for a traffic infraction a couple years back. I have always made sure the officer could see inside my vehicle as they are approaching by either putting the dome lights on or lowering the windows and keeping my hands on the top of the steering wheel. Florida is a no duty to inform state, but I handed my DL and carry license to him at the same time. He asked if the weapon was on me and I informed him it was in the side pocket of the drivers door. He did ask that I open the door a few inches but that was it. No other mention of the gun was made, he gave me a warning for creeping through the stop sign and sent me on my way. Total delay of ten minutes. I guess it all depends on how you are perceived by the officer.

 

[silentflyer]

Widow down,engine off,hands on steering wheel, dome light on if it's dark and a respectful do you want to see my drivers license and CCW permit and I am or I am not carrying today.

Treat LEO's with some respect and 99% you will get the same back.

 

[Ranger17]

frankly with everything going on recently between certain individuals/groups and those in the leo community, i'd think any courtesy or heads-up would really go a long way to keeping any stop more civilized.
I am not an officer but know those that are and I would bet they all are on a more alert status now and rightly so.

 

[John R]

As stated in Michigan you must inform. My cousin forgot to when he was stopped by a small city LEO and it came back running his plate he had a permit. Officer asked and cousin said he had one in his console and forgot to inform, cousin was about 60 at the time. Cop got all upset and told him his life was put at risk and cuffed him and bent him over the cruiser's trunk while he searched the truck. My cousin lost his permit for 6 months over it too.
I tell my wife how doesn't have a permit that vehicle registered in my name will come back as owner has a CPL and to keep hands on wheel and answer questions about guns as they're sure to come.
We also have to allow a search of vehicle here if we have a permit or risk losing permit. I have nothing to hide but that law is still troubling to me.

That's a new one on me, where did you get that from?
Never consent to a vehicle search

 

[Bull100]

I'm retired LEO when I worked I always asked if driver or passengers were armed. Now days In Mo Law enforcement seems to assume everyone is armed and will at the very least ask. I will tell them up front I am armed and where it is. I know several people that carry in the glove box or under the seat all the time and do not have their CCW. Missouri is a very conservative state when it comes to gun rights. I Know of no officer that will not at least ask you if you have a weapon in the car when making even a routine traffic stop. It's my guess you better tell the truth if asked

 

[PR24]

That's a new one on me, where did you get that from?
Never consent to a vehicle search

That sounds to me like a violation of the 4th amendment. Parolees/probationers are subject to random S&S (warrantless searches) due to their CONVICTED FELON status. No guns allowed there. I really don't see how simply having a CCW forces one to surrender their civil rights. Yes: the U.S. Supreme Court has numerous cases allowing for protective sweeps etc of homes & vehicles, but those are very limited in nature as to what or who we are searching for. So, is it possible that that specific part of the law you are referring too is talking about protective sweeps, or a full blown warrant less search? You should research that for clarification.

 

[S&W SS Revolvers]

We live in CO too. One day it will be the Free State of WY. With that said were I a LEO I'd truly appreciate a heads up on firearms and would feel much more comfortable with my stop giving me his/her CCW permit. One thing I really think should be against the law is those really dark tinted windows. Again were I an Officer those things would make me real , real nervous.

I had the opportunity to explore this event a couple weeks ago as I returned from the range at a higher than advisable rate of speed that attracted the attention of a pair of deputies and their surprisingly accurate radar gun. The officer in charge not very kindly asked me where I had been, what I had been doing, had I had anything to drink today, and was I taking any "medications?" (this is Colorado, mind you). Figuring that honesty is the best policy, especially when talking to LE, I stated that I had been target shooting on public land about 10 miles up the road and was returning home. Answers to the last two questions were NO SIR and NO SIR. Officers seemed a little tense. "How many guns do you have in your vehicle?" Now I'm a little tense. Uh ... using fingers ... 4 revolvers and one rifle. "Where are the guns?" The handguns are in cases in this box on the seat next to me and the rifle is in the case next to that. "Ok, do you have any weapons ON you?" NO SIR. That was the truth, but I had reserved my last 6 rounds of 357 in the model 19 just because. That is legal in this state and I do also have a concealed carry license, but had just elected to put the gun in the case for the ride home.

"Ok, let me see your papers and don't go digging around in that box." YES SIR, I understand.

Turns out I checked out as distinctly non-threatening and he advised me to be more observant of the signage due to the number of deer and elk on the road, don't want to hit one of those, makes a mess. Yes, I see them regularly and I promise to be more careful. "OK, have a nice day and here is my business card in case you have any questions about this contact." Then they relaxed and made some jokes about the targets that were clearly visible in the back. I think they were mostly looking for impaired drivers coming back from the nearby casinos and I didn't fit the description.

To make a long story longer, I thought about all this and sent the officer a respectful email inquiring about the proper procedure if I had been armed on my person. In the meantime, I looked up the law and it turns out that Colorado does not have a Duty to Inform law. In a couple hours, presumably at the end of his shift, he replied, also very respectfully, that IF ASKED I must state that I am armed. Then, it is up to the officer's discretion whether to disarm the person. Just do as directed.

So, I learned a little bit. Check your local laws.