What do you do during a routine interaction with LEO while carrying?

[bitstream]

I'm new to conceal carry; have my Georgia license and have read the laws. Here's my question that doesn't seem to be answered exactly anywhere I've found:

If you are stopped by the police for some reason (speeding, red light, DUI checkpoint, etc.) that has nothing to do with you being armed, and you are carrying lawfully and have your license, what do you do and when? I heard one guy say the few times he was stopped for a traffic violation, he handed his conceal carry license to the Officer along with his Drivers license. When the cop asked, he told him what he was armed with and where. He said that the couple of cops he dealt with were fine with that and even struck up a conversation about guns. Anyone else have experience? thoughts?

 

[Capt Steve]

I'm new to conceal carry; have my Georgia license and have read the laws. Here's my question that doesn't seem to be answered exactly anywhere I've found:

If you are stopped by the police for some reason (speeding, red light, DUI checkpoint, etc.) that has nothing to do with you being armed, and you are carrying lawfully and have your license, what do you do and when? I heard one guy say the few times he was stopped for a traffic violation, he handed his conceal carry license to the Officer along with his Drivers license. When the cop asked, he told him what he was armed with and where. He said that the couple of cops he dealt with were fine with that and even struck up a conversation about guns. Anyone else have experience? thoughts?

Know the laws for your location as they vary from state to state. Many states require a CCW holder to disclose, some do not. Every LEO I have asked has said they appreciate being told and in many jurisdictions they will know as soon as they run your license. I would rather be up front and have no qualms about disclosing that I am legally armed. You are much more likely to get a discussion on guns than a hard time.

 

[The Big D]

This has been discussed many times before in this Forum. I will reiterate two "facts."

1. Know and comply with the applicable law(s), if any, in the jursidiction in which you find yourself.

2. Don't let the LEO be "surprised" by a gun on your person. If you don't have to make it known that you are CCW, don't let the gun be revealed.

Speaking personally, I always let it be known I am CCW during interactions with LEO's. And when working as a LEO (now retired), I always wanted to be made aware if one was CCW.

LEO's do not like surprises involving guns. If you are carrying legally you have nothing to worry about.

Be safe.

 

[rjroberts]

As has been said, local laws govern. While there is no duty to disclose unless asked in FL, the CWL class instructor said the smart thing to do is hand the LEO your CWL with your DL. That says two things: "I have a weapon" and , I have a legal right to have it on my person."

 

[LoboGunLeather]

I always appreciated it when people let me know they were armed. As a cop I knew that they had been through a thorough background investigation as part of the permit process.

Now retired, I am fortunate to have my nifty little retirement badge in my wallet, right next to my driver's license. I've never even been asked if I was carrying.

 

[hobby-gunsmith]

As a general rule in the State of Florida and have a clean record, you have no obligation to tell a police officer you have a gun or weapon on you, or in your vehicle. However, if you lie about it, and he finds out, you will probably have a very displeased police officer, and a heap of trouble. A rule of thumb is to never volunteer that information unless the officer is about to look into the glove compartment, etc.-- where he will obviously find out. other than that--keeping your mouth shut on the issue is probably the best approach. However, if asked--you need to make a decision on whether to answer the question directly--or not. You could legally, and truthfully say: Officer, I have absolutely nothing illegal on me, or in my vehicle. However, this might not be an appropriate response in all situations. Moreover, if this doesn't satisfy him, do not suggest lying. The best approach on being specifically asked is usually to say something that "legalizes" your position --ie--Officer, I have a legal firearm securely encased in my vehicle or officer, I have a concealed permit in my wallet. I also have a legally concealed firearm. Would you like to see the permit? On the other hand, if the officer discovers or is informed that you have a weapon or firearm--he has the absolute right to temporarily take it into custody during the encounter to protect himself/herself from harm. Totally legal. The officer may even unload the weapon, and place it in his unit until the encounter is over. After the encounter--unless you're being arrested, you're supposed to get the firearm or weapon back. Probably unloaded with the cartridges separate from the firearm--until you or he leaves. Again--totaly legal. Police don't want to get shot. Do not argue with them. Do not challenge his authority. Do not threaten to fight it in court, get a lawyer or make a complaint with the police agency. Even if you are right, even if your rights are being violated--saying anything like that is sure to get you in more trouble. This is what I tell my students teaching concealed weapons courses. Each State is different and you need to be aware of the legality of that State.
Nick

 

[PatAz]

In my only encounter I informed the officer, even though I didn't have to.
Also only got a warning.

 

[Ogandydancer]

I agree with the BigD; N.C. is a Shall Inform state and so that is what I do because if you don't and they have cause to run your D.L. it will automatically pop up that you are licensed and like BigD said LEOS don't like those kind of surprises. Other than that after I inform I may ask if he wants me to do anything regarding my pistol. If however you don't inform in N.C. you are automatically in violation. Best thing is to know the laws of your /or the area you are currently in.

 

[P&R Fan]

I've been carrying for 25 years and in the too many times I've been stopped I've never felt it was necessary to tell the LEO I was armed. I think Massad Ayoob has a really good rule of thumb he talks about in his classes and articles. He advises to follow the law as it pertains to this. If you don't have to tell, don't. However, if asked to get out of the vehicle everything changes. Say, "certainly, Officer, however I just want to inform you I am licensed to carry and I have it on now. Please tell me how you'd like me to proceed". This is said with hands in plain view on the steering wheel. Do not say the word "gun". If his partner is somewhere and only hears that word, bad things will happen. You stated 'I am licensed". This means you are a law abiding citizen and you are fully cooperating. Unless the LEO is totally unprofessional you SHOULD get a good response.
In any case however, do EXACTLY what he says. Then tell us how it turned out.

 

[drjpark]

I reviewed this last week with several LEO friends and had to use it this week. When stopped, keep you hands on the steering wheel and let the LEO know you are a CC. At this point, at the LEO's decision, he may ask you to exit the car, so he can watch you get your licenses. Normal after that.

 

[OKFC05]

Follow the law of the state you're in, for sure.
Failure to inform in Oklahoma is in the top 3 "best" ways to lose your license.

 

[cmort666]

Know the laws for your location as they vary from state to state.

This is in my opinion, THE most important aspect of carrying, concealed or openly.

KNOW the applicable aspects of state and local law, because you CANNOT count on the LEO to do so. You could fill a book with erroneous statements about the legality of carry and ownership made by LEOs that have been related in the various discussion forums. I've personally experienced it myself. This is such a problem in some areas that people who carry, also carry and use voice recorders where lawful to do so. I'm one of those people.

If you know and obey the law, you will come out on top, eventually. If you DON'T know and obey the law, you're shafting yourself. I GUARANTEE you that NOBODY is going to want to hear from YOU that there are, "too many laws to know".

 

[cmort666]

If you are carrying legally you have nothing to worry about.

That can't be stated as an ironclad rule.

A guy from North Carolina, legally carrying in Virginia was stopped by Fairfax County cops. He notified, even though he was not required to. They thereupon arrested him for a variety of "offenses" which are in fact NOT offenses in Virginia, including "crossing state lines with a loaded weapon", "having hollowpoints", and "carrying a concealed weapon (with a North Carolina credential, recognized by Virginia)".

The person was brought before a magistrate who immediately characterized the arrest as a FALSE arrest, and who easily verified the man's license using the number printed on it... even though the cops claimed they COULDN'T.

Even after the man was freed by the magistrate, the police tried to unlawfully keep his firearm.

Ohio requires me to notify if "stopped for a law enforcement purpose". Otherwise, I NEVER would.

When it comes to carrying of a firearm, I'm STRICTLY letter of the law, nothing more, nothing less. And I make SURE I know applicable law.

 

[G.T. Smith]

My routine has never included an interaction with the law.

 

[RufusG]

Here in AZ, you aren't required to inform, so I don't. In recent years, my interaction with LEOs have run about 75% carrying a shotgun out in the desert, and 25% in my car, so teliing them I had a CCW would have seemed a bit silly in most cases.

I got pulled over up north on a two-lane in the mountains a couple years ago for speeding, cop saw my dogs in the back, said it was okay for me to walk them if they had to pee while he wrote it up, so I got out and did so. He and I ended up chit-chatting for a while about hunting in the area standing behind my truck. I was carrying as I always do. If he knew I had a CCW he didn't say. He gave me a warning only and we went our separate ways. Polite cop, law-abiding citizen, I don't see why any notification is needed if that's within the law.

Now in AZ we have constitutional carry, so the LEO running our license to see if we have a permit is not as valuable to them, if it ever was. Althoigh I'm not certain if the notification requirement is different if you are sans permit?

 

[cmort666]

My routine has never included an interaction with the law.

Nor should anyone view notifying when not required as a "get out of jail free" card for speeding and other traffic offenses.

The way to not get speeding tickets, is NOT to inform an LEO that you're carrying when the law doesn't require it.

The way to not get speeding tickets is to not SPEED.

 

[bitstream]

I've been carrying for 25 years and in the too many times I've been stopped I've never felt it was necessary to tell the LEO I was armed. I think Massad Ayoob has a really good rule of thumb he talks about in his classes and articles. He advises to follow the law as it pertains to this. If you don't have to tell, don't. However, if asked to get out of the vehicle everything changes. Say, "certainly, Officer, however I just want to inform you I am licensed to carry and I have it on now. Please tell me how you'd like me to proceed". This is said with hands in plain view on the steering wheel. Do not say the word "gun". If his partner is somewhere and only hears that word, bad things will happen. You stated 'I am licensed". This means you are a law abiding citizen and you are fully cooperating. Unless the LEO is totally unprofessional you SHOULD get a good response.
In any case however, do EXACTLY what he says. Then tell us how it turned out.

Thanks to everyone! It appears (from georgiapacking.org's website) that Georgia does not require you to volunteer that you are armed. So, it sounds like, if it ever comes up, to just be courteous, follow instructions, and let him know before he finds out some other way.

BTW, good deal on you getting a license back in Iowa! Until just recently, they handed those out sparingly. My grandfather had one because he was a pharmacist and had to carry sums of cash to the bank from his store.

Regarding your comment about using the word "gun"... Funny story, my aforementioned grandfather forgot to bring his German Luger (WWII vet) with him to his vacaction home in MN. So, he asked us to bring it when we visited (from DSM, IA). We didn't know what to do, so we made sure it was empty and put it in plain view on the floorboard (somebody told my Dad to do this). So, we're motoring along and get stopped at a checkpoint in MN (they were stopping everybody). I was driving (I had just got my permit [age 16] and barely had any experience). As the cop walks up, my Dad leans way over me to yell out "We've got a gun in the car"... That went over well...

 

[G.T. Smith]

Nor should anyone view notifying when not required as a "get out of jail free" card for speeding and other traffic offenses.

The way to not get speeding tickets, is NOT to inform an LEO that you're carrying when the law doesn't require it.

The way to not get speeding tickets is to not SPEED.

Amen to that.

 

[Grog]

Since it seems many DLs are linked to permit status, how much fun would it be for the cop to get all butthurt over you not telling him you have a permit when you don't actually have a weapon with you

 

[cmort666]

Since it seems many DLs are linked to permit status, how much fun would it be for the cop to get all butthurt over you not telling him you have a permit when you don't actually have a weapon with you

In fact, the law in Ohio states that you must notify WHEN CARRYING CONCEALED, "when stopped for an official purpose". There's NO legal duty to notify when not carrying, although some cops don't know it, and some carriers do it anyway.