Duty to Inform the LEO if Carrying on Official Contact

[Mark_Mark]

If you don’t have to disclose you are carrying… DON’t! why?

Here in Seattle, Cops were defunded and there goes the training too. Some (not all .. nor saying that) panic at the sound of “GUN” and due to the lack of training, 1 or 2 might freak out.

 

[daverich4]

Right on the back of my North Carolina concealed carry card it states it is “unlawful to fail to disclose to any law enforcement officer that you are carrying a concealed handgun”. It’s only come up once and I did as directed. To honest, I’m glad I did because the officer kind of did a little double take and seemed on edge for the rest of our encounter.

 

[Balrog]

Like what?

The only things you're required to disclose, if it's a traffic stop, is proof your driver license is valid, your vehicle's registration is current and you have automobile insurance. That's it.

That’s it, until you start passing laws saying you have to disclose this, or that, such as whether you have a weapon and permit. Who know what some politician might decide you need to disclose, once he thinks he can get away with it.

 

[Mark_Mark]

That’s it, until you start passing laws saying you have to disclose this, or that, such as whether you have a weapon and permit. Who know what some politician might decide you need to disclose, once he thinks he can get away with it.

Oooh yeah! Weaponized Carry Permit System! don’t think THEY won’t

 

[Big_Al]

In washington state it will come up that you have a carry permit when they run your plates.

 

[.308 Norma]

In washington state it will come up that you have a carry permit when they run your plates.

What if the vehicle is registered in your name, but your spouse is the one with the carry permit?

 

[Big_Al]

What if the vehicle is registered in your name, but your spouse is the one with the carry permit?

They go by the registered owners, if one or both have a carry permit it will show up under their name.

 

[Kleanbore]

Some (not all .. nor saying that) panic at the sound of “GUN” and due to the lack of training,

Do not say "gun" when yoy inform. Ever.

 

[nettlle]

Out of respect to law enforcement let them know that you are carrying. Put yourself in their position. And what's wrong with having the police as a possible ally of gun owners? Why would we not want them to know that?

 

[Mark_Mark]

Do not say "gun" when yoy inform. Ever.

will saying “gat” “big iron” “equalizer” “piece” “peacemaker” work?

 

[.308 Norma]

They go by the registered owners, if one or both have a carry permit it will show up under their name.

Thanks! I've wondered about that.
It's been a long time, and I don't think carry permits show up when a police officer "runs our plates" here in Idaho anyway, but the fact is, my wife had a CCW License for several years before I got one of my own, and our vehicles have always been registered in both of our names - although, my name is first on "our" pickup-truck, and her name is first on "her" Jeep - which she lets me drive once in a while.
We both have Idaho "Enhanced" Concealed Carry Licenses now, and I don't even know if they're valid in Washington state or not. I guess that's a topic for another thread though.

 

[Kleanbore]

will saying “gat” “big iron” “equalizer” “piece” “peacemaker” work?

NO!

 

[armoredman]

I was pulled over last week, (expired tags, my bad), and I haven't been pulled over in decades! Generally, obeying the law keeps the red/blues turned off. However, since my tags came up during the same month that we had discovered and started treatment of my wife's breast cancer, I missed it entirely.
So, when the officer came up to my window and asked the usual questions, I had both hands on the wheel, and stated, "Sir, before I move my hands, I want to inform that I am armed." He said where is it, I told him, and he said, "Cool, you don't show me yours, I won't show you mine." And that was the end of it. Also, no ticket, verbal warning to get my tags up, and I had that done literally within the hour. Very professional interaction, no problems.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I was pulled over last week, (expired tags, my bad), and I haven't been pulled over in decades! Generally, obeying the law keeps the red/blues turned off. However, since my tags came up during the same month that we had discovered and started treatment of my wife's breast cancer, I missed it entirely.
So, when the officer came up to my window and asked the usual questions, I had both hands on the wheel, and stated, "Sir, before I move my hands, I want to inform that I am armed." He said where is it, I told him, and he said, "Cool, you don't show me yours, I won't show you mine." And that was the end of it. Also, no ticket, verbal warning to get my tags up, and I had that done literally within the hour. Very professional interaction, no problems.

I don’t like when they say that… very demeaning, you had the courtesy to tell him you are armed and he kidda challenged you, in a passive aggressive way. What if you were open carrying? is he going to draw on you?

I just don’t think the police need to approach the car for minor traffic violations. Everything is already AI, face id, auto tag readers, camera everywhere. We just don’t need a physical person to tell you your tags are expired. How about a Text Message & grace period?

Traffic stops & domestic calls are the most dangerous events. A police officer should not get hurt for tags.

 

[sgt127]

I just don’t think the police need to approach the car for minor traffic violations. Everything is already AI, face id, auto tag readers, camera everywhere. We just don’t need a physical person to tell you your tags are expired. How about a Text Message & grace period?

You have no idea how many felons I’ve arrested for expired plates. Fail to signal turn. Minor traffic stops.

The Text message wouldn’t know to tell them to turn themselves in for the armed robbery they just did. The meth lab in the trunk. The pounds of crack in the passenger seat.

That said, I don’t recall every writing a ticket to a CHL holder.

 

[armoredman]

I don’t like when they say that… very demeaning, you had the courtesy to tell him you are armed and he kidda challenged you, in a passive aggressive way. What if you were open carrying? is he going to draw on you?

I just don’t think the police need to approach the car for minor traffic violations. Everything is already AI, face id, auto tag readers, camera everywhere. We just don’t need a physical person to tell you your tags are expired. How about a Text Message & grace period?

Traffic stops & domestic calls are the most dangerous events. A police officer should not get hurt for tags.

I should stated that the way he said it was more like a "disarming' joke - I was extremely thrown off by being pulled over, being the extreme law abiding type I am.

 

[Mark_Mark]

You have no idea how many felons I’ve arrested for expired plates. Fail to signal turn. Minor traffic stops.

The Text message wouldn’t know to tell them to turn themselves in for the armed robbery they just did. The meth lab in the trunk. The pounds of crack in the passenger seat.

That said, I don’t recall every writing a ticket to a CHL holder.

You must have seen a bunch in the Law Enforcement days. I taxi people around, mostly nights and early mornings. Always wonder when I’ll get grabbed in the back and have to shoot my Colt Detective thought the seat

 

[sgt127]

You must have seen a bunch in the Law Enforcement days. I taxi people around, mostly nights and early mornings. Always wonder when I’ll get grabbed in the back and have to shoot my Colt Detective thought the seat

I’m a sissy. I couldn’t do your job. Too dangerous. Seriously.

 

[The Night Rider]

1. I haven't been pulled over since 2008.

2. Cops in Colorado Springs aren't doing traffic stops anymore anyway.

ETA for clarification the officer in question was Colorado State Patrol

I wouldn't tell a cop I was armed unless I was specifically asked. I think I may have mentioned this before but the last time I was specifically asked the Trooper absolutely lost his mind on me.

Colorado has no duty to inform statute. The Trooper pulled me over. He walked up to my car he asked me for my driver's license, registration and proof of insurance.

Well I was getting them out he asked me if there were any weapons in the vehicle and I handed him my concealed handgun permit.

He absolutely lost his mind. He started screaming at me he informed me that I was in violation of a non-existent state law requiring me to let him know that I was armed. He threatened to take me to jail.

The weirdest thing about it all is that once he was done screaming at me he took my documentation back to his car and I'm sure ran me through the NCIS database. Man came back handed me my stuff and let me go with a warning.

That incident set to tone for all my future interactions with the police. I don't offer information to the police.

 

[Robert]

1. I haven't been pulled over since 2008.

2. Cops in Colorado Springs aren't doing traffic stops anymore anyway.

I wouldn't tell a cop I was armed unless I was specifically asked. I think I may have mentioned this before but the last time I was specifically asked the cop absolutely lost his mind on me.

Colorado has no duty to inform statute. The cop pulled me over. He walked into my car he asked me for my driver's license, registration and proof of insurance.

Well I was getting them out he asked me if there were any weapons in the vehicle and I answered in my concealed handgun permit.

He absolutely lost his mind. He started screaming at me he informed me that I was in violation of a non-existent state law requiring me to let him know that I was armed. He threatened to take me to jail.

The weirdest thing about it all is that once he was done screaming at me he took my documentation back to his car and I'm sure ran me through the NCIS database. Man came back handed me my stuff and let me go with a warning.

That incident set to tone for all my future interactions with the police. I don't offer information to the police.

Ain't CSPD great. I work in Colorado Springs, but not for CSPD. I promise you we are not all like that. Don't let one nitwit color your perception of all of us. One thing I've always suggested, and will continue to do so, is do a ride a long with the agency of your choice. Or go down to the jail and sit in Intake and observe. It would be an eye opening experience for many people.

 

[shootstraight57]

How do you vote on a question worded like that?

 

[old lady new shooter]

Like what?

The only things you're required to disclose, if it's a traffic stop, is proof your driver license is valid, your vehicle's registration is current and you have automobile insurance. That's it.

If you live in a state that requires presenting your permit on any contact with LE, then that's also required.

 

[dweis]

Voting on the question(s) is impeded by the wording. We were asked :

“Duty to Inform. We should or should not have to inform the LEO?”​

The options were: Yes, No, Undecided. If I would vote yes does it mean I voted yes for SHOULD or SHOULD NOT? It means I would have voted yes to both options.

Meanwhile, I would not inform unless the state’s law required me to do so. A lawyer friend one advised me to never provide a LEO with any info more than asked for during a weather traffic or pedestrian. He said try not to say more than Yes or No.

 

[old lady new shooter]

I was pulled over last week, (expired tags, my bad), and I haven't been pulled over in decades! Generally, obeying the law keeps the red/blues turned off. However, since my tags came up during the same month that we had discovered and started treatment of my wife's breast cancer, I missed it entirely.
So, when the officer came up to my window and asked the usual questions, I had both hands on the wheel, and stated, "Sir, before I move my hands, I want to inform that I am armed." He said where is it, I told him, and he said, "Cool, you don't show me yours, I won't show you mine." And that was the end of it. Also, no ticket, verbal warning to get my tags up, and I had that done literally within the hour. Very professional interaction, no problems.

Just curious, what city in AZ was that?

 

[old lady new shooter]

Some years back in Cali I was stopped for expired tags. I hadn't reregistered because my car had flunked the smog test, they were supposed to give an extension to get repairs in such a case. I was also wearing yellow or orange overlenses over my glasses because I have to keep out UV rays also from the top and sides, which I guess probably looks weird. Anyway, the officers followed the protocol of one comes to the driver side window and the other stays at the back corner of the car. The one that came to the window was very young and I could tell he was nervous, but I kept my hands on the steering wheel, kept calling him sir, and explained why the tags were expired. He went back to his car and I guess checked me in his computer, and was visibly relaxed when he returned and kindly gave me some kind of paper showing how much longer I had to get the repairs done in case I got stopped again.

That was way before I became a gun owner. But since being here on THR and meeting a lot of current and former cops and soldiers I realized the truth of the saying that bravery isn't not being scared, it's being scared but acting anyway. Before that I guess I thought cops aren't afraid of anything. Now I think cops encounter so many crazies in the course of their day they're probably scared at every encounter. So if I can help the cop feel like I'm not a threat, I think it's a win-win.

Of course, at this point in my life a cop would probably be more surprised than anything else to see I have a carry permit LOL. When I took the class after moving to AZ I was one of only a few women and by far the oldest (and smallest!) student. I could tell the instructor, a very large retired cop, was intrigued by my presence there. He also used me as an example when he was discussing disparity of force.