Got in a wreck today

[IonicDOG]

Mods sorry if this is in the wrong place, feel free to move at your will.

Got in a wreck today in Terrebonne Parish, LA. Ford expedition side swiped me and spun my truck around, no one was hurt. Called 911 and the dispatcher sent a state trooper to the scene. When the officer arrived he asked who the driver was and I responded that I was, he told me to go get my information out of my truck. Thats when I told him I had a firearm in the vechicle, his response was "i don't care, go get what i told you!." He wasn't really yelling but, he was kind of snappy at me, my question is was I wrong in telling him that I had a firearm in the truck?, or should I have just kept my mouth shut?

 

[Prince Yamato]

That question depends both on state law and personal courtesy. In general though, I would say you did the right thing. You were being legal, courteous, or both. Try not to take the officer's response personally. Maybe he was having a rough day.

 

[HeXeD775]

response

I would mention it anytime to an officer regardless if asked. I would rather him be snappy at me than him not knowing & then getting concerned why I didn't tell him up front. I'm not gonna even think about attempting to hide a critical piece of info like that...let's flip it say you were the LEO would you rather get the info voluntarily or would you want to find out yourself??

 

[Black Majik]

IMO you did right by telling the officer. It's much better him knowing and not caring than him finding out later and you getting in trouble over it because you didn't notify him.

 

[IonicDOG]

Thanks all, i thought i did the right thing, just needed some reassurence.

 

[jcoiii]

In one sense, I suppose the trooper's reaction was encouraging. he didn't care that you had a handgun.

 

[IonicDOG]

It is South Louisiana LOL

 

[Nhsport]

In CT there is no requirement to notify . I have never gone out of my way to tell anyone that I have a firearm.
In the event a LEO asked me to step out or other action that would show my firearm I would of course speak before doing.
I was once stopped for a burned tail light (no really) and had a range bag full of pistols on the seat of my pickup and ear muffs and spoting scope on the dash along with various other targets ect on the seat.Yeah he asked and I said "two 357s a 45 and a couple of 44mags". He said "Ok-just leave them in the bag"

 

[tmajors]

I'd rather get snapped at then shot at any day. Look at it this way...good to hear that he didn't care if you had a gun in the car

 

[Gustav]

I think you did the wise thing its always much better to be safe than sorry.

Sorry about the fender bender you had hope everything works out.

 

[asknight]

The way I understand LA law regarding weapons (from my CCW class in AR), your vehicle is considered an extension of your home and no CCL is required to carry a weapon in the vehicle. Just don't step out of your vehicle in public with it strapped on your hip, I guess.

As always, YMMV, IANAL, etc.

 

[pbonebright]

Hey at least they showed up. A friend of mine got side swiped a couple months ago, guy had no ID, no insurance... zip. Called popo - they said no one injured, we're not coming, deal with it. Nice. I wouldn't have said anything unless they asked though.
PB

 

[Futuristic]

pbonebright wrote:

I wouldn't have said anything unless they asked though.

I would argue that that is a Location Specific decision. In Louisiana, I don't think twice about telling the Cop that I have weapons in the vehicle. I don't worry about it because I know he isn't going to care.

In some more restrictive locales, I would toe the line of the minimum legal disclosure. I mean, dancing on the line to tell the minimum necessary.

But as an example, the last time a Cop pulled me over in Louisiana, which was for driving the speed limit no less! (They were looking for Drunks, and I had a Radar Detector, so I was the only one that night going less than 80.) When the Trooper came to the window I handed him my license with my CHL right under it. (We have to disclose in LA.) and he looked at it, then asked 'Where's your weapon?' I told him I had two, one in my pocket, and the other in the Console because the holster had gotten to be a pain during the drive. He laughed and said, 'OK, and have you been drinking this evening?' That was the extent of his interest in the weapons, especially since I obviously hadn't been drinking. I was gone in 60 seconds from the time he reached my window.

In Detroit, or some other foreign land, no way. I'm telling the minimum legal amount of info. Plus, I know better than to consent to a search.

Futuristic

 

[Sunray]

"...he was kind of snappy at me..." Sounds like you interrupted his doughnut.
Better to tell him, even if he's not listening.

 

[pbonebright]

Yeah if there is a law to the effect I would comply but in Cali you don't say boo unless they ask AFAIK. Prolly end up w a boot on the back of your neck for your trouble.

 

[Billy Sparks]

I would err on the side of caution. Had a friend one time many years ago get pulled for speeding. Trooper asked for his license and registration. My friend was in a pickup and without thinking about it reached into the dash removed a 357 laid it on the seat got out his registration and turned around to be facing the troopers pistol. His comment "Did you ever know a revolver barrel looks like the Holland tunnel when you are staring down it"

 

[W.E.G.]

Definitely notify the officer if the law requires you to do so, or if events may cause the gun to be revealed to the offier unexpectedly.

As far as getting the police to show up to a property-damage-only accident, there are certain catch-phrases you can use when you call it in that may increase the chances of getting an officer to come.
"vehicles are blocking traffic - cannot be moved"
"fluids leaking on the roadway"
"other driver refused to identify owner of vehicle (no registration / no proof of insurance)"
"other driver is belligerent - fear for your safety"
"other driver appears to be intoxicated"

 

[El Tejon]

How many posts have we had about the demeanor of the police. I swear people would smile and allow the police to do all sorts of this as long as the police were polite.

I cannot count the number of people who are in my office complaining about "that cop's attitude." Not that the officer did anything illegal, but that "he was rude."

Last weekend I was at a bench and bar seminar in Cincinnati and during a session on jury selection the speaker was discussing people's experience with the police and police dishonesty. A judge, a sitting judge, related an experience of "police dishonesty" that involved no dishonesty but the police were "rude" to her. I sat and shook my head in disbelief.:banghead:

The police are not robots. They are human beings. They will have good days. They will have bad days. Road cops sit on their dog blossoms all day without exercise or stretching and makes them grumpy. They will have arguments with their wives or children or superiors or fellows. Down South it is ungodly hot and this makes tempers flare. A cop's job is 97.4% boredom and sheer terror for the rest, this proportion is not conducive for a relaxed demeanor.

The policeman snapped at me! Don't worry, you are a big boy, at least you should be if you are carrying a pistol. Once you carry a weapon, you lose your right to be offended by trivial matters, e.g. "he looked at me wrong", "I say, I say, meye onher wuz oh-fended, I say, I say", "he said this or that".

No, you were not wrong in telling the officer. You wanted to make sure that the officer did not panic in seeing the pistol. He had other things to deal with and was "snappy" (I get told that the officer was "arrogant" a lot as well). Maybe he was the only one there. Maybe his Lt. yelled at him before shift. Maybe his ex-wife won't let him see the kids this weekend.

Smile, say "very well, Officer", go get your insurance and registration information and move on.

Glad you are O.K.

 

[romma]

I got into an accident carrying a few years ago... I never mentioned it. The law in CT says you are not required to, and I decided to not make it any more complicated.

 

[pbonebright]

If you are carrying on your person I think its a different situation. The only time I would have 1 in the car is on the way to the range, unloaded in a locked case that doesn't look like a gun case, and in the trunk. Ammo, cleaning accessories out of sight, no permits etc where they are going to be seen in the course of getting out my info. No reason for anyone to ask questions. But if LEO asks specifically about guns the answer is yes. Hypothetically let's say a vehicle matching your description was recently used in a robbery, he asks about weapons, you say no, he wants to search the car... you're going to have a very long day. BTW when you are behind the wheel of a running vehicle you are not unarmed.
PB

 

[jlbraun]

When telling the officer you are armed, do not EVER say the word "gun". This is because the "draw and fire" signal during shooting quals for police are often a yell of "GUN! GUN! GUN!"

Say "firearm" or "sidearm" instead.

 

[pdowg881]

Is telling the officer you have a gun locked in your trunk propable cause for a search? Say if you were just pulled over for not using a turn signal or something?

 

[Devonai]

Since the law does not require me to volunteer that information in NH or CT, my rule is simple: If there is a reasonable chance of the officer discovering my weapon, I will tell him. I would say that the aftermath of a serious car accident is apt.

 

[209]

In CT there is no requirement to notify . I have never gone out of my way to tell anyone that I have a firearm.
In the event a LEO asked me to step out or other action that would show my firearm I would of course speak before doing.
I was once stopped for a burned tail light (no really) and had a range bag full of pistols on the seat of my pickup and ear muffs and spoting scope on the dash along with various other targets ect on the seat.Yeah he asked and I said "two 357s a 45 and a couple of 44mags". He said "Ok-just leave them in the bag"

On the other hand, I was on my way to work one day and got stopped. When the trooper came up to the car and saw I was in uniform, he asked if was carrying. I said, “Yes.” The response was “Keep your hands on the wheel where I can see them.” I was a bit shocked by that, but of course I complied. I checked into it later and determined what the reason was, but that’s another story.

I personally prefer to know there’s a gun in the car on a stop. It eliminates a lot of possible problems. But, it isn’t required that the operator tell me and I’m sure I’ve conducted stops where there was one and I didn’t know. It’s really not that big of a deal in the long run when the operator has a CCW or is transporting legally.

Maybe it’s a strange 'counter-Brady" thing, but I find the vast majority of people that are carrying legal are good folks. I suppose we can’t try to explain that to the antis; they wouldn’t understand.

Funny story- I remember a traffic stop where the driver told me he was carrying. I just asked, off-the-wall, “What are you carrying?” He replied, “ A Kimber .45.” I swear I switched to little boy mode, and I had to bite my tongue and to refrain from asking him if I could see it- I like Kimbers. But, I couldn’t figure how to do it without alarming the passer-bys as we were in a busy area. I told him that and mentioned Kimbers are sweet guns, and he asked if that's the case, why did I carry a Glock.

I explained the PD policy, and we ended up discussing the virtues of various guns for a bit and he went on his way. I ended up at a range about a year later and met him again, and he proved that not only does he carry a Kimber- he's a damn good shot.

 

[mindwip]

Is telling the officer you have a gun locked in your trunk propable cause for a search? Say if you were just pulled over for not using a turn signal or something?

Yes in some states, like CA.

Thats why when a cop ask "Do you have any weapons or drugs in your vehicle" you reply. "I have nothing illegal in the car". Also dont lie either, do what politicians do give a non answer, answer.

In CA if a cop thinks there is a gun in your car he may search it for weapons for his safety, that includes you telling him its locked with a pad lock in a hard case in your trunk.