got pulled over while carrying

[Ukraine Train]

This was the first time I've been stopped while carrying. I saw the lights come on and as I pulled over was wondering what I did wrong, as far as I knew nothing, but nevertheless I've never been more nervous during a stop. I'm an Ohio resident but was in Flint, MI where I go to school. As the officer approached he asked for my license and registration but instead of reaching for anything I kept my hands on the wheel and informed him that I had a CCW and was carrying. He asked where it was and I told him on my right hip and that my wallet is in my back left pocket. As I got my wallet I asked if there was a problem and he said he was just "checking my plates" for some reason. Maybe because I drive an ex cop car, who knows. He saw my out of state license and asked what I was doing in MI and I explained. He asked if my school knew I had a CCW and I told him I live off campus so they don't have to know. He then gave me back my papers and told me I was free to go. He never even ran my license or plate number.

 

[hkmp5g17]

Please note that this is not a joke.


My friend and I got pulled over a while back. I had my KelTec P-11 in my lap. So I put my hands on the dashboard to make sure he didn't see me as a threat. The officer walks up and asks for my friend's ID(he was driving) As he does this he sticks his head well into the Honda.

Me- " Officer- I should let you know there is a weapon in the car"

Officer (looking at the pistol 2 feet away) "Wait your turn!"

So I wait for the conversation to end.

Me- " Officer I should.. and get cut off!

Officer- "Was I talking to you!" Still within 2 feet of pistol!

After about 2 minutes the officer finally says- "So what do you want?"

Me- " I should let you know there's a firearm in the vehicle" My friend is trying hard not to laugh!"

Well where is it! At this point my friend can no longer contain his laughter- the cop didn't like this!

The officer asks that I hand it to him which I do. As he grabs it the muzzle brushes my friend's head- stopping his laughter!

Officer -"How do you take the "Clip" out?

Me- just hit the mag release.............blank stare from officer.

It's in the same position as on yours....... blank stare again!

The little button on the side by the trigger.... mag comes out.

"Theres a round in the... cop walks off- friend resumes laughter.


After the officer returns my pistol( butt first) I check the chamber- LOADED!

Kinda makes me wonder about the academy's training

I also hope the officer never has to use his weapon.

Anthony

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Ukraine Train, I would be willing to guess that the officer ran your plate before he turned on his lights or was in the process of doing it when he turned on his lights and so by the time he got to you, he knew to whom the car was registered, that that person was not wanted, and that the car wasn't reported stolen. Once he had your ID and your name matched the information from the plate check, he had no real reason to go back and do it all over again.

hkmp5g17, what are the laws in your state? I take it from some of your other posts that you are in Colorado. I take it that you don't have a permit, hence why you had the gun in the open. I see where a person with a CCW permit does not have to notify law enforcement about carrying when stopped by law enforcement, but I could not find anything that says you have to notify law enforcement when open carrying in a vehicle.

In Texas with a CHL, if you are a passenger in a vehicle stopped for some traffic issue or whatever, the passenger does not have to inform the officer about having a permit and carrying a gun at that time unless the officer addresses the passenger as part of the stop.

So, in Colorado, do you have to disclose that you have a gun if you are a passenger in a car stopped by an officer? I am still trying to figure out the reasoning behind your emphatic attempts to tell the officer, even to the point of disobeying his directive to keep quiet.

I also don't see you shock about the gun being returned to you with a round in the chamber. He simply returned the gun to you in the same manner as he took it back to his car.

 

[Jayock]

In colorado, nobody has to inform an officer of a concealed weapon, unless asked. Then permit must be presented and the officer may choose to disarm you. Further, CCW permits are not required to concealed carry in a motor vehicle in colorado.

 

[neoncowboy]

I got pulled over a couple months back, carrying as usual. Kept my hands on the wheel until officer asked for papers then reached for wallet and got license.

I didn't mention the gun. Figure concealed means concealed.

She didn't ask.

She gave me a ticket for running a stop sign, was very polite and professional about the whole thing and we were done in a few minutes.

Georgia doesn't specifically demand that we notify law enforcement of carrying...so I don't. As far as I'm concerned, it's no more the officer's business than it is anyone else's and the polite thing to do is just keep it to myself and not let it become an issue.

 

[goon]

I had this happen to me once. I was speeding. I didn't realize it until I saw the police car and sort of instinctively slowed down.
I was polite to the cop, because after all, I was speeding. I immediately told him that I had a rifle behind the seat, a 9mm on the passenger seat, and a .38 at the small of my back.
I live in rural PA.
He asked to see my CCW, asked that I keep the guns put away while he was present, and went on about his business.
I still got a ticket but he wrote it up in such a way that I got fewer points taken off my license. Note the advantage of not being a jerk, especially to cops.

 

[bogie]

Yeah, I think it's to your advantage to reveal a CCW to cops... (1) If you have to get out of the car for any reason, and you get made, you could end up with Mr. Glock in your ear until you get forcibly relieved of it; (2) It lets the cop know that you could pass the background checks.

 

[GRB]

I am going to take it as it was said, that the story of the pistol on the passenger's lap (in the 2nd post of this thread) was true. In that case I make reference to thb below quote from a later post:

I also don't see you shock about the gun being returned to you with a round in the chamber. He simply returned the gun to you in the same manner as he took it back to his car.

It was an extremely bad move by the officer to have given this firearm back in a ready to fire condition. If you cannot figure out why, then at least review what are now a days called the "4" rules of gun safety (I could not disagree more that there are only 4 basic gun safety rules - but that is for another thread). You should be able to see what is wrong by reviewing them.

If that is not enough to convince you that the officer was extremely neglgent to have handed a firearm back in said condition then think officer safety. He did not know what he was dealing with from step one - you never really do when you make a stop. For instance the guy had the gun in his lap when the car was stopped. That is more than enough justification for an officer to draw his own weapon. Now I am not saying he should have drawn, just that it was more than enough to justify such. Of course that is only if he had seem it on the guy's lap. Chances are tha when the passenger leaned forward to place his hands of the dashboard, he obstructed the officers view of the pistol; either with his belly or with his arms, or maybe a jacket. In that case, or in any case, the officer should have paid better atention. It is not the usual thing for people to lean forward and place their hands on the dashboard when pulled over, nor is it the usual thing for 'most' people to tell you they are armed. The officer was not paying attention and this is a thing that often leads to or facilitates an officer being killed.

Finally, after realizing there was a firearm in the car and on the person's lap, what does the officer do? Does the officer take it away? Well yes and no but, let me say, no not exactly and, definitely not safely. He has the passenger hand it to him from the passenger side to the driver's side (apparetly across the front of the driver's face). This was an extremely bad and potentially extremely dangerous move on the part of the officer. I don't care how compliant someone seems - this was a bone head move especially in light of the fact that the driver is laughing. (Would this indicate to anyone else the possibility (note I said possibility) of the driver and/or passenger possibly being intoxicated or nervous - no I am not saying you were nor even implying such - I am saying that this is at least one thing of which the cop should have been thinking - as laughter like that is fairly unusual in a car stop and is a sign of something being off kilter.) Would you tell a possibly intoxicated person to hand you a gun, or even a sober person to hand you a gun that he had to pass in front of a possibly intoxicated person or even in across a sober person? Not me, let alone the fact that you could have been any number of bad things with that firearm on your lap. No, a cop cannot know you are a good guy in a situation like that, or at least should not assume it. At the very least and, just because of the firearm on the passenger's lap, the officer should have been at a very heightened level of readiness.

Then to take the firearm and not unload it before handing it back was simply ludicrous if for no other reason than the officer already had decided to take out the magazine! Why do you think the officer removed the magazine. It was in all likelihood for some semblance of officer safety. Yes even this officer, who did so much that was blatantly wrong, decided to try to do something right. The sad part is though not that the officer asked how to take out the mag but, that the officer did not remove the round from the chamber. Then he handed it back butt first. So the pistol was now pointed in some fashion at the officer, the guy in the car had control of the end of the pistol that houses the firing control (the trigger) and that houses the directional control, the grip. Had the passenger decided this is the time to do it - well there would likely have been one shot officer or maybe one shot driver (somehow I doubt the officer would have realized his mistake in time and been quick enough to turn the pistol away). That is why he should not have handed it back ready to fire.

All the best,
GB

 

[Turtle Club]

I asked if there was a problem and he said he was just "checking my plates" for some reason....

That my friend is a Civil Rights Violation. Its called Racial,Economical,Age,Gender ECT....PROFILING. The officer can run your plates for any reason. But he has to have probable cause to detain you in a traffic stop i.e. expired tags, correct tags not on plate, they can even pull you over if you car is dirty and licence plate is clean or vise vera because that is a minor sign of a stolen car.

If that were the case...Fine. The officer can "check your plates" from his car while he is following you. If the car is in your name I assume, he already knew that you had a CCW when he ran your plates, if he did prior hand to walking up to your car.

My answer would have been..."Officer I don't belieive that the Michigan Administrative Code constitutes "checking your plates" to be valid probable cause for detaining me in an un lawful traffic stop. I would like to file a complaint. What is your badge and car # and Supervisors' names?"

My quote of the hour "Know your rights. For god sake go to Borders and buy a copy of the ORC (Ohio Revised Code) and OAC (Ohio Administrative Code), this may not have helped your out of state, but you would be surpried how studing it will help you talk your way out of traffic tickets and other stuff with police."

 

[GRB]

Civil Rights violation, wow that is as heavy as being ignorant of the requirements to make a traffic stop. The officer does not have to tell you why he stopped you. If he does tell you why, he does not have to tell you the truth and he can still be within his legal rights. As a matter of fact an officer does not need probable cause to make a traffic stop or to keep you there for the purposes of a STOP. Probable cause is required for an arrest not for a traffic stop. It is required to search a car without a warrant - again not for a mere stop. If you did not know that, then you need to refresh your latest legal training.

Did you ever, even for a brief moment, consider that the there could have been something wrong - maybe traveling 1 MPH overt he speed limit, maybe a bit of a zig when it should have been a zag, maybe straying over the centerline, maybe a felony car stop looking for a crime suspect who was reported driving a similar car. Did you also ever think that maybe, just maybe, the attitude of the driver, his being upfront about the CCW and his being polite, led to the officer letting him go without a ticket (in the event it was a stop due to a violation). Did you ever think that maybe Ukraine Train had a better way of getting out of a ticket thatn you do with your cheese grater type of attitude. Heck if I were a police officer who pulled you over and you told me you wanted to make a complaint, I'd show you my shield and cred number as required. Then I'd write you for every tiny violation I could find, including the one for which I had pulled you over. It would all be quite legal and correct too. Want to bet who would win in court.

 

[Zach S]

I drive an ex cop car

You forgot the word "obvious," lol.

 

[hkmp5g17]

Howdy! Yes I'm in Colorado and didn't have a permit at the time. Why did I tell the officer?
So that he wouldn't suddenly "notice" the pistol and potentially go on the defensive. Same thing for placing my hands on the dashboard- the officer had no way of knowing that if I intended to use the weapon or not(I didn't of course)

Regarding not clearing the chamber- I did not want the officer walking up to see me doing something with my hands out of view and then see a gun in my lap-as it could have protracted the situation. I am upset because the officer covered(and touched) my friend with the muzzle- and later pointed a loaded weapon at himself while handing the butt to a stranger.

My friends outburst certainly didn't help the situation.

Regarding the opinion that open carry is legal and you don't have to tell the officer- that's certainly true.

Could have turned out worse (potentiallY) if the officer had finally noticed the pistol- and I hadn't said anything.


The law and an officer's perception of it are two different things.

Anthony

 

[EddieCoyle]

It happened to me once...

I got pulled over for "speeding" while carrying a couple of months ago at about 3:00 AM on a Saturday morning. I was doing 44 in a 40 mph zone. The real reason I got pulled over was because I was out at 3:00 AM on a weekend night and the local cop was trolling for drunks. You'd normally have to be doing at least 50 or 55 to get pulled over on this stretch.

Anyway, while I waited for him to get out of his car, I retrieved my license, registration, and CCW permit. Then I rolled down my window and put both hands on the wheel. He walks up and before I can say anything he says,

"Good morning. Have you been drinking?"

I told him that I hadn't and he asked me for my license and registration. I keep my right hand on the wheel and with my left I hand him my driver's license, registration, and Class A LTC. Then I said,

"I'd like to let you know that I'm carrying a handgun. That's my Class A LTC there in your hand."

He looked at my ID's and then asked me where my gun was; I told him that it was on my left hip. He asked me what kind of gun it was and I told him a .38 revolver. Then he surprised me. We had this exchange:
LEO: Oh yeah? What kind?
ME: It's a Smith and Wesson 642.
LEO: The hammerless Airweight? Do you like it? I was thinking of getting one for a backup gun.
ME: Yeah, I like it fine. It so light that you forget your carrying it.
LEO: Is it accurate?
ME: Do you have any experience with a DAO revolver? If not, it takes some practice getting used to.
LEO: Can't say that I have. We carry autos (points to his duty weapon, a Sig).
ME: You're welcome to try mine out (I invite him to meet me at my club later that afternoon).
LEO: I might take you up on that. Be safe and have a good night. He hands me back my stuff and I drive away.

 

[outfieldjack]

I got pulled a few weeks ago comming FROM the range and heading out to the woods to workk on deer stands. Needless to say I had two rifles in the back seat of my truck and my glock on my hip.

I never saw the highay patrolman.....

He lit me up and I was pulled over before he got turned around. I cut the truck off and lowered the window and just kept my hands on the steering wheel.

Told him right away I was carrying.... he was like "cool"

He saw I had a HP sticker on my truck.... "who do you know in the HP" he asked.....

"Uh, my father-in-law"

"Whats his name"

I told him..... he was like "I don't know him"..... "slow it down"

 

[kirkcdl]

I don't know the laws where Glenn lives,but in Oregon,they must inform you as to the reason for the stop.However,as far as asking for Supervisory contact,I think I'd wait until after I had signed a citation.As long as things are going your way in a traffic stop,there's no reason to aggravate things further by being "difficult"(in the officers eyes).I do tend to notice something in Eddies post,if you are contacted by a police officer that is a "gun guy" you stand a good chance of only getting a warning if you start talking guns,as long as the stop wasn't for something blatant,like running a red light right in their face.On the other hand,several of the local PD aren't really "gun savvy" and ONLY shoot when it's qualification time,I don't say much to them except answer what they ask me.Most of them only look at their firearms as something they're required to carry to have this cool job,and know very little about firearms...I think if I had decided on a Law Enforcement career I would be like the "gun nut" cop in the Police Academy movies...


Oh yeah-Eddie,did he show up?

 

[possum]

If i am in an area not near a military post the military I.D will get me off everytime wheather I am carrying or not. Now this dosen't mean i go looking for trouble or try to get pulled over but It works when i need it to. i don't know why it does because we are some of the worst people in the world.

 

[M2 Carbine]

Since I got my TX CHL I've been stopped about a dozen times by almost every kind of LEO in TX for reasons from speeding to headlights too bright.
Five of the stops, by three different officers, were in well known speed traps that only exist to get money.

In TX you (should) hand the LEO your CHL with your driver's license.
Only one time did a (local) LEO ask me what I was carrying and where it was. I think he only asked because he was interested in guns.


And I NEVER got a ticket.
The only thing I can figure is the CHL was identifying me as "one of the good guys".

The speed trap was funny after a couple stops. They would stop me in the middle of the night and we would just BS for 15 minutes.

 

[Darth Ruger]

...asks for my friend's ID...As he does this he sticks his head well into the Honda.

That right there should have immediately told you that you were dealing with a bonehead cop. That's about the stupidest thing I've ever heard of a cop doing. Maybe he's got a death wish or something.

If he had happened to pull over a drug dealer, a wanted person, or anyone else that has no qualms about killing a cop in order to not be caught, sticking his head well into the car would have made him easy meat in the eyes of a cop killer. Doing something like that speaks volumes about the quality of training he's had. Then again, maybe he's had very good training and he's just really that stupid. Either way, if he keeps that up, he'll end up on the list of Darwin Awards sooner or later.

And giving a gun back to a person with a round in the chamber? Yeah, he just really is that stupid. I hope he has a good life insurance policy for his family's sake.

 

[EddieCoyle]

...I think if I had decided on a Law Enforcement career I would be like the "gun nut" cop in the Police Academy movies...


Oh yeah-Eddie,did he show up?

The gun nut cop was named Tackleberry. I almost used it as a screen name.

Nope, he didn't show up.

 

[Ryder]

Good job on the informing UT. Most of the time around here they just hand back my CPL with an "I don't need that" comment, but it is the law. Not a serious violation but who needs the hassle.

You do know Flint is now touted as the second most dangerous city in the country right now on a per capita basis? Can't help but wonder why that city qualifies as an option for anything. I rarely pass through on the interstate and even that gets my adrenaline up.

 

[crofrog]

Really it sounds like you guys need to get a radar dector...

Chris

 

[Ukraine Train]

Yeah, Flint is a dump. I'm always on my toes. Last fall I circulated a petition to allow CCW on campus in accordance with state law and boy did I make some administrators mad lol. Last week there were three freshman robbed at gunpoint by the dorm, what a way to kick off your college career lol. Off hand I know of three students, besides myself, with carry permits and a couple more that just graduated. A lot of off-campus houses keep guns for defense. I'm honestly quite surprised some perp hasn't been shot yet with all the break-ins and robberies we get around here. A guy tried to walk into my friend's house a while back but luckily on my way in he caught my attention and I locked the door. I was carrying at the time, the guy would have had one heck of a surprise if he had walked into the house.

 

[Scott F]

I live in Oregon where it is not necessary to inform an officer if you have a CCL or if you are carrying. I was involved in a forum on CCL in Oregon when this came up. Of all on the forum who had been stopped and told the officer up front none received a ticket. I have not been stopped in over 25 years but if I am I will inform the officer immediately.

 

[JSR]

Hi Scott,glad to see you found your way over here! I'v been stopped a number of times here in OR and with one exception,CHL and firearms in the vehicle were'nt a concern. A city officer told me to keep my hands outside the car window while he ran my DL #. I told him that if I was going to shoot him I wouldn't have told him that I had a gun in the car. "Well maybe,but its for my safety and yours". Its still only 18 inchs from my hand,you must be feeling lucky! He was shipped out soon after,another story. The best one was on the coast after a days target practice. I was stopped on the way home and after telling the officer,yes I do have 3 firearms on my person,and about 30 more in the vehicle,we talked guns for 10 minutes or so and,"See ya later". A block or two down the road the lites came on behind me again and kind of embarrassed,he told me that he'd forgot to tell me that I had a burn't out headlight.

 

[geegee]

I was pulled over last week for speeding on the interstate, on my way back to DFW from West Texas. Having been through this experience before, I handed over my DL and CHL and told the DPS Trooper "Officer, I'd like to make you aware that I have a CHL and am carrying today." Then I put my hands on the steering wheel.

Five minutes later he returned with a written warning, told me to slow it down, and sent me on my way. I have never received anything less than complete professionalism and courtesy from any Texas LEO, state or local.