Pulled over today for first time while carrying.

[tecdv]

I was pulled over today for speeding while carrying. The LEO was pretty cool about it. I did have one little snag with informing as required by Ohio law. The LEO started talking to me before he even got close to my car, when he reached my window I handed him my DL and CHL while he was still talking. He obviously didn't run my plates before walking up to my car because he looked supprised when he realized he was holding my CHL. When he asked me if I had the weapon in the car I said yes, locked in the glove box. He then asked me why I didn't offer that information before he had to ask. I just told him that I didn't have a chance to say anything because he was talking to me. Anyway, he checked to make sure the glove box was locked and went back to his car to write me a ticket for speeding. His buddy, still standing by my car asked me what kind of gun I had, and a few other gun related questions, overall being kind of nice. He did tell me next time I get pulled over to let them know first thing, even if I have to talk over them to tell them. Well, the other guy got out of his cruiser and had me sign the ticket and I was on my way. No problems for the most part, other than a ticket....Oh well, I knew I was speeding. I have no idea why that particular road is posted at 25 mph.

 

[MechAg94]

"I've got a gun!! I've got a gun!!"


Handing him the concealed license is not considered notification?

 

[Jesse H]

First time I was pulled over while carrying the officer just asked where it was and that was that.

There was one time where I could tell the officer wasn't enthusiastic about citizen concealed carry. He questioned why I was running around Houston with a holstered gun. I figured it may have been unwise to reply with, "for the same reasons you are officer."

 

[Lupinus]

I think it is reasonable to wait for a pause to offer the information. Yelling over an officer "I have a gun" or firearm or sidearm or anything like that can be bad for ones health if you have a jumpy officer. And even if he isn't jumpy talking over him with such a phrase is still not a good thing.

At your first oppertunity I'd say tell them or say it in response to them asking you for your license "May I see your license and registration please?" "I have a valid CHL and a loaded sidearm (in my glovebox, on my right hip, etc) how would you like me to proceed officer?" said with your hands clearly visible and on the steering wheel and take it from there with his instructions. Also don't use the word gun or weapon, say sidearm it is a term that doesn't convey weapon or that you plan to do something with it, "I have a gun! I have a weapon" whens the last time you heard a bad guy yell "I have a sidearm!"? So IMO the term sidearm is a better way to go then saying the word gun.

If it peeves him you didn't offer it the second he was at your window explain that you didn't want to yell over him saying you have a gun, and if it lands you in court explain you didn't want to speak over the officer and agian explain that you esspecialy didn't want to speak over an officer to explain that you have a gun and that you said so at the first avalible oppertunity.

 

[Lupinus]

There was one time where I could tell the officer wasn't enthusiastic about citizen concealed carry. He questioned why I was running around Houston with a holstered gun. I figured it may have been unwise to reply with, "for the same reasons you are officer."

Figured I'd do my best to save yall some paperwork and time tracking down a murderer if I ever happen to run into one

 

[Jhorn]

In TX handing them your CHL with your DL is what I have been taught in the classes, always worked well for me.


I agree with not talking over a Cop about the gun I am carrying...seems like a bad manners!

 

[Outlaws]

IMO if you offer up your license and the officer doesn't take a hint, he deserves a ticket for stupidity.

 

[tecdv]

I agree with not talking over a Cop about the gun I am carrying...seems like a bad manners!

That was exactly what I was thinking at the time.

 

[Taurus 66]

I put my drivers license, registration card, proof of insurance, and pistol permit all in one small pocket sized folding book. If an officer pulls me over, he automatically gets handed these four important documents. "Are you carrying now?", he may ask, where my reply may then be a simple, "Yes" or "No". If he never bothers to ask about my CCW, I'll never bring up the subject.

 

[brj3car]

I always keep hands on the wheel as LEO approaches. I also keep license, registration, insurance, and permit in a pouch on the sun visor. That way your hands are always in plain view as opposed to digging thru the glovebox/console.

 

[Valkman]

What they said is ridiculous - handing them the CHL is notifying them as soon as you could and is perfectly reasonable. If they want instant notification then their first question should be "Is there any guns in the vehicle?".

 

[JesseL]

The week before last, the local police were searching for a couple wanted for carjacking a car from a convenience store and using air guns to shoot out $60,000 worth of windows in the area.

My wife (who's 6 months pregnant) and I were out for a little drive and heading home when I saw a police car whip into the lane behind me a flip on the gumballs. I duly pulled over and got my dl and cwp ready. My wife was a little startled when the officer knocked on the passenger window instead of the drivers side, but she quickly got her window down and I handed him my license and permit. The officer looked at them and asked if I had a weapon. I replied that I did and he asked where it was. I told him it was holstered on my left side IWB. He asked me to step out of the car and keep my hands where he could see them. As he came around to my side of the car I heard him say "things are just making a little too much sense here" .

I got out of the car and as the officer was disarming me I noticed that another police car and two motorcycles had pulled up, all with their lights flashing. The officer cleared my pistol and placed it on the sidewalk. While the y were running my dl and cwp the officers questioned my wife and I seperately about where we had been and where we were going, etc. Once they saw the my wife was pregnant they calmed down a little, apparently that didn't fit the description of who they were after.

Satisfied that we were not the nuts they wanted, they gave me back my pistol but handed the magazine and the round from the chamber to my wife, whom they had allowed to sit back down in the car.

I thought it was a pretty interesting experience, since I knew I hadn't done anything and was fairly confident the police would figure it out pretty quick. My wife on the other hand, was completely unnerved by the experience and hardly got to sleep that night (I'm certain part of this reaction is from the pregnancy).

This was the first time an officer has disarmed me but I don't see any reason to object considering the situation they were dealing with. Other times I've been pulled over with what I'm sure the 6 o'clock news would call a "deadly aresenal of mayhem and destruction" in the backseat and the officers didn't bat an eyelash.

 

[WayneConrad]

"He questioned why I was running around Houston with a holstered gun."

The answer to that question is, "Because a holstered gun is safer than an unholstered one."

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

Even if you are required to inform it sounds like that is exactly what you did by handing him your DL and CHL. You don't have to interrupt him screaming "I GOT A GUN ON MY HIP AND ONE IN THE GLOVEBOX AND ANOTHER ON MY ANKLE MUUAHAHAAAA!!!" I agree with not interrupting him. Especially if you phrase it "Will you shut up for one second so I can tell you something"

He obviously didn't run my plates before walking up to my car because he looked supprised when he realized he was holding my CHL.

Does this info come up when running plates? The only time I've been asked if I had a gun in the car was after they run my DL (no duty to inform here although I think I'm going to anyway from now on to keep them from getting that surprise when they are back in their cruiser running it).

 

[Henry Bowman]

Does this info come up when running plates?

It does in Ohio, assuming that the car is in your name.


Due to renewal convenience (before you could do in on the 'net) one vehicle is in my name alone and one is in my wife's alone. Due to some trade-ins, I now drive the one in her name and vice versa. The last time I was stopped was the first time after getting my CHL. I had woken up feeling poorly, but headed in to the office around 11:00 am.

I was not carrying that morning, but was doing 75 in a 55 zone. I was in the left lane and as soon as I saw the light, I started moving right across 5 lanes one at a time. He was gesturing wildly to move right - NOW! When stopped he approached form the passenger side and said, "Good morning, Mr. _____." I was surprised that he had already run my tags and assumed that I was married to the car's registrant. Maybe it gives other info associated with the same address. Don't know.

Anyway, we have the requirement to notify and, even though I wasn't carrying, I figured it wouldn't hurt. We also have to carry holstered in plain view or locked away when in a vehicle in Ohio. I had CHL (on top), DL, registration and insurance card in my hand and gave it to him right away. Before I could say anything, he asked where I was going as he looked at what I had given him. I told him. He told me my speed, asked me to slow it down, handed everything back to me and left before I could say another word. I hadn't told him whether I was carrying and he didn't see in on me in plain sight.

Who was I to complain. No harm; no foul.

 

[M2 Carbine]

Since getting my TX CHL years ago I've been stopped no less than 13 times, mostly for speeding, by about every kind of LEO in Texas.
Not once have I had the least bit of trouble. Only once did a local, running a speed trap, ask me what I was carrying and where it was. It was a Makarov and he started asking me about the gun because he was thinking about getting one.

Many times I noticed a marked change in the LEO's attitude when I hand him my CHL. It's like he's thinking, No problem this is one of the good guys.

In all those stops I have not received a single ticket (except a couple warnings).

I'm amazed at some of the stuff I read about carriers in other states being hassled by LEO and having them check or take the gun away.

Maybe the Texas LEO are so cool about concealed carry because the DPS (state troopers) run the concealed carry program.

 

[Kowboy]

All:

I was pulled over several weeks ago in Michigan. I handed him my driver's license and Concealed Pistol License and said "Sir, I am legally armed." as I'm required to do.

He asked and recieved my registration and insurance and after a brief lecture on paying attention to "No Turn On Red Sign" and running my pretty good driving record, he let me go.

Kowboy

 

[gunsmith]

Showlow AZ police were really nice to me

I handed my ccw & DL @ the same time....& we had a nice conversation
about how messed up CA is

 

[Old Dog]

Perhaps I've been living in Washington (the original "shall-issue" state) too long -- and no disrespect intended --, but I simply fail to view someone's getting pulled over while carrying (legally) as any sort of signficant event.

 

[Low-Sci]

I don't think its a big deal either, but for nearly everyone here, its the most likely time that they will ever be armed while talking to a police officer. Its kinda where your lawfullness is under direct scrutiny from the person who is supposed to enforce the law. Most people here won't ever otherwise end up in that situation, so I guess its worth an occasional sidenote.

That said, even cops are stupid sometimes. Everyone has their stupid moments when they're at work.

 

[TallPine]

I simply fail to view someone's getting pulled over while carrying (legally) as any sort of signficant event.

Me neither, of course around here you can pretty much assume that most vehicles have one or more firearms in them.

 

[AirForceShooter]

He gave you the ticket??

That's usually a no no for CCW holders.

AFS

 

[XavierBreath]

Here is my take on it........The duty to inform begins when the officer announces he is on "official business". Official business is communicated when he asks for your driver's license, not when he mutters "Where's the fire buddy?" as he is walking up to your car.

Keep in mind, this is my take, and I certainly would not argue the point with the nice officer in the middle of a traffic stop.

I see, however, that Ohio law does not have the "Official business" stipulation. Thus, my "take" on it is erroneous. I'll leave my take up as an example of how applying the laws of one's own state to another state can create problems.

Ohio's Concealed Carry Law makes it Mandatory to notify a police officer that you are carrying a concealed handgun and have a license to do so.

This law will apply to you even if you are merely a passenger in a motor vehicle. The officer may or may not ask you to produce your license and may or may not ask to take possession of your firearm for the duration of the traffic stop. The law specifically prohibits the officer from keeping your firearm if you are released.

Vital: During a traffic stop you should never make any movement that could be considered reaching for or touching your firearm. Besides the common sense reasons, if you are charged with touching your firearm at any time during a traffic stop the charges are a felony.

Sec. 2923.126.

(A) If a licensee is the driver or an occupant of a motor vehicle that is stopped as the result of a traffic stop or a stop for another law enforcement purpose and if the licensee is transporting or has a loaded handgun in the motor vehicle at that time, the licensee shall promptly inform any law enforcement officer who approaches the vehicle while stopped that the licensee has been issued a license or temporary emergency license to carry a concealed handgun and that the licensee currently possesses or has a loaded handgun; the licensee shall comply with lawful orders of a law enforcement officer given while the motor vehicle is stopped, shall remain in the motor vehicle while stopped, and shall keep the licensee's hands in plain sight while any law enforcement officer begins approaching the licensee while stopped and before the officer leaves, unless directed otherwise by a law enforcement officer; and the licensee shall not knowingly remove, attempt to remove, grasp, or hold the loaded handgun or knowingly have contact with the loaded handgun by touching it with the licensee's hands or fingers, in any manner in violation of division (E) of section 2923.16 of the Revised Code, while any law enforcement officer begins approaching the licensee while stopped and before the officer leaves. If a law enforcement officer otherwise approaches a person who has been stopped for a law enforcement purpose, if the person is a licensee, and if the licensee is carrying a concealed handgun at the time the officer approaches, the licensee shall promptly inform the officer that the licensee has been issued a license or temporary emergency license to carry a concealed handgun and that the licensee currently is carrying a concealed handgun.
Sec. 2923.126.

(A) A licensee who has been issued a license under section 2923.125 or 2923.1213 of the Revised Code may carry a concealed handgun anywhere in this state if the licensee also carries a valid license and valid identification when the licensee is in actual possession of a concealed handgun.

Lots of room for interpretation of "promptly", but during a traffic stop, promptly will become whatever the officer believes it to be.

 

[CajunBass]

IMO if you offer up your license and the officer doesn't take a hint, he deserves a ticket for stupidity.

I just handed them my D/L and my CHP. I figured they should be able to figure it out. Neither officer seemed to be the least bit interested. They handed the CHP back, and the gun was never mentioned.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

I wish all LE officers would see the CHL as an "I'm on your side" card. Obviously anyone intent on harming the officer isn't going to first let the officer know he/she is armed.
So far my 2 experiences of being pulled over for speeding since being issued (8 years ago) were uneventful, as they should be.