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CCW revelations on traffic stops.

18K views 73 replies 45 participants last post by  Floyd 
#1 ·
I'm very curious!
In process of obtaining my CA CCW.
Each state/county has it's own 'disclosure' rules/regs if you get pulled over for traffic infractions, etc.
Some, you MUST disclose immediately; others, not so.
Any stories, adventures, experiences would be much appreciated.
Helps one know the lay of the different lands one travels with a piece in the vehicle.
 
#2 · (Edited)
Tom Gresham has a video out about that very subject, in the video they show a simulated traffic stop where the driver hands his CCW permit over with his drivers license and insurance papers. This avoids the use of the word gun during the traffic stop which can get an officer overly concerned, and also fills the need to notify.

Several prominent self defense instructors have said that is the method they recommend, and allows the officer to then go ahead and ask you about where the weapon might be located.

Found it! http://www.gunsandammo.com/video/tips-when-stopped-by-police-2/
 
#3 · (Edited)
Tom Gresham has a video out about that very subject, in the video they show a simulated traffic stop where the driver hands his CCW permit over with his drivers license and insurance papers. This avoids the use of the word gun during the traffic stop which can get an officer overly concerned, and also fills the need to notify.

Several prominent self defense instructors have said that is the method they recommend, and allows the officer to then go ahead and ask you about where the weapon might be located.

Found it! Tips When Stopped By Police - Guns & Ammo
Good video. Still can be a bit of slippery slope in any situation.

How about the drivers with their billfold in their rear pocket ? Woman with purse on the floor ? Pull over as far as you can safely stop, partially open your window, STAY IN the vehicle, keep both hands on the steering wheel in plain sight and let the officer know you have a Canceled Carry Permit and DON'T make any sudden moves. Follow the Officers instructions. Is the way they prefer it around here.

"SOME" officers tell me they don't really want to know, IF it's a "routine" stop. ????? "SOME" say if they see an unknown weapon on you, that Mr. Taser is going to bite you.:popo:
Luckily around here, I've grown up around and with just about ALL the local LEO's and have trained or shot with them at one time or another.

Everyone knows everyone.
 
#4 ·
I'm one of those who has my drivers license in my back pocket and my proof of insurance is in the glove box of my truck.
I've not been stopped in a long, long time, but if I do, which will happen eventually, my plan is to keep my hands on the wheel until the officer gets to the window, then when he asks for my license and insurance, get them and hand him or her my permit as well and let the officer take it from there.
Of course, at the moment this is just theory, so YMMV! :lol:
 
#5 ·
In Maine it's courtesy to show the permit but one isn't required to. However with our new Constitutional carry law folks without a permit MUST immediately tell the officer.
 
#6 ·
Here in Virginia I'm not required to inform, but I do and they appreciate it. They few times I've gotten pulled over when they ask for my license and registration, I say "I would also like to inform you that I have a CHP and I am carrying." Sometimes they ask where the pistol is, sometimes they say "ok that's fine".

I honestly believe being legally armed has gotten me off of a few tickets. Most police officers support the 2nd amendment and seem to have a higher level of respect for legally armed citizens.
 
#7 ·
I'm a former LEO. I always appreciated the disclosure to a weapon at a traffic stop. If you're telling me you have a concealed weapon in the vehicle and a CCW permit, In my mind you're not hiding anything. In Virginia, we know you have a CCW as soon as we run your registration so tell me usually put me at ease. You NEVER want to reach for your wallet or registration and have the officer see a weapon.......you may get pulled out and proned.......

I always disclose the fact that I'm carrying when I'm in a vehicle that's been pulled over. To me it's just common courtesy. Just make sure you know the local laws and comply.....
 
#42 ·
I'm a former LEO. I always appreciated the disclosure to a weapon at a traffic stop. If you're telling me you have a concealed weapon in the vehicle and a CCW permit, In my mind you're not hiding anything. In Virginia, we know you have a CCW as soon as we run your registration so tell me usually put me at ease. You NEVER want to reach for your wallet or registration and have the officer see a weapon.......you may get pulled out and proned.......

I always disclose the fact that I'm carrying when I'm in a vehicle that's been pulled over. To me it's just common courtesy. Just make sure you know the local laws and comply.....
I have to disclose here in Oklahoma.
I can understand how LE is scared as hell because of the craziness going on around the country. I have strong feelings as to why this is going one but I will leave that out of this.

I have always carried my wallet in my front pocket.

In my Tundra, a 1911 is under the steering wheel in a gum creek Holster.
It is a natural and neutral motion for me to grip it and bring it bare.


In my 2016 Camry, I can't because it has knee airbags and I carry it in a holster stuffed between the seat and console.



So with the things going on today I started thinking, I don't want to get shot 17 times by a LEO that is nervious and just wants to go home to his family.

I put my Proof of insurance and registration in sunvisor and my wallet on the console.

If I get stopped, my windows are down before the officer approaches. If it's night I turn on the dome lights.

My hands are on the steering wheel with my fingers extended and I then hand them my paperwork and pickup my wallet and pull my license and permit out and they realize they are holding a DL and a permit and oh by the way officer, I am carrying a handgun right now.

I kind of live by the saying, just because I am paranoid does not mean they aren't out to get me.

Oh and now I have my shield in my waistband as well.
 
#9 ·
Required or not, I ALWAYS make it a point to disclose the fact that I have a permit and am armed, as soon as the officer approaches the window. In every case I have been thanked.
At one time, when I had a accident, the officer ask if I minded if he took the weapon while he investigated the accident. I told him no and turned so that he could remove the weapon from me. When it was over, he returned the weapon unloaded and a plastic bag with the ammo. I under stand completely, given present day circumstances.
At another time I had the officer thank me for carrying!
Ya never know, but better safe than sorry.
 
#46 ·
I can certainly understand giving up the pistol, if asked to, while the officer is investigating an accident. However, it'd piss me off to receive my ammo in a bag. That's some childish ****. Reminds me of the Arizona female cop asking me to keep my pistol in a box in the backseat and my magazine in the trunk.

Its not their jobs to dictate the condition of your weapon.

"I under stand completely, given present day circumstances."

No offense, but that's a real **** attitude to have when dealing with God given rights. In no "present day", is it appropriate for a "free man" to have the perspective of "understanding", when their rights are inappropriately tweaked, but any individual, for any reason.

Now if it was policy to do that, while investigating an accident, then I guess we have to suck it up. The fact that he asked you if you MINDED, implies otherwise.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ON TOPIC:

I was transferring from my vehicle to my friends vehicle, so I can drive for him to help him with something.

Right then a deputy pulled into the parking lot to ask what we were doing. Being that I was armed and out of the car, the first thing I wanted to do, was make sure he knew.

Gun trained at my head, another deputy pulled in minutes later to disarm me. Then myself, my brother who was in my car, and my friend were thrown on the hood. First guy had a real bad attitude and seemed to had felt like he caught himself some criminals. Very arrogantly spoken, with such prideful smirks.

Anyway, I informed him that even without a permit, it is not against the law to move from one car to the next, with a gun on your hip. He "didn't agree". So the other officer is in the back of my SUV taking out about 5 rifles and 3 other pistols, because we had planned to go shoot right after I helped him. He was more of an easy going type. He commented me on how "cool my ar15 was" (AK47).:laughing:

So the "cool officer" basically told the other one that no laws were being broken and it turned into a discussion on gun rights. Finally, they let us go about our business. The last thing he said was, "you guys are obviously ok guys since you don't like Obama. If you had liked him, I'd have to take you all in".

It was nothing more than a strange experience to me. Not happy, but also not satisfied. The officer disclosed he wasn't new, so it bothers me to know that this guy isn't informed on gun laws in the state of Texas. I believe that if it were him, alone, some form of "punishment" would have been handed down, for no reason. One of those things judges laugh at and say, "dismissed, next case".

I think the lesson we can all take away from any story, good or bad, is that an officer is a man in a uniform. Just like any other civilian, they are to be treated with respect and dignity. After you do your part as a decent fellow human being, some will choose to be ignorant assholes but most will treat you likewise. For the ones who treat you like an *******, you keep a cool head and clear mind, and things will level out, usually ending on a good note, and maybe a stated hate for their Chief in the oval office.

God bless.
 
#10 ·
The last time I got pulled over, I had my wallet out of my pocket, in my hand and both hands on the wheel by the time the officer got to my window.
When I handed him my DL, I also handed him my CHL. He simply asked if I had 'it' on me and I told him where on my body it was.

At that point, he asked me to keep it where it was, we proceeded with business and he let me off with a warning.
No Big Deal (unless you make it into one).
 
#12 ·
Concealed carry is legal in many places and failure to announce to every cop you encounter that you're carrying is NOT a crime nor a violent/threatening action. If you want to do that, it is your choice and in some locations is required during a traffic stop. Failure to do so when NOT required is not justification for a tazing, body slam or anything else.
 
#19 · (Edited)
You need to learn how to comprehend what you are reading better. You are reading things into this that are not there. ...or a new Troll ??? We are talking about a Traffic Stop not a normal everyday encounter on the street.

What we have here is Failure To Communicate...
 
#14 ·
FWIW, I have never gotten ticketed, just warned, once the officer discovered that I was a permit holder and armed. Locally it seems as though they think of us as their backup... and they'd be right. Of course that's no defense in court if ticketed. One doesn't flaunt it.
 
#15 ·
After talking to my dad and hearing a couple of his stories about being pulled over, i'd like to pass on the knowledge of it being a bad idea to store your gun in your glove compartment if that is also where your registration and proof of insurance are. It just makes for a bad situation since cops generally want to see that information, but not want you reaching anywhere near your gun.
 
#16 ·
i have not read the thread.... but get "legal heat" app for your phone.
it gives you all the laws in each state. incase you travel and need to know.

i know our state when they run my DL they get that i'm a CC permit holder.

i normally give them both my DL and my CC license when i go through a road block. i havent been stopped for a traffic violation but i'd give them both at that time too.
 
#17 ·
The wallet I carry has an outside window and this is where I keep my Carry Permit. In every instance I can recall, since I got this wallet, the officer, watching my hands and what I am doing, has seen the permit and asked if was carrying. I always answer in the affirmative and have been asked where it was and I told the officer where my handgun was on that day. As yet I have never been asked to show the gun or be hassled for being armed. Your mileage may vary.
 
#18 ·
I'm in Wisconsin, and got pulled over the other day (first time since getting my CCL back in 2011). I had my DL and CCL out and in my hand before the officer walked up to the car, kept both hands on the wheel and handed them over when he asked. After a short time in his car, he came back, gave me a verbal warning to "slow it down" and I was on my way. No issues whatsoever. Whether or not the CCL had anything to do with that, I don't know, but as a former LEO myself, I know I appreciated being told up front...
 
#20 ·
Thanks for the inputs, all y'allz.
Any Cali folks have tales dealing with our CHiPs?
That would be my most likely spot for getting pulled over.
I roll 8K miles a month for work; mostly on Interstates from the SF Bay Area to the Oregon border, with a few trips into Nevada and back.
Once I get my CCW, I'd like to know which county areas are 'hot' and which are 'cool'.
Glenn County is notorious as a ticket zone for our CHiPs.
(I've been nicked with 2 there before I got my radar detector...)
I'm all good with hands on the wheel and revelations; if it was me as the LEO, I'd certainly like to know asap what I'd be having to deal with.
 
#22 ·
I agree with kdweaver.

I once got pulled over by VSP on my way back to Prince William County from Bedford Country (200mi/4 hour drive). I was doing about 10 mph over.

As soon as his lights came on, I turned on my signal, pulled well off the road, place my vehicle in park, turned on the emergency flashers, lowered my window and waited with both hands on the wheel.

When the officer approached and asked for my license and registration, I replied that I had a CCW permit and a pistol on my right hip.

He said okay and again asked for my license and registration. As I handed them over, he asked if my license was clean to which I assured him it was.

He went to his car and did whatever it is they do. When he came back he asked the inevitable "Do you know why I pulled you over?", to which I said yes.

As he handed my documents, he told me to slow it down and have a nice day.

I think the reason he did no cite was because of all the steps I took,

I pulled over and parked safely
I informed him I was armed when I did not have to
I did not give him attitude and did not try to BS him about why he pulled me over.
 
#23 ·
In NM it is not required. I hesitate to even mention it unless they ask me or asked me to step out of the car, then I would. And really? An officer unloaded someones gun and gave them the bullets in a baggy? :huh:
 
#24 ·
I've seen and heard of instances where the officer decides it's in the interest of safety for him to remove the firearm until he's completed whatever he's doing then returns it. If they're interested in the safe thing regards a person who is legally carrying, they should leave the gun in the holster and with the legal owner. If it makes them that nervous to be around a legally armed citizen then they're in the wrong field. Better yet, avoid it all and keep your permit to yourself unless required/requested.

Cops run in my family so I'm not coming from an anti-cop perspective. I have a lot of respect for LEOs that show respect for free citizens, which from my experience is nearly all of them.

I choose to not announce (not required in my state) because what they don't know is no danger to them regards to me carrying or not and won't give them a reason to be any more apprehensive. That said, if I think it's possible at all that they could see my gun (like if I realize the insurance card is in the box with my gun - not likely), I would produce my permit up-front. I have learned how to keep my gun concealed on my person or a special spot in my vehicle when driving so this is unlikely.

Anyway, just my opinion and few details on why I hold it.
 
#25 ·
@ Rainsong:
Baggied bullets appears to be that FL officer's CYA response.
I hear that in NY/NJ areas they just take your piece and cite you; good luck on getting it back.
AFTER you pay the ticket off...
I've just got to be concerned with the different approaches in NorCal counties.
 
#29 ·
I would be much better with them taking my gun, IN the HOLSTER, if they felt like I was a threat than having them try to unload an unfamiliar weapon. I am NOT anti LEO, but I see no reason to elevate a simple traffic stop by announcing I'm a CC'er unless I'm asked or asked to step out of the car, if not required.
 
#30 · (Edited)
I've been stopped multiple times in the 15 years I've had a permit to carry.As in, more than ten. I drive a 420hp car and I enjoy doing so. I have four friends who are cops. Between my experiences being stopped and my conversations with these guys about the stupid **** that people do? Here's my advice.

Windows always down - even if yours aren't tinted they can reflect the sun or headlights of other vehicles. All the cops want to do is to be able to see the hands of everyone in the vehicle when they approach, so that they know they'll get to go home to their kids. Turn the dome light on if it's dark, and have the engine turned off.

In an early traffic stop, gun was on left hip and wallet in left rear pocket. I informed him because I didn't want him to catch a glimpse of a pistol while I dug my wallet out. The officer had me slowly remove the wallet with his hand on his sidearm with the thumb snap removed - which I was perfectly okay with. That situation is just extra stress that neither of you need.

Typically once you inform them, and they get to see the permit, they proceed as if it's a normal traffic stop from that point forward. And your odds of getting out of the ticket are quite excellent if you told them first. And were honest about the fact that you were speeding, and you're polite and apologetic. If they caught you, they caught you. Don't lie about it. Cops deal with people lying to their faces all day long. Honest people are a refreshing change.

I have twice been disarmed and they ran the serial # on the gun, then returned it unloaded and sent me off without a ticket for the speeding infraction. This is rare, but isn't a big deal if it happens.

Also, I was stopped in Texas once and was not armed. I did not inform her I had a permit given the lack of a gun. She ran my TN license and the handgun permit status came up in her system two states away. She returned and asked why I hadn't informed her, and then suggested I always do so.

I open the conversation with "I do have a valid handgun permit and I am (or am not) carrying a handgun on my left hip, how would you like me to proceed?" when they approach. If nothing else it instantly informs them that you have no felonies or large misdemeanor convictions, and generally that is information that you WANT them to have.

Here are the biggest things I can suggest to every permit holder:


  1. Always inform the officer. Always. Even if it's "I do have a valid permit to carry a handgun, but it is at home." (Notice how the word PERMIT is placed well before the word GUN?) This puts you in the "never been convicted of a major crime" club - you want them to know that right at the beginning, don't you?
  2. Keep the three pieces of ID you will need (insurance and registration, drivers license, handgun permit) in a different place than your weapon. If the gun is in your glove box, move the paperwork somewhere else.
  3. Realize that seeing you rummage through the center console is more of an unknown to them than the glove box. They can get a pretty good view of the glove box if they position themselves and they pull out a flash light. Down inside your center console it isn't as easy to observe your hands. Putting the gun in the center console and paperwork in the glove box might be a better idea than vice versa.
  4. When I am pulled over everything is in my wallet. Why? I toss it in the cup holder when I drive, so it's right there. The cop can see everything the hands are doing with my wallet laid open on the steering wheel... It also gives them plenty of time to observe the "front and center" government ID that pretty much always causes the locals to let me off with a warning. ;)
 
#31 ·
I keep my registration and proof of insurance folded up and just sticking out of the visor mirror door, so there's no reaching into the glove box. My CCW permits are beside my license in my wallet. I drive a bright red Dodge Charger, so I have to behave myself as it is!
 
#34 ·
I have always kept my hand on the steering wheel as the officer approaches, I also have the inside light on in the car so to put the officer at ease. As soon as the officer comes to the car I let him know that I am armed while still leaving my hands on the steering wheel. You can also put them out the window so they are always in the officers sight. I want to make the officer as comfortable as possible. I have been stopped a couple of times for speeding and never had a problem doing it this way.
My State (Kentucky) tells the officer when they call my tag in that I am a CCDW holder. So they already know before they approach.
 
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