Traffic stop with concealed carry

[IME]

Virginia is a must notify state -- that is to say, if I'm carrying concealed, I must notify the officer of that fact. I have been told by a local LEO friend that, in such a situation, I should simply keep my hands high on the steering wheel, calmly announce the fact of CC and ask the officer what he or she would like me to do (if it is a night-time stop, however, the first thing I'd do is turn on the overhead light).

I'd like input from folks who have gone through this. I really do not want to be looking down the barrel of some rookie's pistol -- or worse -- simply b/c I'm legally armed. I note on another thread that some LEO handcuff some drivers for the driver's safety. Don't think I'd like to be handcuffed either.

Other than being calm and respectful at all times, are there any "rules of engagement" that I should know about?

Thanks for your insights.

 

[RNB65]

VA is not a must notify state. I'm not aware of any requirement in the Code of VA requiring an LEO to be notified of a concealed weapon during a traffic stop.
.

 

[-C4-]

+1 for RNB65. So far as I know it isn't. Don't forget that if you have a VA one the will know when they run your drivers license. You could always just hand them your CCW when they ask for your drivers license. Whatever you do don't say "I have a gun".

 

[TheReeves]

I haven't had to go through the situation yet, but I plan on just handing the officer my permit along with my license. That may or may not work well depending on what cops you have to deal with. I would probably be dealing with Christiansburg or Montgomery County, and I think it could be hit or miss with them.

 

[chris in va]

Virginia is a must notify state

No it's not. Your LEO friend is misinformed.

I've been pulled over a couple times, I hand my CC 'license' to him anyway. Both times they've said, "I don't need this". Given a warning both times, one smiled and was quite friendly.

Best thing to do is turn on the interior light, get your paperwork and keep hands on the wheel. He'll prompt you from there. Don't argue or justify your actions for being pulled over.

One thing to understand, at least in my limited experience...LEO's generally aren't worried about permit holders. We're the good guys, they know that. Your permit comes up on their screen anyway.

Whatever you do don't say "I have a gun".

+1 on that. Don't do it. The cop may ask where it is, that's about it.

 

[Dead]

In my state if I ever get pulled over while carrying concealed and I told the officer, I would go straight to jail even before they ASKED if I had valid permit to carry....

Best thing to do is turn on the interior light, get your paperwork and keep hands on the wheel. He'll prompt you from there. Don't argue or justify your actions for being pulled over.

Dont forget to turn your car off...

I do also tend to LEAVE my glove comparment open if that is where my paperwork was... Nothing like and officer coming on you KNOWING that you were just messing with the glove comparment.. I mean how do they know what you threw in there, most times they might not care, but why give them a reason to question you for more than speed or whatever.

 

[Winchester 73]

There are only 10 Must Notify States.
The Old Dominion is thankfully,not among them.
Alaska,Louisiana,Michigan,Nebraska,North Carolina,Ohio,Oklahoma,South Carolina,Texas,and Utah.

 

[-C4-]

As another note on to this thread, if I recall they generally advise you NOT to get anything from the glove compartment until asked. Nothing looks worse from the police car than someone leaning over and digging through the glove box. The best advice I have heard is 1) turn the car off, 2) if at night turn the light on, 3) sit with your hands on the wheel so they are visible to the officer as he/she approaches, 4) follow instructions (e.g. wait until asked to get your drivers license, etc) Remember that traffic stops are one of the most dangerous things they can do, and simple things like that show them that you are not a threat and helps to put them at ease.

 

[kurtmax]

I don't turn my vehicle off when I'm stopped. It's either cold out or ridiculously hot. I need my heat or AC while I'm sitting around for an hour waiting for whatever it is the cops do....

Otherwise I'm fairly polite. I don't argue with anything as it's better to wait for court. I'm surprised by the amount of people that apparently do argue about tickets/etc on the roadside.

Just, turning off your vehicle so the public servant can be 'comfortable' at your expense is a bit far-fetched. It's not as if some cop is going to shoot you because your car is running... They aren't that incompetent (one would hope anyways )

 

[-C4-]

They aren't that incompetent

Depends on where you are.

 

[Menel]

Alot of you say you get papers together... I have never done that... I typically, and was always advised, to just sit calm, not to go shuffling around in the car. Officer can't tell what your doing, reaching for, hiding, etc. Your paperwork shouldn't be that hard or lengthy to reach.

Wallet in back pocket has license, permit, and insurance card. No reason to goto glove box. Though I do have a second insurance card there as well.

 

[98C5]

I'm pretty sure when the run your plate, it notifies them that you have a permit right off the bat. I always it it to them as a curteousy anyway.

 

[jr45]

I've been stopped three times in Virginia over the past 5yrs while carrying (twice by the state troopers on I95 and once by the county sheriffs). I never showed my CCW, didn’t informed that I was carrying, and was never asked if I was carrying.

 

[RKBABob]

I started a thread a few months ago specifically asking LEO's what they would want us to do in this situation... Questions just for our LEO's

In a nut shell, the general consensus was:

Put your car in park. Its obvious that you're doing this if you have an automatic transmission, as your reverse lights will flash briefly. This shows you have no intention of fleeing. It puts the officer at ease.

Turn on the interior lights at night, and roll down the window. It allows the officer to see into your car, and shows that you aren't hiding. It puts the officer at ease.

Put on your 4 way flashers. Cops like lots of flashing lights to get other motorist's attention. It puts them at ease.

Don't reach around the inside of your car. Sit still and act calm. It puts the officer at ease.

So far, everything you've done was suggested by LEOs as having a calming effect on them. Good. I definately prefer the officer I'm dealing with to be calm.

Do not announce that you have a gun! Don't plan to say something like "Officer, for your safety as well as my own, I want you to be aware that I am licensed to carry a concealed weapon... " It is likely to come out of your mouth differently than you had planned, or the officer will only hear bits and pieces as the trucks roar by him.

Hand the officer your CCW permit on top of your drivers' license when asked for the latter.

And for Heaven's sakes, don't argue with the cop at the side of the road! Nobody has ever gotten out of a ticket that way, and if he knows you're armed... and you're now red-faced and irate... well, that's going to be an interesting story.

 

[vt357]

I'll share some recent experiences as I seem to have had a few "run ins" with the law this year. I was pulled over in Chesterfield County for not having a front license plate. As the officer approached the car I kept my hands at 10 and 2. He asked for my license and registration. I informed him that I had a concealed handgun permit and had a firearm in the glovebox - which was the same place that my registration was. :banghead: He said Ok let me just see your license then. He took my drivers license (I can't remember if I gave him the permit or not) and went back to his car. He came back a minute gave me a warning for the plate - never mentioned the gun at all.

I was pulled over in Chesterfield County again for not having a front plate (I know I learned my lesson and have since gotten a front plate). Since the first traffic stop I also moved my registration to my flip down sun visor. The stop went fine. I never brought up my CHP and neither did the officer. I did get a ticket this time. All in all - the gun wasn't an issue with the officer either time.

 

[Cavalier Knight]

The person issued a permit or in possession of a de facto permit must have the permit on his person at all times during which he is carrying a concealed handgun and must display the permit and a photo-identification issued by a government agency of the Commonwealth or by the United States Department of Defense or United States State Department upon demand by a law enforcement officer.

Resident Concealed Handgun Permits

 

[jr45]

As stated above, I don't show or inform my ccw unless required.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

The best advice I have heard is 1) turn the car off, 2) if at night turn the light on, 3) sit with your hands on the wheel so they are visible to the officer as he/she approaches, 4) follow instructions (e.g. wait until asked to get your drivers license, etc) Remember that traffic stops are one of the most dangerous things they can do, and simple things like that show them that you are not a threat and helps to put them at ease.

That is exactly right!

I don't turn my vehicle off when I'm stopped.

In my 60 years of driving, being pulled over (sometimes given tickets, sometimes not), riding as a passenger, and riding with LEO, they have always required the drivers to turn the vehicle off! And yes it is for their safety.