Interesting chat with a traffic cop...

Poper · Mar 16, 2016

Well, I was stopped after failing to come to a complete stop when pulling out onto a major arterial. Guilty as charged!

Anyway, this young kid in the blue suit was very courteous.
"Registration, proof of insurance, and driver's license please."
I handed him the documents and my license.
"Is there a firearm in the car?"
"Yes."
"Where is it located?"
"On the floor under the front of my seat."
"Fine. Just leave it there and make no move toward it."
"You got it."
He returns to his cruiser to do his due diligence on my DL. A few minutes he is back at my window. He tells me why he stopped me and quoted the exact chapter and verse of the traffic law that applied. We chatted a little about the season and the sudden increase in vehicle-pedestrian accidents lately and the fact that several have been fatalities. He handed me a written warning and asked me to be more observant of the letter of the traffic laws. Then he inquired about the firearm.
"It's a revolver. .44 Special."
"Nice caliber. That should get the job done. Five or six rounds?"
"Five. It's just a two inch Titanium Taurus. Very light and easy to carry. It's in a holster. I figure if I am ever in the situation where I have to point it at someone, when they see the big hole in the end of the barrel it may dissuade them from forcing me to pull the trigger."
"And if you do have to use it?"
"Well, if after five rounds I haven't stopped the threat, at my age, chances are the sixth one won't really matter."
"I hike a lot and carry a 2" Charter Arms.44 Special Bulldog just in case of a naughty Javalina, rabid wild dog or coyote."
We talked a couple minutes more then I said I had to go an appointment I am late for but the client will wait. (I spoke to her on the phone while he was doing his computer check on my license.)
"No offense, but I hope I don't see your winkie-blinkies in my mirror again anytime soon."

old lady new shooter · Mar 17, 2016

Very nice to read this, thanks for posting.

DoubleMag · Mar 17, 2016

Courtesy & respectful tone wins the day, again. Fortunately you got a great one, minor time hassle, these aren't the droids.... move along.

Great read thnx!

Midwest · Mar 17, 2016

Thanks for posting this.
.

yugorpk · Mar 17, 2016

Why did he ask you if you were armed ? Is that common during traffic stops where you are? Ive never been asked.

tacmedicp94 · Mar 17, 2016

The couple of times that I've been pulled over in Texas over the past 10-12 years went much along the same lines. In one instance we spent more time discussing the merits of different caliber's than we did with the actual traffic stop.

Adam

Quentin · Mar 17, 2016

I've been stopped six or so times since l got my driver's license in 1964 and each time the officer was professional and courteous. A couple times I got a ticket but usually just a warning. I'm always friendly around LEOs, whether a traffic stop or any other encounter and never had a bad experience over 50 years. Sure, I'm fortunate but never forget your attitude can greatly affect any encounter with a police officer.

Good point, thump! I was old enough to be in Vietnam but not old enough vote in the 1968 election!

stoky · Mar 17, 2016

A few months ago, I was stopped by the HP, for what I was sure would be a hefty speed tax.
Trooper: "Are there any weapons in the car?"
"yes"
"Are they loaded?"
Thinking DUH!, but trying not to let it show on my face: "yes"
"Well, don't touch it and I won't touch mine."

He let me go with a warning.
As the sign says
Wyoming...............Forever West

aarondhgraham · Mar 17, 2016

"Is there a firearm in the car?"

Why did he ask you if you were armed ? Is that common during traffic stops where you are?

I don't know about there but here in Okie-Land,,,
It's pretty much the second thing they say,,,
Right after license and proof of insurance.

Aarond

.

Red Wind · Mar 17, 2016

Very cool story. The LEO was not one you will meet every day!

And it ended well with just the warning.

Thanks for sharing.

stchman · Mar 17, 2016

I've been pulled over a couple of times and never had a police officer ask me if I have a firearm.

Being a CCW holder I do inform them if I do have a firearm in the car, but have never been asked.

yugorpk · Mar 17, 2016

Never been asked and I don't volunteer information about anything I'm not required by law to volunteer information about. My state doesnt require that I inform anyone that I have a Concealed carry license or that I am carrying. I make a point of not keeping my insurance and registration info where I keep my pistol just so it doesnt turn into an uncomfortable situation for anyone while I retrieve my paperwork.

wgp · Mar 17, 2016

Last summer I was checked for a fishing license in Colorado. After he checked my license I commented to him that in a nylon/Kydex world he was wearing the best-looking all-leather rig with his 1911 that I had ever seen. He was pleased to hear that and we had a pleasant discussion about his Springfield and just the fact that he was carrying a cocked-and-locked 1911. According to him that was pretty common among his fellow officers.

Can't hurt to be cordial.

FiveStrings · Mar 17, 2016

I lived in Michigan from 2011-2014 and got pulled over twice by the MSP for speeding (once I was just plain driving too fast, the other time was an emergency situation). THe first stop resulted in a ticket, the second resulted in a high sped escort.

Neither time did the MSP ask about weapons. But in both cases I have to say the Michigan State Police were the most professional, courteous, helpful, and basically human LEO's I've ever encountered of all the states and localities I've lived in.

Just had to put in a plug for the MSP. They treated me right, and I won't forget that.

Red Wind · Mar 17, 2016

yugorpk said:
Never been asked and I don't volunteer information about anything I'm not required by law to volunteer information about. My state doesnt require that I inform anyone that I have a Concealed carry license or that I am carrying. I make a point of not keeping my insurance and registration info where I keep my pistol just so it doesnt turn into an uncomfortable situation for anyone while I retrieve my paperwork.

The OP's state of residence requires that if he is asked if he has a firearm, he must truthfully answer.

TarDevil · Mar 17, 2016

Duty to inform in my state. So far (two traffic accidents - none my fault - and a routine check of bicycle equipment) and all I got was shrugs when I informed them about the weapon.

Courtesy works... most of the time.

Bill50 · Mar 17, 2016

The last time I got pulled over the cop walked to my window and said,

"I got a call about a woman in a red car driving irradically. You're clearly not a woman. I pulled you over because you had a red car"

He didn't ask for a drivers licence but looked at the stickers on my windshield apologized for pulling me over and left.

Panzerschwein · Mar 17, 2016

I got pulled over one time and the lad asked me if I was packin.

I says to him "yessir"

He says to me "do yourself a favor and don't make any moves towards it" so I says to him "yessir" and all was well. I was respectful to the man, and got away with just a warning. One of the better encounters I've had with the authorities, to be sure.

AJumbo · Mar 17, 2016

So..... I'm holding my license, registration and proof of insurance in my hand by the time the deputy gets even with my door...

"Do you know why I stopped you?", taking the offered documents.

"I guess I wasn't letting the grass grow under my tires."

"Good way to put it... 52 in a 45. Late for work?"

"That I am, guess they'll have to wait for me a little longer."

"Anything in the vehicle you want to tell me about?"

''I have a 1911, holstered, in my laptop case." Said case is on the passenger side seat.

''1911? Me too. And some other stuff. I have no desire to see yours, nor to show you mine. Sound good to you?"

Armybrat · Mar 17, 2016

18 years ago I was pulled over for doing about 50 in a 35 zone late one night after picking up my brother from the airport & dropping him off at his house.

In those days Texans were required to show both the DL and our CHL. The officer asked where was my gun (in the console compartment) and what kind (Keltec p32)?

He didn't quite laugh after I informed him the specifics of my tiny little pistol, but his lips quivered a bit.

Got off with a warning however.

Not long after that I started totin' a Kahr PM9.

FL-NC · Mar 17, 2016

In NC you are required to tell the officer "as soon as practical" you are armed. Supposedly when they run your tags it will highlight that the owner of the vehicle has a CCW. I've been through this a few times (I'm known for a heavy foot). I rarely get ticketed because I don't argue or otherwise act like a jackass. One time I was pulled over by a trooper on my bike, and my pistol and paperwork was in the saddle bag. He knew about the pistol (I told him) and he was still acting "uncomfortable" (maybe it was the bike, who knows?). When he asked for my registration, etc. I undid the saddle bag straps, took a step or 2 to the side, and told him to get the reg. He asked why and I told him that my gun was on top of the paperwork and I didn't want any misunderstandings. He dug it out, went to his car to do his thing (I just hung out by the FRONT wheel of the bike) then he came back, gave me my papers back, and told me to slow down.

tark · Mar 17, 2016

I was travelling across Nebraska years 25 years ago and stopped at a gas station in the middle of the night. There was a young girl behind the counter. Long story short, I borrowed a screwdriver to adjust my headlights and when I handed it back I accidentally bumped her in her chest. She freaked, I left and pulled into a McDonald's twenty miles down the road. I was arrested there and the deputies asked if I had any weapons in the car. I had two pistols, one loaded in the car and I told them where the guns were. One deputy couldn't figure out how to unload the Webley, so I talked him through it.

I got off eventually and I was never charged with carrying a loaded pistol in the drivers compartment. When I asked why, the Sheriff responded by saying " We know that half the cars we stop around here have weapons in them. But you were honest, and honesty counts for a lot around here. I won't charge a person who is honest with me, as long as I don't suspect other issues in play"

Ahhhh.... good old honesty. Still the best policy.

rcmodel · Mar 17, 2016

I have never had a bad experience with a police officer in 71 years.
Except once about 5 years ago.

I was tooling over to a gun show in Topeka via the back roads when I got pulled over for doing 50 in a 35.

This three miles outside town, just after I crossed the county line.
( Speed limit drops from 55 to 35 at the county line).
There was not another living being within 2 miles, except 50 cows in a pasture, my wife & I, and the County Mounty.

So, I pulled off the road as far as I could get, turned on the flashers, and rolled down the window.
I also unbuckled my seat belt to get my billfold out of my hip pocket, and put both hands on the wheel.

Looking in the rear view, I saw the cop get out, unlatch his holster, and do a couple of short draws to see if it was truly unlatched.

Then he put on his black sunglasses, smoky bear hat, and did his best Buford T. Justice imitation sauntering up behind my widow.

First words out of his mouth was 'What's your hurry there Son?'??

Son? SON????

I'm 66, and he's 25 tops!!

I gritted my teeth and kept my mouth shut, only answering what he ask me.

Ended up with a 15 over speeding ticket, (in a cow zone?) and another one for not wearing a seatbelt!!!

And he never took his hand off his Glock the whole time, slipping it up and down in the holster to make his point!!
Every time he had a point!!

That one topped any bad cop I ever met in my life, under any circumstances.

rc

Gun Master · Mar 17, 2016

An Armed And Potent Pistolero

In my area, if you're armed when stopped, tell the LEO, "Officer, I'm armed. It's (in my glove box, pants pocket, hip holster) (or whereever)."
He / she replies, "OK, sir / 'mam, for your protection and mine, please step out of the car, and I'll need to handcuff you."
"But officer, I have a HG carry permit (and tell where)."
"Alright, but I'll need to verify that while you're secured."

Sad, but true.

Red Wind · Mar 18, 2016

Just another reason not to inform unless you are in one of the 9 states where it is required upon official contact with a LEO.

Tennessee is not one of the 9.

Interesting chat with a traffic cop...

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