Pulled Over: Cop Wants to Know I have CHL

Actually, in Texas you only have to notify if you are actually carrying, but I do it anyway, since I don't want them to get any surprises when they run my license. Since I've gotten my CHL I've been pulled over 5 times and gotten 5 warnings. Ask me how many warnings I got before this: 0. I don't know if it's the CHL, but I can tell you it hasn't hurt.

Funny, I am retired now, but the last year I actually checked my stats was 2004 and I conducted over 1100 traffic stops on Rt 4O between Baltimore and Philly.

The people who were a danger to me buy having a firearm (criminals) just never seem to tell you they are carrying. IMHO there is no need during a normal traffic stop to inform the officer you are carrying a gun. Now if for some reason you have to get out of the car and he may see your gun, I think it would be courteous to let him know. The whole letting the officer know you have a gun thing is just like gun control. It makes no difference to the criminals. Just my $.02.

I'm pretty surprised california doesn't require you to inform.

I figured, being california after all, you would have to get out of the car and prostrate yourself in front of the officer. Maybe even beg forgiveness?

i never considered it for the cops benefit but rather mine. the idea being to keep from getting a new orifice by mistake

Maybe he likes to just give warning to people with permits.

The proplem I have with these threads is that I some how get the feeling that it's normal for a cop to be suspicious of a legally armed citizen. It shouldn't be that way.

The state of Colorado recognizes my right to self defense to the point that a permit is not required to conceal a weapon in my car. (CRS 18-12-204) So, should those people inform?

The quickest way I know to find an anti cop is let them know you're armed ( And before Cassandra's Daddy asks yes, I say that from real life experience).

If I let the cop know I'm armed, the stop is likely to take longer, I'm more likely to be harrassed, and I'm more likely to be exposed to unsafe gun handling by the cop.

Are there exceptions? Yup, I already posted one. ( again real life experience CD) But for the most part it isn't in my best interests so I shut up.

In Michigan, we have to advise. Well, here along a about a week-and-a-half ago, some color-blind gentleman ran a red light in Detroit, causing me to t-bone his Taurus. Then, he fled the scene. Several witnesses stopped to assure my daughter and I were well, and to give us the license plate. I called the Detroit police and waited for 40 minutes with a pedestrian witness.

As the officer pulled in to take the report, I had my wallet in my hand. I passed my MCPL, my MDL and my pistol safety inspection papers to the officer. As I passed the items to the LEO, I stated, "I have my G26 on my ankle". He didn't even blink, simply responded, "Okay". Ten minutes later, I was on my way.

Doc2005

hasnt there aready been something like this?

Two years ago, the Colorado Legislature reinstated the CHL database at the Colorado Bureau of Investigations which allows police officers to see whether or not you have a CHL when they run your name for Wants and Warrants and query the Department of Public Safety about your driver's license status.

Colorado is a state that does not require a person to tell a police officer that they are a CHL holder unless asked. I go back and forth on the topic, depending on whether I am carrying, but I think that if I were stopped and was carrying, I would present my CHL along with my License, Registration and Proof of Insurance. I don't know what it could hurt, but maybe I am missing something?

I'm guessing that the cop just wanted to be told that he can relax...

Two years ago, the Colorado Legislature reinstated the CHL database

Click to expand...

That's a county by county thing I think (key word there) that only in Jefferson, Araphaho & the SSR Denver counties does your name come up.

I am positive that if your permit was issued in El Paso County it does not. Thanks to Terry Maketa ( Long may he reign)

If I am being stopped for a traffic offense, what does my CPL status matter? What does whether I am carrying a gun or not matter? Give me the ticket or don't and then we can both go about our business. If the cop is going to see my gun, then I will advise so there is no misunderstanding, but otherwise I don't see any point in bringing it up. Living in a liberal area, a fair number of cops think they are the only ones "professional enough" to handle a gun at I just as soon not have their personal biases become an issue in the matter.

If a cop is counting on the people he/she stops to be honest, up-front, and forthright with him/her they probably will not be a cop for long.

If a cop is counting on the people he/she stops to be honest, up-front, and forthright with him/her they probably will not be a cop for long.

Click to expand...

You got that right.

I'm not a road officer, and don't do traffic stops, but I can tell you this; One way of judging how honest and forthright a person is, see if they tell you they have a Concealed Weapons Permit.

If they have one and don't disclose that they do it makes one wonder what else they are hiding. Case in point, CWP Holder pulled over for a traffic violation, also hauling drugs. He didn't disclose the CWP and the dog "hit" on the drugs during a "walk around". The funny thing is, the cop said that if the guy would've disclosed he had a CWP he "would've just given him a "warning" and sent him on his way." The fact that the CWP came up on the MDT and that the guy didn't say anything about it struck him as odd since most people do in fact tell you they have one.

I've gone back and forth on this issue myself, but now I'm required by policy to disclose when I'm carrying, if I'm ever in a traffic stop. If I was a CWP Holder I don't know that I'd want to disclose that. I guess there is no right or wrong answer, except for your state's laws.

BikerRN

My job takes me through a local university every day while driving an unmarked company vehicle. Over the last several years I had been pulled-over by the same University Police officer who didn't care for my long hair I suppose, as I had never committed any 'real' traffic infractions. This cop was very brusque and built like a fullback, but at no time did I object to his pulling me over and briefly detaining me as he always let me off with a warning.

After getting my CCW I was once again pulled over by this gentleman. I immediately handed him my license, insurance card, and CCW. His eyes bulged ! "You caren raht naw ?" he asked. "Yes sir, left coat pocket.' I replied. "You haves a great day naw sir !" he said with a wry smile as he handed my license, etc back to me and walked back to his cruiser.

I have seen him in my rear view mirror but have not been pulled-over since.

He probably ran your plates before he pulled you over and was informed by the dispatcher. He just wants you to be courteous and respectful. I always let the officer know out of respect unless I'm driving in Louisiana, then no way. In LA the answer's always no.

911Boss. . . What happened to your avatar>?? As an earlier Colorado Poster pointed out, not all Sheriff's in this state contribute CHL information to the CBI but mine does.

So, I am posting the question again. What does it hurt to hand over your CHL along with the other required documents and let the conversation flow from there?

I am pretty confident that the way I carry no one, including a second officer on the passenger's side of the car is going to see that I am carrying. I have never been stopped since I started carrying again. . . . go figure?

Here it will just get you harassed and delayed even more. I dont, and wont, announce since there is no requirement

Happen to know what the process is by which they attach your CHL info to your DL/license plate/registartion? I have heard of this happening here before, and have also had people report they have asked OR LEO friends if the CHL info pops up and been told "no", so there seems to be some conflicting info on this, so I'm curious.I am NOT doubting ANYONE, here or otherwise's, statements, just curious due to conflicting reports.

Click to expand...

In North Carolina, your CHL and Drivers License share the same number. I've been told by an LEO that your DL # is for life -- your drivers license can expire, get cancelled because you got a new license out of state... and if you come ever come back and get a new license, you'll get the same exact DL #.

Lets look at this in a reasonable manner. The officer was polite, and made a request of you-not a demand. I fully understand the reason for the request, most of the states that have the "must disclose" doctrine did so at the request of police agencies. The reason is really really simple. If the cop knows you have a legal weapon it takes a potential suprise out of the situation, and where firearms are involved, suprises are almost always bad-sometimes fatal.
Just suppose that you had a legit reason to emerge from your vehicle(cops HATE this), but they do happen, and while doing so he catches a short sight of your gun, everything, and I mean everything has now changed. He is confronted with an armed person. Even at my advanced age and loooong experience, here is what I am going to do:
1. Hit the "all call" button on my computer, asking for back up from every and anyone able to respond,
2. Ticket book and pen are replaced forthwith by either my holster weapon(BHP 9mm) or more likely by my "car gun" (Colt 1911 concealed near my seat that I can reach instantly while seated),
3. Polite conversation is replaced by "stop where you-NOW, get down on the ground-NOW, etc.
4. This monologue is transmitted over a ready to go bang pistol.
With my experience I might take a chance on your "looking OK" or how scared you look, someone with lesser experience(which is just about everyone these days) just might shoot you if you are not on the ground by the end of the last breath of "NOW".
There are too many A$$ holes out there today, and I do not mean CCW folks, everyone of them I have encountered over the last almost half century were nice folks, most of whom I wouldn't mind as neighbors-If I wanted people as neighbors.
Think about it, on/off duty cops shoot each other with alarming frequency. All of which would have been avoided if everyone concerned had known that the other guy was carrying.
If I get stopped off duty (less frequently these days) I immediately tell the officer (without removing hands from the wheel) I am Captain------- and my weapon is wherever it is.
Puts everyone at ease, cop knows what to look for and does not get excited when he sees it.

IN matters of firearms, ANYTHING we can do to reduce misunderstanding is worth it. I am not necessarily infavor of a law requiring disclosure, but I am in favor of no suprises-for everyone.

slow944 said:

I don't know about Oregon, but here in Texas if you get pulled over you have to give the police your DL, CHL, and insurance cards.

Click to expand...

I don't think that's exactly correct.

I believe you have to inform the officer you have a CHL IF you are carrying at the time. I don't think the law specifically requires you to hand over the license before being asked to produce it, and I am 98% certain the law doesn't require you to inform an officer that you have a CHL if you are not carrying at the time of the interaction.

Yes, I understand that handing him/her the license is one way of "informing," but it's not specifically required by the law. "Officer, I have a CHL and I am carrying a handgun, how would you like me to proceed?" also works.

I don't know about Oregon, but here in Texas if you get pulled over you have to give the police your DL, CHL, and insurance cards.

Click to expand...

Ah, yes -- yet another example of what seems to be well on the way to becoming the most popular charge by police these days: "suspicion of lawful activity." You can't be too careful when dealing with people who aren't breaking any laws and don't bother to announce that they are conducting themselves lawfully.

Sheesh. This country is lost. It doesn't matter if Obama wins or loses -- the country is already lost.

orygunmike said:

He tells me, "no you are not required, and you are not in trouble for not telling me, but I would have prefer that you told me before I ran your license".

Click to expand...

"While we're out here shooting the breeze about what we prefer..."

I inform irregardless of the status of my carry. 9 of 10 officers in this area will smile and hand you your license back and ask you to slow down, be careful, quit hitting pedestrians, whatever, and not write a ticket. They know you are an extra set of eyes and ears and possibly a lifesaver (their life) if the do-do hits the fan and you are close enough to help. Informing just might keep you off the ground as well. What could it hurt to let them know? Here it is the law (if you are carrying) but I would show anyway, officers seem to be a lot friendlier when they know for sure that you are a good guy.

Jack 2427

here is what I am going to do:
1. Hit the "all call" button on my computer, asking for back up from every and anyone able to respond,
2. Ticket book and pen are replaced forthwith by either my holster weapon(BHP 9mm) or more likely by my "car gun" (Colt 1911 concealed near my seat that I can reach instantly while seated),
3. Polite conversation is replaced by "stop where you-NOW, get down on the ground-NOW, etc.

Click to expand...

I'm curious Jack,

In Colorado It is completely legal for me to O.C. a firearm (In or out of my vehicle)

CC in my vehicle ( W/ & W/out a permit)

And I am not required to inform you (generic) that I'm doing so unless asked.

So would you pull your full battle roll in Colorado? If you did how long do you think you'd keep your job?

Exercising my Second Amendment civil rights is none of government's business.