Traffic Stop has this ever actually happened to anyone?

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Trunk Monkey

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My question grew out of a current thread asking if it should be mandatory to inform a police officer that you are armed during a traffic stop.

Whether you choose to inform or not is your business (unless dictated by law) and I don’t have a problem with that but one of the most common reasons I hear for doing so is so that the officer doesn’t discover the gun by accident.

My question is has this ever actually happened to anyone and how did it pan out?
Thanks for your time

ETA: I don't think I asked this clearly enough, have you ever NOT informed an officer that you were armed and then had him find the gun?

If so, how did it pan out?

Thanks again
 
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Stopped while carrying

Yep, I got pulled over for going a little fast on my way back form the gun range.

Being a good boy I put the gear in park, turned off the engine and put both hands up on the wheel. When I saw the trooper coming up the right side I lowered the passenger window. He asked for my license and insurance. I started to move toward the glove box, halted, and said "I have a license and I'm armed." This is Texas law.
"Where is it?" he asked. I pointed to my right hip with my left hand.
"Leave it there." he said. I continued to dig in the glove box for the insurance slip then carefully past the firearm to my hip pocket for the licenses.

He disappeared with them for a few minutes and returned with a warning about driving a little slower from now on.

My fellows on another forum approved this way of responding. Worked for me.
 
Yes it happen to me and I was a Police officer at the time.

I was on vacation in another state. Local LEO checked me out as a suspicious person.
I forgot I had my off duty 38 in the glove compartment when I opened it to get my car registration.
The local LEO saw the gun. IMO they overreacted, since I had already identified myself as a Police Officer.

They did everything but handcuff me.

Finally a call to my home state Police station verified that I was LEO and I was on vacation. Then I was released. (Without an apology)

Now if some LEO will do that to a fellow officer you can imagine what they will do to you if they "find" your gun by accident.

That's why I say you aren't using good judgement if you don't announce your (legal) gun up front.


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I imagine, based on past threads, you'll get a load of responses most of them positive.

I've done it twice, once when I "accidently" pulled into a one-way street right in front of a police officer. When he stepped up, I told him I was carrying and didn't realize it was one way until I turned in. He laughed about the mistake, said be more careful, and never responded to my statement about carrying.

The second time, I was stopped at a construction zone when the car behind me was pushed into my jeep by a truck that came up too fast behind us. When the responding officer came, I told him (quietly and off to the side) I had a carry permit but my gun was in the middle compartment in my truck. He said that's fine, make sure it stays there, and seemed more interested that my jeep sustained absolutely no damage (except a 1 inch tear in my tire cover), while the car behind me (a low sedan like a Camry or something) got it's radiator penetrated and the entire front and back end crushed in.
 
Come to think of it it happened to me a few years ago.

I was on the way home from a friend's funeral. I was very upset and in a hurry to get home.
A TX State Trooper pulled me over.
When he came up to the door, I asked him if he minded if I got out of the car, (I guess I looked upset). He said OK. As I opened the door and got out I handed my DL and TX CHL to the officer and said, "I have a gun in the car but none on me".

He said, "The one by the seat?". He had saw the gun when I got out but this being Texas that's no big deal.

I said, "Yeah, thats one of them", I have a couple more in the vehicles.

The Trooper checked out my DL and just told me to slow down a little.

45incar.gif
 
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The first and only time I told an officer that I had a permit and a firearm, he immediately stepped back, put his hand on his weapon, and asked me where it was. He then told me to keep my hands on the wheel as he came around to the passenger side, hand on his weapon the entire time, opened my passenger door, reached in my glovebox, and took my firearm. He then took it back to his car, ran the serial number, and handed it back to me unloaded without my ammunition after the stop, along with the very minor traffic infraction I had earned. His comment was "nice revolver, glad it wasn't stolen". Since I live in a state without the requirement to disclose, I won't be doing that again.

Edit: He was a younger guy, looked pretty new to his duties. I do not know the legality of his actions Since in my state one can be arrested with no provocation or cause if the officer feels that by arresting you he is increasing his own safety, It would not surprise me if it is legal to forcibly take possession of a private firearm for reasons of "officer safety". I am pretty sure that it is against my rights to run the serial number without there being any evidence or probable cause of a crime. In my circumstances I believe the officers' actions represented the mindset of an individual and not necessarily that of local LE as a whole, but I'm not inclined to do a case study.
 
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IMO, and that of a DPS friend, if you're a BG and plan to use it, they are somewhat ready for that, if you're a GG and have no intention of using it, what does it matter?

To me, I guess it all depends on the intensity of the situation as to whether I would inform or not.
 
I always hand them my DL and CHL at the same time but I don't volunteer any information they don't ask for and answer "yes sir" or "no sir" if I can.

Had an officer pull me over once and after handing him my license and confirming I had a pistol with me he asked if there were any other firearms in the car. After I told him where it was, he ducked down to look and said "Oh!" and took a step back towards the rear of the vehicle.


jeepm.jpg
 
silicosys4, is it legal for a police officer to just reach in your car and grab something like that? Or are you consenting by telling him where it is in the vehicle?

Interesting that he didn't give you your ammo back..

- TNG
 
This is comical more than advice. A local sheriffs deputy that I know personally pulled me over to ask if I knew someone that lives on the same road that I live on. I put my hands on the steering wheel and informed him I had a weapon as required by law. He responded that he wanted to see the weapon that was laying on the seat beside me. I whipped out a 6.5" Blackhawk and handed it to him butt first. For some reason me getting a large gun that fast startled him and the poor fellow almost jumped back into a busy highway. Now if I know the officer I just put my gun on the dash so the gun porn can go on without anyone jumping in the highway.
 
Here in Arkansas it's law to hand over both the DL and CHL. They usually ask if I have a gun with me and so far, every time they have said, "Just leave it where it's at."
 
I always hand them my DL and CHL at the same time but I don't volunteer any information they don't ask for and answer "yes sir" or "no sir" if I can.

Had an officer pull me over once and after handing him my license and confirming I had a pistol with me he asked if there were any other firearms in the car. After I told him where it was, he ducked down to look and said "Oh!" and took a step back towards the rear of the vehicle.
HaHa! I'd take two steps back toward the rear if I saw that muzzle pointed at me! Officer Friendly, "What have you got that AR strapped to your roof for"?

Road rage...

I see your scope in the rear view mirror.

Arkansas is must inform. I'd inform if pulled over. Not worth a cop goin' medieval on your hiney if he sees it, and possibly losing a carry permit. Some here wouldn't inform, no matter what.
 
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Don't have to inform in Virginia, but I always do. However they'll already know by running your tags.

One state trooper that pulled me over was kind of an ass. I told him I have a concealed weapon in the vehicle. He asked where and I pointed to my carry bag on the passenger seat. He said" "As long as it stays there we won't have any trouble". :rolleyes:

Whatever...

I mean, what did he think I would do?? Kind of a dumb thing to say but he was the exception. All the other troopers have been great. One asked what my license plate meant. (It says PRO 2A) I told him and he smiled. :D
 
silicosys4, is it legal for a police officer to just reach in your car and grab something like that? Or are you consenting by telling him where it is in the vehicle?

Interesting that he didn't give you your ammo back..

- TNG
I think the police are permitted to to take and secure firearms during the course of a stop to ensure their safety if they feel there is such a need.

But, I'm not sure they are allowed to then run a search (without consent) on the serial number to see if it is stolen without having probable cause to believe it may be stolen.

One thing I can guarantee is that the police are not allowed to steal your ammunition.
 
In Utah when they run your license they'll know you're CCW permit holder anyway, so I always hand them my license and CCW permit. Cop asks, "are you armed?" "Yes sir." "Where is it?" "Right front pocket." (or wherever it is) "Leave it there." "Of course."

Always happens like this, no problems.
 
I had a Texas trooper ask me one time, "Just why to think you need to carry a gun?"
My reply "Why do you?" was not well received it would seem. I got the ticket.

I could tell the one about the Ft. Hood MP PFC stopping me on the home in base housing while in a Harker Heights Reserve uniform but it would take a novella's worth of space.
 
Only happened once to me,
Got pulled over for our stupid seatbelt law,and when I handed him my license I also gave him my handgun permit card, He looked at the card,handed it back to me and took my license back to the car with him, didnt even ask where the weapon was,
(Which I thought was pretty cool of him)
But then he came back from his car with "the book" , open to a fresh ticket-page,
apparently they keep track now of any time a person has been given a warning for seatbelt violation,and a quick check showed I had just been warned about 2-weeks previous , So I guess it was my own stubborness that earned me that $135 fine..
Other wise given his nonchalant attitude,I think he would have just told me to have a good day, and sent me on my way..
 
In SC we are required to inform if licensed to carry. I wear my seat belt, don't text and drive, don't speed or do anything else to attract attention so no, no experience with this issue.

I advise my students that if they do get pulled over to get their license, permit, registration, etc out before the officer gets to the window. You know what he is going to ask you for so be ready, turn the engine off, hands on the wheel and all that. Put the officer at ease and be polite.
 
It used to be required to notify a police officer here in Utah, but that is no longer the case.

If they run your plates, they automatically know you have a concealed carry permit. If they don't run your plates, they won't know you have a permit, and you most likely won't get a ticket.

I did get stopped for having a tail light out, and as I took my driver license out of my wallet, the officer spotted my concealed carry permit. He asked about it, and whether I had a firearm. I admitted that I was embarrassed because I was without one that day. I try not to let that happen.
 
Mandatory where I live. I always inform, just to be upfront, but don't hardly get pulled over. My state also has you exit your vehicle and go sit in the cruiser to talk. so you don't run, and to see if you are impaired. Drunk driving is a real problem here, so this is their way of checking you, without checking you.

I got pulled over in Wyoming. Had a 357 sitting on top of the manual in the center counsol, which is where my registration was. I informed the cop I needed to move it to get to the registration. Told him I had a permit, and offered to show him. "He laughed and said, this is WY, you don't need a permit here." "Oh yeah, well I don't want you to think I'm going for it or anything." He thanksed me for letting him know, wrote me a ticket, and sent me on my way.

I just choose to always inform as a habit. I feel it helps the cop see that you are a law abiding citzen who just screwed up a bit.
 
In Utah when they run your license they'll know you're CCW permit holder anyway, so I always hand them my license and CCW permit. Cop asks, "are you armed?" "Yes sir." "Where is it?" "Right front pocket." (or wherever it is) "Leave it there." "Of course."

Always happens like this, no problems.

Actually it used to be required upon detention by any peace officer in Utah. Apparently no longer the case. But, BCI recommends disclosure. As does common sense.
 
I think you guys are missing what I asked please allow me to restate:

Assuming no law requiring you to inform, Have you ever failed to inform and then have the officer find the gun.

If this has happened to you , how did it pan out.
 
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M2 Carbine said:
Yes it happen to me and I was a Police officer at the time.

I was on vacation in another state. Local LEO checked me out as a suspicious person.
I forgot I had my off duty 38 in the glove compartment when I opened it to get my car registration.
The local LEO saw the gun. IMO they overreacted, since I had already identified myself as a Police Officer.

They did everything but handcuff me.

Finally a call to my home state Police station verified that I was LEO and I was on vacation. Then I was released. (Without an apology)

Now if some LEO will do that to a fellow officer you can imagine what they will do to you if they "find" your gun by accident.

That's why I say you aren't using good judgement if you don't announce your (legal) gun up front.


Did they not accept your credentials?

This is anecdotal and second hand but when I was in the tenth grade (1982) one of my teachers told the whole class that her husband (FBI agent) had been stopped over the weekend when he opened the glove box to get his POI the cop saw his service weapon and, according to his wife, punched him in the chest .
Apparently hubby forgot to mention he was a fellow LEO
 
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