Pulled over while CCW

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herkyguy

herkyguy

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Just thought I'd share an experience yesterday:

I was driving a family friend and her two young kids to the airport about an hour away. I was speeding and a state trooper caught me (12-14 MPH over speed limit).

I saw him flash his lights just as he passed me. He turned and I saw him in my rear view. I was pulled over by the time he caught me.

I rolled my window down, had my right hand at 12:00 on my wheel and my left hand resting out the window.

He introduced himself, I said hello then advised him I had a CCW permit and a handgun on my right hip. He asked for license and registration and I told him it was in my wallet in my right back pocket.

He then had me take out my wallet with my left hand. Easier said than done. But doable. I admit I had to squirm a bit to make it happen. Interesting technique on his part to negate some of the risk and not go down the road of unholstering.

Anyhow, her ran my info and gave me a warning. Nice guy. It was my first experience pulled over while CCW and overall it was pretty positive. I braced for the worst, but was pleasantly surprised.

I've heard anecdotal horror stories, but this one went pretty well.
 
Is it plausible that the Officer was reluctant to give out a ticket with kids on board?

Just curious.
 
Traffic stops, officer safety....

I think you did the right thing & the stop went smooth.
I think the main point in any traffic stop or LE contact(deputy, state trooper, etc) is to; stay calm, avoid any jittery or rapid movements, speak slowly & clearly, avoid humor/sarcasism/profanity, having your documents ready.
I'd add that staying in your vehicle until asked to step out or waiting until the law enforcement officer gives you instruction(s) is a good idea.
It sounds simple, but if you ever "worked the road", you know how common that is. :mad:
With most traffic stops, cops are looking for guns and/or drugs. They are also concerned about their safety(and the safety of other motorists/drivers).
I haven't been in a traffic stop(as a driver) in several years(early 2000s, issued a written warning). If I had a CCW or weapon, Id hand my state DL, insurance ID, DMV/vehicle reg & my state CCW(W) license. Id then tell the officer/trooper I was armed & where it is on me or in the vehicle.
Author & sworn LE officer; Massad Ayoob has written articles on the topic & has a few online videos(demo types). Even Ayoob says a amped up rookie or new deputy in "field training status" may over-react with a valid CCW holder.
Do NOT yell; I have a gun! Or pull out your licensed firearm as the trooper/officer walks up. Some progressive cops now approach cars at a angle or go along the passenger side(s) of vehicles. To me that's smart. You get a wider view of the vehicle interior & your not standing/walking in active traffic. ;)

RS
PS; I doubt the kids in the vehicle were a part of the warning. Many cops & state troopers give warnings based on things like criminal history/traffic offenses, behavior, attitude.
 
I've never managed to get off with a warning since I got my CHL. I keep my hands on the wheel and am pleasant and professional; but after that first "AM I BEING DETAINED?!!!" they just get all irritable with me. ;)
 
I'm in NC. Required to notify LE.

More than likely he let me go for two reasons.

1: no tickets in a long time.

2: I'm active duty and eastern NC is mighty friendly in that regard.

I made sure to first state I had a CCW before advising him I had a weapon. That plus my hands clearly in his view as he approached hopefully made him comfortable with the situation.

Pretty sure I've watched the ayoob videos and that is where I picked up those techniques.

I was a boarding officer years ago and I can relate to body language's ability to set the tone for an encounter. This one worked in my favor.
 
I've had 3 "official" law enforcement contacts since getting my CHCL. Only one involved being pulled over. The other two were instances when my parents were out of town, their alarm went off, and I had to go over and check on the house.

In AR, we have a duty to inform. So when I got pulled over for having a taillight out, I handed the officer my CHCL and DL. I had gotten them out of my wallet before he could get up to the car, so I didn't have to fish around for them. The officer beat me to the punch on informing by immediately asking, "You got it with you?" There was no further discussion about my pistol. He told me to get my taillight fixed, I told him to have good evening, and I went on my way.

The other two times involved me showing up at my parents' house, with the alarm blaring in the middle of the night, and a couple of officers going in and out of the house. I was clever enough to have my DL and CHCL in hand when I approached the first officer I located. Handed them to him, identified myself, and said, "Yes, I am carrying. How about I turn that alarm off for you?" None of the officers ever mentioned the CHCL or pistol again.

How one informs the officers is very, very important. There's a big difference between:
  • Good evening, officer. My name is Spats McGee. Here's my CHCL, and yes, I am carrying a pistol this evening;
and
  • IHAVEAGUN!
 
I've been pulled over 4 times since I got my cc and never mentioned it, we are not required here in MN to do so though
 
I've been pulled over twice since getting my CCW in 1987. In Virginia and New Mexico. There is no duty to inform in either state and I didn't.

Got rung up twice anyway. Very professional State Troopers in both states. They did not make my day however. ;)
 
We are not required to have any permit to exercise the US Constitution. I have been armed every time that I have been pulled over. I have never mentioned it, and most cops here assume you are armed.
 
I work in I.T. for my county P.D. This topic comes up a lot with officers. I have not met one yet who cares one one or the other if someone informs them that they are carrying, the consensus being that they pretty much have to eye everyone with the same level of suspicion and the bad guys willing to shoot won't ever inform them anyway.

I, personally would always keep my hands on the wheel and inform out of courtesy. We are not required to do so in Utah but I do it anyway. The officer is going to be more likely to be worried about where your hands are than whether you are a legally carrying CCP holder.
 
Did Utah change the duty to notify law? I recall back 10 years ago when I got mine, the class covered Utah carry law and it had a duty to notify back then.



Nevermind. Red Wing cross posted the answer.
 
herkyguy said:
He asked for license and registration and I told him it was in my wallet in my right back pocket. He then had me take out my wallet with my left hand. Easier said than done. But doable.
Click to expand...
I'm also right-handed. Ever since I started carrying a gun regularly, I switched to carrying my wallet in my left back pocket, so now I always access my wallet with my left (support) hand. I think there are several advantages to this, and one of them is peacefully producing your wallet while carrying a gun.
 
We are not required to have any permit to exercise the US Constitution. I have been armed every time that I have been pulled over. I have never mentioned it, and most cops here assume you are armed.
Click to expand...

Unless you have 5 to 6 figures of $ to mount a test case in court I wouldn't count on the US Constitution to mean anything if State law disagrees. Technically Federal law allows carrying our weapons in our car inter-state. I don't believe anyone has paid out for a test case of State law vs Federal, which sort of surprises me.

I live in a "good" state in my region of the country surrounded by anti-gun states and am nervous that it is a communicable disease. I lived in UT and ID in my younger days and you guys are fortunate, I would love to move back out west.

I would read up on my state's laws and would never bring it up if the law didn't require it. I also have my DL, insurance and registration ready when they come up - saves time and hassle.
 
You did well keeping your hands clearly visible right from the get go.

That's how I dealt with the Mexican officer who approached my door and pointed a submachinegun at my head back in the early 70s:
both hands high on the steering wheel.

Then I asked if I could turn the engine off, which he agreed I could do.

My goal was to ease the mind of the smg guy.
 
chiltech500 said:
.....
I also have my DL, insurance and registration ready when they come up - saves time and hassle.
Click to expand...
Just don't be seen searching the floor for a dropped wallet, or fumbling with the glove compartment or console. If the officer sees you scurrying about as he approaches your vehicle, the tension will ratchet up.

edit: I wasn't CCWing so the above is slightly off topic, but I wanted to speak to how I managed the pull over interaction with an armed and ready leo.
 
Last edited:
twofifty said:
You did well keeping your hands clearly visible right from the get go.



That's how I dealt with the Mexican officer who approached my door and pointed a submachinegun at my head back in the early 70s:

both hands high on the steering wheel.



Then I asked if I could turn the engine off, which he agreed I could do.



My goal was to ease the mind of the smg guy.
Click to expand...


I've never had a gun held to my head, but I did stare down the barrel of a rifle in Mexico at the hands of a very nervous gate security guard at one of their naval bases....

Not a good feeling at all.
 
Yup I have had several stops In NC We ear required to first thing inform of the CCW . And in 3 license checks a out of date tag and 2 times stopped for speed in a tractor trailer ( now that was a good one I have to inform this trooper I have a CCW permit but by federal law can not carry in a truck ) Where is your pistol what did you tell me you have a concealed permit .. The only thing I noticed is the fear in LEO's Eyes when they understand the person they stopped is a law abiding armed citizen ?? We told them we have a permit and we passed all the background crap to get it ???
 
...having your documents ready.
Click to expand...

Question about this... I thought it was better to wait for the officer to arrive before reaching for things in the car, or wiggling around to get your wallet out? The idea is to not looks suspicious or dangerous by hiding or reaching for something illegal or lethal. I've only been pulled over a couple times, but this is how I've done it. Any advise from an officer here?

On a side note, the second (and last) time I was pulled over was within a month of getting my first carry permit. I was terribly nervous because I wasn't used to carrying yet and hadn't been pulled over in 10 years. I was carrying, however, we are NOT required to notify. The officer actually asked me why I was so nervous. I responded that I wasn't used to being pulled over, which was true. He was very kind and gave me a warning. In addition to carrying a gun, my only other time being pulled over was not nearly so positive and I think that added to my nervousness. Embarrassing.. :eek:
 
documents at the ready

I keep my DL DOT Health card and Concealed permit along with a lawyers card and my USCCA card all together with a rubberband . Digging around in my wallet is not where I want my attention in a stop ..
 
He then had me take out my wallet with my left hand. Easier said than done. But doable. I admit I had to squirm a bit to make it happen.
Click to expand...

I have been pulled over by the police a few times, all minor traffic violations.
You know they're going to ask for your license and proof of insurance. Have it ready by the time they get to your window. They're going to run your plates before they get out of the car, so you have plenty of time.
 
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