ccw as the passenger

[p35bhp09]

This is probably very basic CCW stuff so please excuse my ignorance. What should I do if I am the PASSENGER in the vehicle and get pulles over by a LEO? Should I have my CCW license ready and hand over at the same time as the driver or should I just stay quiet until asked? If thats so, how do I word it so as to not cause alarm?

 

[Nitrogen]

This is probably very basic CCW stuff so please excuse my ignorance. What should I do if I am the PASSENGER in the vehicle and get pulles over by a LEO? Should I have my CCW license ready and hand over at the same time as the driver or should I just stay quiet until asked? If thats so, how do I word it so as to not cause alarm?

Depends on what state you live in.

For instance, in Texas, I only need to provide my CHL (ccw license) when asked for ID, in addition to ID.

In general, I believe thats how it works. Packing.org might have more.

 

[fantacmet]

Depends on your state. In Oregon you are not required to notify an officer you are carrying with a CHL, although it is considered polite and will help to put the officer at ease, and generally they will take it easier on you if you were speeding or what have you, and therefore is recommended, but it's not required despite what some officers will tell you. Also in Oregon only the state has any power to write laws regarding firearms for CHL holders, any other laws by city, county, etc, are null and void as per ORS 166.170.

Your state may and probably will vary greatly.

Rev. Michael

 

[Technosavant]

Check state laws.

But, speaking as one who often drives, I would like four things, and four things only, from the passengers if I am ever pulled over:

1) SHUT UP.
2) Keep hands where the officer can see them.
3) Don't move.
4) SHUT UP!!!!

I have no desire for the passengers to talk me into a ticket because they wanted to look tough to a police officer. If the officer doesn't direct a question to you, and you in particular, then just sit there, keep hands in evidence, don't move, and keep quiet. I'll do all the talking and moving around.

 

[Carlos]

Stay quiet until asked.

 

[p35bhp09]

I'm in Oregon

 

[Azrael256]

Should I have my CCW license ready and hand over at the same time as the driver or should I just stay quiet until asked?

It varies by state as to whether you have to show it, but I would think it good form to have it ready to give to the officer right away. You're being polite, informing him of your weapon in advance of anything that could happen, and you're also showing him what kind of company the driver keeps, which might just get him out of a ticket (YMMV on that one).

 

[Biker]

Stay quiet until asked.

Sage advice.

Biker

 

[HankB]

As a passenger, my inclination would be to keep my hands in view and not speak until spoken to. If asked for ID by the officer, I would hand over my CHL along with my TX DL - as required by law.

On the other hand, sometimes speaking up may be warranted - you might check out Post #35 in the following thread, which happened in my neck of the woods a couple of years ago: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=90688&page=2

 

[Carlos]

Thank you, Biker.

 

[SASS44439]

although it is considered polite and will help to put the officer at ease, and generally they will take it easier on you if you were speeding or what have you, and therefore is recommended, but it's not required despite what some officers will tell you.
Your state may and probably will vary greatly.

Rev. Michael

Depends on the state, but it is common courtesy to let them know up front (driver and/or passenger IMO.) I would personally hate to be asked for my ID and while reaching to pull it out the LEO sees a CCW, draws, and possibly firing on me (read about the Richmond Police shootings that have happened lately.)

 

[Leatherneck]

NoNoNoNo, Sass--these guys all have it wrong. As soon as the ossifer gets to the window, say "I have a GUN!" real loudly. Then....

Kidding of course. In VA even the driver has no legal requirement to notify the LEO. But most here would as a matter of courtesy and wanting to avoid surprises among armed people. As a passenger, I believe I'd wait and if the LEO addressed me directly or told me to get out of the vehicle, I'd then tell him or her "I have a VA concealed handgun permit and I'm carrying. What would you like me to do?"

TC

 

[Mad Chemist]

I'm in Oregon

As stated previously, it is not required that you inform the officer but it is polite to do so. I would do the same as I would if driving. Keep your hands in plain site and have ID/CHL ready. 1st tell them you're licensed, then tell them you are armed. I have been told twice by local LEOs that this is the safest most correct method for a driver and must assume that the same thing goes for the passenger.

JH

 

[Car Knocker]

"Politeness" is saying "Yes, Sir" or "No, Sir", not volunteering information or documents that are not required. Would your attorney advise you to volunteer something the officer didn't request or the law doesn't require? I don't think so! As a passenger, I wouldn't volunteer ID/CCW any more than I would volunteer a blood test or a search of my person or belongings. If the officer had reason to ask for my ID, then that would be a different story and I would act accordingly.

 

[Azrael256]

Would your attorney advise you to volunteer something the officer didn't request or the law doesn't require?

We're not talking about volunteering the location of the bodies of the two dead guys you shot. This is information that is free to the officer upon his request. I'm not blabbing information that is potentially incriminating, I'm extending a courtesy to him. Courtesies like that tend to make police look favorably on your situation. If I wait until he asks me for ID, I'll likely hear "well why didn't you say something before?" There might not have been a legal requirement for me to show it to him, but I've now changed his attitude toward myself and the driver. How is that going to effect whether or not my buddy gets a ticket?

 

[Car Knocker]

We're not talking about volunteering the location of the bodies of the two dead guys you shot. This is information that is free to the officer upon his request. I'm not blabbing information that is potentially incriminating, I'm extending a courtesy to him. Courtesies like that tend to make police look favorably on your situation. If I wait until he asks me for ID, I'll likely hear "well why didn't you say something before?" There might not have been a legal requirement for me to show it to him, but I've now changed his attitude toward myself and the driver. How is that going to effect whether or not my buddy gets a ticket?

And if he requests the information, I'll gladly give it to him. But I'm not going to complicate a situation where he most likely wouldn't ask for ID by pressing it on him. I've seen enough officers who aren't favorable to "ordinary" folks being armed that I would be loathe to possibly effect whether my buddy gets a ticket by irritating a cop. It can go either way. I'll stay legal and keep my mouth shut.