Do cops normally take your gun when the pull you over?

[TheOtherOne]

I got pulled over on the Freeway today for speeding. It's the first time I've actually had a gun with me when I was stopped by a cop. The first thing I told the officer is that I had a CCW, like you're suppose to and he asked where the gun was and I told him the glovebox. Then he just asked for my license, registration, insurance. I told him the insurance was in the glovebox and then opened it and he then told me to give him the gun out of it so I did. He sat the gun on the roof of my car, I then handed him all my papers and he walked back to his car with my gun. It took him forever to finally come back, and he just gave me my gun back (with the magazine removed and the slide locked back) and said "slow down a little" and then sent me on my way. So no ticket! But then again, I was only doing 72 in a 65 and it was basically with the flow of traffic so I don't why he pulled me over in the first place.

Anyways... I just didn't think they would actually take your gun?

 

[Jesse H]

Been in one situation where my friend was disarmed, but the gun was returned with no magazine, one in the pipe. Other times I've been pulled over officers didn't mind.

Boy I'd be upset if anybody put something on the roof of my car, which might possibly scratch the paint.

 

[Pointman]

When I was in my late teens through mid-20's LEO's always took my weapon, unloaded it and gave it back to me and asked that I not load it until they'd left.

But from mid 20's up it's been "just leave it where it is" attitude. Though I've not been in a situation in the last 7-10 years where an LEO would ask for it, either.

It's going to vary from state to state, department to department... Some agencies may have a set policy while others will leave it to the officers discretion.

 

[rock jock]

I guess I'm getting old because I generally stick with the speed limit. It just isn't worth the hassle of going through defensive driving or paying a ticket.

 

[Robert inOregon]

Only reason to take the gun back to the squad car is to perform a instant background check and see if the gun has been reported stolen. He was fishing!

 

[BamBam]

I don't have a CCW permit yet, so I don't disclose that I'm armed unless asked.

Also, I find that carrying causes me to pay more attention to traffic laws. It also makes me more relaxed while driving; ie: not let other people's bad driving get me agitated.

 

[Mike Irwin]

I've been pulled over a couple of times while carrying. None of the officers ever asked if I was carrying.

 

[MPFreeman]

I've never told a POLEESSSE ossiffer about a single firearm I own. None of there business. I carry mine concealed so i don't have to show it to them unless they want to frisk me.

Pull me over, I don't even roll down windows anymore. I'll put the Driver's license and Registration against window. I have lost all respect for the traffiK popo since they are willing to enforce seat belt laws in Indiana.

So no, I will not talk to a traffiK popo or make his job easy.

 

[Mike]

I've only been pulled over while carrying once and I did not declare my weapon or my carry permit. None of their business, really.

 

[TheOtherOne]

Robert inOregon:
Only reason to take the gun back to the squad car is to perform a instant background check and see if the gun has been reported stolen. He was fishing!

I suspected that. I was watching him in my rearview, he was talking into his CB often and it took him about five minutes to finally come back... that's why I thought for sure he must be writing me a ticket, but he didn't.

The cops around here say they don't profile, but trust me they do! I get pulled over all the time and I think it's mostly just because of the kind car I drive. I'm very careful at driving as to not give them any real excuses... and yes, I was speeding but doing anything less than 70 on the freeways here and you're going to get tailgated and passed by everyone.

Jesse H:
Boy I'd be upset if anybody put something on the roof of my car, which might possibly scratch the paint.

My first thought when he did that was, "Dang, I'm glad I've got a vinyl top". I'm glad I wasn't driving my other car. Maybe he wouldn't of put it up there on a normal painted roof, probably not though

 

[labgrade]

Not all the guns ....

Coming back from RMGO's (Co's GOA affiliate) .50 cal shoot, I wuz absolutely bushed - a volunteer for the fun weekend.

Got pulled over "crossing the yellow line" (sigh) way out in the boonies while pulling the event signs - closing shop.

When contacted at my window, informed the polite enough statie revenuer that I'm CCWing/licensed/yada, hand over all pertinent papers.

He asked where's the shooter.

Tell him one on my hip, another in "that bag on the seat," "oh, another under the seat," "musn't forget that one in the bag on the floor .... "

He wants 'em & I deliver 'em up.


"Ah. You're coming from The Shoot. (smile) Anymore?" he asked & really, I'm kinda blank - it's been a long fruitful weekend & I spaced some.

He starts to walk away with my horde & I remember & then "Oh yeah, I've got two rifles "there 'n there," a shotgun .....

He smiles & just walks away skaing his head.

Doesn't appear that he's had time to check NICS (whatever) for S/Ns, etc. - I got a ticket anyway.

Prolly do another thread on this - I've asked it enough times on TFL without a suitable answer .....

How can it possibly be in the officer's safety when you hand them a loaded handgun? Unless you're already at gunpoint (& even if) reaction time isn't likely to overcome your being "pre-positioned." (& this implies no ill intent - just reaction time & positioning)

& as far as "my safety" .... ? I don't think so. Frankly, I was quite oaky-doaky before I was pulled over.

Any takers in case I don't get to it?

 

[Lennyjoe]

Umm, Im pretty sure its the law in Arizona that you have to identify that your carrying when you get pulled over by the law.

May be the same in other states as well.

Who says you have to hand it to them loaded? Why not unload it yourself? Would the officer think thats an agressive move?

 

[Hkmp5sd]

One has taken my Glock during the stop and returned it as I left. The others didn't bother.

 

[tomkatz]

In my state(washintgton)I have never heard of anything that says you have to tell them anything at all. If I was asked to hand over my gun I would feel like I need to clear it the same as you would handing it to anyone, but I guess the thing to do is ask the officer if you can clear the weapon. I always keep it concealed on my person so like some others have said it is really none of their business anyway.....tom

 

[Kamicosmos]

MO doesn't have CCW, so I am just thinking off the cuff here...

A) if a cop pulled me over, I would hand him my CCW with my driver's licence. (That is, if it's a piece of paper.) Either way, I would let him know.

B) If he/she wanted the weapon, I'd automatically unload it. Basic gun handling safety. Just because he's a cop, doesn't mean he's familier with my handgun. Hell, I could be carring a desert eagle or something... In fact, I would insist that the gun is unloaded, and slide locked back or cylinder left open, for both our safety.

I don't hand anyone, including best friends, a loaded weapon at the range. Why would I hand a stranger one, even if he's a cop?

Kamicosmos

 

[Kalindras]

Just ripping this one off the cuff, as well, but here's what *I'd* imagine:

Depending just how fast you moved, and what the actual actions involved in clearing your weapon were, your 'Basic Gun Safety' might just get you shot.

I know a fairly large number of officers who are exceptionally touchy about weapons during traffic stops--with very good reason. Don't get me wrong--more than enough cops get plugged during traffic stops to merit the paranoia. I'm just trying to illustrate that it might not be in your best interests to take more than the absolute minimum action with your CCW weapon. Something like handing it to them by the trigger guard or the barrel...very slowly and carefully . Or, if it's against your religion to hand over a loaded weapon, I'd make a very LARGE point of stating in a firm voice, "Sir, I'm going to remove the ammunition from this weapon--is that alright?" And proceed as he tells me. (I almost said, "Sir, I'm going to *unload* this weapon," and then thought better of it... )

Just my two coppers...

Kal

 

[Snowdog]

Became a bit tiffed myself a couple years ago during a traffic stop (license/DUI checkpoint). Likewise, I pointed out I had a CCW with a handgun and the location. Officer #2 circles around to the passenger side and asked me to unlock the door, which I did.

Next, officer #2 reaches in, opens the console and takes the handgun, mentioning something about "checking to see if it's stolen"!
Taking this as an insult, I promptly asked for the name of this officer from officer #1, who repeatedly told me it was merely being "secured" during the stop. A few minutes later, I received my unloaded .38snub and a handful of shells while being thanked for my cooperation.

Cooperation? What choice did I have?
Should I have sped off? Wrested my handguns from his grip?
Thrown punches?
What cooperation?

Even though I had the name and badge number, I never did contact the Sheriffs department concerning the actions of officer #2 as I cooled down considerably the next morning (stoically, I am generally quite difficult to rile).

Checking to see if the handgun of a CCW recipient is stolen... I still often wonder if that's standard practice with some departments.
Two later checkpoints with the H'ville Police department only yielded such comments as "Well, just don't go twirling with it" once the CCW/carry gun was mentioned.

What ever happened to universal standard practice?

 

[bogie]

Yeah, Misery ain't a good place to be...

After we get CCW (and it'll happen eventually...), if they require us to inform cops on traffic stops, I don't have a problem with that. I think it's a good PR tool for "gun folks," in that cops will rapidly figure out that the folks carrying are generally okay. Should one wish to relieve me of the piece, fine. I plan to take charge of the situation, however, and insist that it be unloaded prior to transfer...

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Fishing? I don't think so, no more than when he ran your license and registration.

Would he have run your gun had you not had to handle it to get your paperwork? Probably not. But since you had to expose the gun to the officer in order to get your paperwork, he followed his duties.

Profiling? Sure. You met the first profile definition by breaking traffic laws. You also probably behaved enough in some manner to hold his attention such that he felt he needed to take your gun from you. People often confuse the differences profiling and individual assessment. Cops would have to be idiots not to assess every person they stop for acting in manners that maybe don't coincide with the traffic stop. Is that profiling? Yes and no. It is not profiling in the traditional sense where skin color, age, sex, socioeconomic status, etc. gets used. It is profiling in the sense that his assessment of you led him to feel the need to disarm you and verify your gun as well as license and registration. You know, he is just doing his job and you never would have been in that situation had you not been breaking the law. You get pulled over all the time, not because of the vehicle you drive, but because you are breaking the law.

As for the idea that he was fishing, that sort of implies that he was trying to catch you for something. Had he been fishing, you would have gotten your speeding ticket. Instead, the running of all your numbers simply provided a verification that you were one of the good guys and he sent you toodling down the road with no ticket.

 

[Preacherman]

I don't know about other states, but in Louisiana you're required to inform any police officer who stops you for anything that you have a CCW permit and are armed. The permit is also computer-linked to one's drivers licence and vehicle tag, so that as soon as you're pulled over and the LEO runs your tag, he is warned that the vehicle belongs to a registered CCW permit holder. On two occasions at random road-blocks, I've not been carrying, but was asked by officers whether I was carrying, because my vehicle was "tagged" as belonging to a CCW permit-holder. However, when I have been carrying, I just tell the officer that I'm armed, show him my CCW permit, and so far have never been asked to hand over the weapon.

 

[TheOtherOne]

Double Naught Spy:
Would he have run your gun had you not had to handle it to get your paperwork? Probably not. But since you had to expose the gun to the officer in order to get your paperwork, he followed his duties.

Yeah, I've decided the glove box probably isn't the best place to keep it. I'll never know if he would of still asked for the gun had it been on me or under my seat or someplace else. I'm a really passive guy and I wasn't being rude or beligerent or anything. I tried to keep my hands in a safe place where he could see them and everything. I even made sure to tell him again that the gun was in the glovebox when he asked me for the registration and insurance. The cop wasn't being a jerk or anything, and since he didn't give me a ticket, I don't have a problem with it! The only time he ever seemed perturbed was when he asked me to hand him the gun and I asked him if I should take the magazine out and then he kind of snapped at me "Just hand it to me!".

As far as the profiling, you are right... I was breaking the law and speeding and so was everyone else driving on the freeway with me. I know that just because everyone else is doing it, it still doesn't make it okay, but I guess I could say it seems like I get singled out an awful lot. I've been pulled over before because the cop thought my "rear bumper was too high" and another time just because they wanted to check why I was out so late and make sure I hadn't been drinking. The list goes on.

 

[TheOtherOne]

Commenting on what labgrade mentioned about why a cop would want to disarm you... I don't really understand either. I guess he just wants to cover all the bases. It's the bad guy that doesn't mention has a gun that he really needs to worry about though and not the good guy with the permit.

I wish our CCW didn't require us to inform the officer. That kind of goes against the "concealed means concealed" philosophy doesn't it? Of course, in my case, I guess I didn't do too good of a job at keeping it concealed.
No more storing my car registration/insurance in the same place as my gun!

 

[tomkatz]

Had dinner at thanksgiving with a guy we know who is wa. state patrol, he said the car that stands out is the one that is not keeping up with traffic on the freeway. I've always thought that too. He said if a line of cars is passing him at 10 over he does nothing, but maybe other LEO think differently.....tom

 

[Wil Terry]

MY LAST STOP SORTA MADE ME RE-THINK WHERE TO

KEEP MY REGISTRATION. I HAD ALREADY GIVEN HIM MY DRIVERS LICENSE.
" I NEED YOUR REGISTRATION, SIR "
' IT'S IN THAT GLOVE BOX BUT I'M NOT REACHING IN THERE FOR NOTHING RIGHT NOW '
"WHY NOT?"
'THERE'S A PISTOL IN THERE TOO'
" DO YOU HAVE A CARRY PERMIT?"
YES SIR. I ALSO HAVE ONE ON MY LEFT HIP.
" ANOTHER PISTOL?"
YES SIR, A 10MM.
" WHAT KIND OF PISTOL, SIR"?
A GLOCK MODEL 20'
" I LIKE MY GLOCK 45 A LOT"
YES SIR'
" GET OUT OF THE TRUCK, SIR, AND WALK BACK BETWEEN THE VEHICLES" [ OH OH...]
YES SIR'
" NOW LET ME SEE THAT GLOCK 10MM PISTOL"
I'M NOT PULLIN MY G..D... GUN OUT HERE, SIR! ALL THOSE PEOPLE GOING BY WILL CALL IN AND THERE'LL BE HELL TO PAY!
[ WE WALK AROUND TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF HIS CRUISER ]
" HERE, YOU LOOK AT MINE AND LET ME SEE YOUR PISTOL "[ HE PULLS OUT HIS SERVICE GUN AND HANDS IT TO ME, NO SHI! ]
WE TALKED GUNS FOR HALF AN HOUR. THIS AFTER HE CLOCKED ME AT 90 IN A 75 ZONE ON I90.
" YOU BETTER SLOW DOWN SIR "
YES SIR'
MY REGISTRATION IS NOW IN AN ENVELOPE IN MY DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND MY LICENSE IS IN A BRASS CARD CASE IN MY LEFT SHIRT POCKET ALONG WITH MY CCW AND OTHER I.D.

 

[MoonMan]

What if you just said, "No, you may not have my weapon. You have no reason to disarm me. Please issue me my ticket and allow me to proceed with my travels"?