Excuse me officer, but I have a gun

[DetroitStudent]

As someone who is looking into getting a CCW, I have a question. It is my understanding that if you are pulled over/stopped by a police officer you have to tell him/her that you have a firearm on your person/car and that you have a CCW license. If this is not the case, let me know.

My question is the following, if I am driving with my friend/girlfriend/sister/mother etc. and am pulled over by a police officer for speeding, would it be in my best interest to say, "I have a concealed weapon." I ask this question because if I were a cop, I would be a lot rougher on those who just told me they had a gun. I can imagine some state trooper saying "Out of the car, hands on the hood" embarassing myself and other people I am traveling with, as well as turning a simple traffic stop and blowing it WAY out of proportion. I respect the police btw, and am a law abiding citizen.

Please let me know your thoughts/what you would do in the above situation

 

[Spreadfire Arms]

it depends on the state that you are inquiring about, or the state in which you are carrying in which has reciprocity with the state that issues your CCW.

in Texas, you are required by law to show your ID or Driver License and your carry permit (referred to here as a CHL - Concealed Handgun License) when stopped by the police and you are in fact carrying a concealed handgun.

if you do not show your carry permit, and you are subsequently found carrying a concealed handgun, then you can have your CHL suspended for 90 days on the first offense:

http://info.sos.state.tx.us/pls/pub/readtac$ext.TacPage?sl=R&app=9&p_dir=&p_rloc=&p_tloc=&p_ploc=&pg=1&p_tac=&ti=37&pt=1&ch=6&rl=61

subsequent offenses of failing to display a CHL can cause increased suspension times and a Class B misdemeanor criminal charge.

i have heard different stories about getting stopped and having a firearm in your lawful possession. i have heard stories where the officer chose to disarm the permit holder (and give the firearm back after the stop was completed), and others where the officer didn't ask to see the gun and simply let the permit holder off with a warning vs. a traffic ticket.

i'd say there isn't a standard answer to that. im sure it has alot to do with the officer and what he stopped you for. if you were stopped for a simple traffic violation i don't see it going sideways. however, if you were stopped for road rage then i can see it going way south and very quickly.

i am a CHL Instructor and i have heard from many students that generally the cops have felt more at ease because they know the license holder has passed a background check.

personally i was stopped once and had a CHL with my firearm. the officer did not ask to see the gun and was professional. he let me off on a warning. granted, it was a chicken sh*t stop, but still he could have written it and made me fight it in court.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

CCW laws are different in every State and may even change from County to County. I suggest you ask whoever issues the CCW in your County what the rules are. You can probably find all the laws governing guns and CCW in your area online too.

 

[mete]

I don't know about MI but some states do require you to tell the officer that they have a CCW and they are carrying. NY does not require this. Normally I would not tell the officer I was carrying unless perhaps he asked me to get out of the vehicle. Learn your state's laws and try not to do anything that will get you stopped.

 

[Ryder]

I hand them the permit with the license and registration. They know what it is. In this way they can not honestly say that informing them was not the first thing I did (as our law in Michigan requires). So far it has been simply returned with a comment such as "thanks but I don't need that".

 

[Travis Lee]

Not so difficult, in MI you have to inform IIRC.

Hand him carry license with DL. Don't act wiggy. Follow instructions.

Or you can just jump out, wave the gun around and scream, "I GOT A GUN! EAT LEAD, COPPER!"
See how that works. ;-)

I think the first method is better.

I think it's advisable to let passengers know you go armed, so THEY don't act wiggy.

--Travis--

 

[kd7nqb]

Regardless of my local laws I would always inform, as somebody who works in the security industry I dont like to be "suprised" by weapons so I dont suprise others with them (unless I need to). Just hand your CHL with your License, I know in most states its connected to your DMV record anyway. But better you tell them then they discover it.

 

[Manedwolf]

That's a surprise about Texas. I thought it was a free state...guess not. That, and the "no unregistered lab glassware" laws there make you wonder.

 

[Hillsideblue]

I would put both my hands out the window and keep them there and inform the cop that I have a CCW License and am carrying a loaded handgun.....

Let the cop tell you your next move, like "Step out of the car and keep your hands where I can see them, Don't go into your pockets, and tell me where the gun is"........



A few months ago I called UPS to see if I could meet the driver on my route to pick up and Air Conditioner part I was waiting for.......They contacted the driver and told him to meet me at the entrance to the Nuclear Power Plant in Crystal River........

I drove down to the plant entrance and up to the front gate.......

The female agent at the gate, who was armed with a big GLOCK, asked me what I wanted and I told her that UPS told me to meet the driver at the Power Plant entrance...........She said they never should have told me to enter the facility and asked for my ID and told me to shut my car off.......

I put both my hands out the window and told her I was a retired cop and was carrying a loaded handgun under the US Code............I also said I had a GLOCK 27 under the floor mat of the car and said I would rather step out of the vehicle before going for my wallet..........

She said "OK, get out and step away from the vehicle"........Meanwhile her partner, who was 20 feet away drew her GLOCK and kept it pointed at the ground, facing me............

I showed her my ID and proof that I was legal to carry a concealed weapon under the Federal Law and she said it was OK to get back in the car to leave.........

She thanked me for letting her know that I had the gun and for the way I handled the situation..........She said "The last thing I need is to shoot someone because they didn't tell me right away that they had a gun in the car"..........

It turned out her and her partner were off duty Citrus County Sheriffs who were working part time for Homeland Security at the Nuclear Plant.......

She then called UPS and got all over them for sending someone to the Power Plant entrance for their convenience, something that is a big No-No with Homeland Security............

John
Crystal River
Florida

 

[nelson133]

As above MI requires you to inform the officer that stopped you, if you don't you could lose your cpl. In MI it is not a ccw as the permit only extends to pistols, not knives, or sprays or anything else. When the officer runs your licence, the fact hat you have a cpl will come up, so he will know anyway.

 

[earthworm]

I kinda disagree with Hillsideblue's statement about putting your hands out the window (I favor keeping the hands on top of the steering wheel) but the rest of his post is spot-on.
I also kinda disagree with Travis Lee:I say keep hands as above & state to the officer that you have a permit & are carrying before reaching for your wallet. But these are nitpicky points.
One point that has been made but cannot be emphasized enough is to state to the officer "I have a permit" not "I gotta gun!"

 

[Steam dragon]

In Ohio, you must inform the officer as he aproaches you. In the car, you must also carry in plain sight (whatever that means).

We teach to roll down the window, then hold the steering wheel at 10 and 2, saying to the officer, "I have a CHL and am lawfuly armed, what do you want me to do?"

This phrasing came from numerous conversations with officers from different departments.

They all agree that the word "Gun," can be a trigger to escalation.

inform "...CHL,... Lawfuly armed", and then follow instructions very carefuly.

 

[Ryder]

I get my wallet out before I stop. I am not reaching for anything after I've stopped!

 

[mzmtg]

In GA, we are not required to notify. That's one reason I won't.

The other is a recent appeals court ruling that gives officers the right to "secure" any weapon they know about during a traffic stop, legally carried or otherwise. If that means they have to go into your car without your permission to get it, so be it. Anything they see in your car while doing so is admissable as evidence should it come down to that.

I'll keep my gun and my privacy by not mentioning it, thanks.

 

[Bubbles]

Virginia has no notification requirement. The times I've been pulled over I've simply handed my CHL to the deputy along with my license and registration. Each time the deputy has simply handed it right back and thanked me. None have ever asked to see the gun or even asked where it is.

Do NOT EVER EVER EVER say the words "gun" "weapon" or "firearm" to the officer as he approaches unless you want to significantly raise his blood pressure.

 

[Cousin Mike]

I'm also from Ohio. Haven't had any interaction with LE so far, and that only happens rarely. The plan for the inevitable goes something like this...

1.) Hold carry license out the window w/drivers license, keep my other hand on the steering wheel.

2.) "Officer, I'm licensed to carry a firearm in Ohio, and currently have one holstered on my person. What would you like me to do?"

3.) Follow directions.

I figure that should be more than okay - I just hope I don't run into Officer Overzealous & his partner Officer Unfriendly when it does happen... I've read some stories here about those encounters that make me never want to get pulled over while CCW.

 

[benEzra]

As someone who is looking into getting a CCW, I have a question. It is my understanding that if you are pulled over/stopped by a police officer you have to tell him/her that you have a firearm on your person/car and that you have a CCW license. If this is not the case, let me know.

Depends on your state. Here in NC, that is indeed a requirement.

My question is the following, if I am driving with my friend/girlfriend/sister/mother etc. and am pulled over by a police officer for speeding, would it be in my best interest to say, "I have a concealed weapon." I ask this question because if I were a cop, I would be a lot rougher on those who just told me they had a gun. I can imagine some state trooper saying "Out of the car, hands on the hood" embarassing myself and other people I am traveling with, as well as turning a simple traffic stop and blowing it WAY out of proportion. I respect the police btw, and am a law abiding citizen.

Please let me know your thoughts/what you would do in the above situation

I've had to do this only once, when my wife (who was driving) was pulled over for rolling through a stop sign at 1-2 mph while we were house hunting a couple of years ago.

When he came up to her window and asked for her license and registration, I volunteered "Excuse me officer, but I'm required to inform you that I am a carry license holder and have a firearm."

Officer (still looking down at her license): "Where is it?" (Looks up casually.)

I pointed.

Officer: "OK, thanks for letting me know." Goes back to looking at registration and such. Turns his back on us and goes to his car to run her DL# or whatever, comes back in a minute, lets her off with a warning, and tells us to "have a nice day."

Truth be know, he might have already known he was dealing with CHL holders before he ever approached our vehicle, because it would have shown up in the vehicle database when he ran the plates. So he could have already known he was dealing with FBI-certified Good Guys, but he didn't treat it as any big deal.

 

[scout26]

I ask this question because if I were a cop, I would be a lot rougher on those who just told me they had a gun.

Why ??? The person you've just pulled over:

1. Has no history or drug or alcohol abuse.
2. Has never been convicted of a felony or "serious misdeamor" (i.e not a wife beater.)
3. Has undergone an through background check, and in some/most states recieved 8 or more hours of training.
4. and is basically your all-around "good-guy or gal".

Why would you be "rougher" on them ???

 

[TexasRifleman]

I have a concealed weapon." I ask this question because if I were a cop, I would be a lot rougher on those who just told me they had a gun. I can imagine some state trooper saying "Out of the car, hands on the hood" embarassing myself and other people I am traveling with, as well as turning a simple traffic stop and blowing it WAY out of proportion. I respect the police btw, and am a law abiding citizen.

Well then maybe you shouldn't be a cop. Your name shows Detroit, so I guess the attitude of cops is different there maybe.

In Texas I have never been ticketed after showing my CHL permit to a DPS trooper. I only get warnings now.

I've never been disarmed.

I've never been asked to even SEE the handgun. I was asked to show the trooper my AR once since it came up in conversation "do you have any other firearms in the car". He wanted to see my Eotech.

Only once did they trooper asked what I carried, then we spent 10 minutes on the side of the road talking about .357 Sig.

One stop the trooper and I started talking, turns out he has a fiber optic installation (trenching) business on the side. I am in that line of work and I have done some bids with him since then.

Yeah, you gotta watch those cops huh?

Oh and yes I do have a lead foot on the highway. Never been stopped by anyone but State Troopers.

My standard reply when asked for DL is a very non-excitable :

I am required by law to inform you I have a concealed handgun permit and today I am carrying a firearm, what would you like me to do?

Most of them seem to care less.

 

[kimbernut]

CCW / Traffic stop

Just happened to me Sunday. Had license,insurance, registration with CCW permit on top ready when he arrived at the car window. He took all four back to his motorcycle called in and returned my permit and insurance cards before beginning to fill out his paperwork. He was professional and polite throughout and cut me quite a bit of slack on 20mph over the limit. No discussion at any time of CCW.

 

[30 cal slob]

Here's what I've done while driving in Detroit whilst CCW'ing (I grew up there) BEFORE CONCEALED CARRY WENT SHALL-ISSUE in all counties:

1) Pull over. Turn on hazards.

2) Turn on interior lights. Open your window.

3) Turn off your engine. Remove keys from ignition and place on dash.

4) Without making too many furtive movements, get your drivers license and CCW out.

5) Then place hands on steering wheel.

6) Greet officer, then hand over your CCW and DL (CCW on top of DL).

7) Inform officer that "I am carrying," and ask officer to "tell me what you want me to do." Keep hands on steering wheel.

8) Always ASK the officer before reaching for the glove box for your registration and insurance.

Do NOT say "GUN" under any circumstance. Use a more neutral term like firearm.

At re-qual time for officers at the range, the "commence fire" order is often simply "GUN!".

p.s. if you have an out of state ccw, make sure you have a photocopy of the MSP website regs and relevent Michigan Statutes. Not all Michigan cops (especially in the L.P.) are aware that MI honors out-of-state CCW's, as I found out the hard way one evening.

 

[Rickstir]

I love these kind of threads. Here's what I do, don't speed. Drive the limit, it is safer, cheaper use of fuel and darn nears guarantees this won't happen. But in case I make an unsignaled lane change I will do the 10 and 12, license and permit out and give the law enforcement professional the curtousy of informing him if and what I am carrying and let him control the situation. I also come to a complete stop and stop signs, but that might be stretching the thread too thin.

 

[grampster]

In Michigan you must inform the officer that you have a concealed weapons permit. I'd hand over the permit with your license, registration and proof of insurance and say "Please notice my CCW permit. I'm carrying/not carrying at the moment, officer." Your demeanor should be as it would be when you are talking to anyone.

If you have your documents in differing places, your drivers license and CCW in your wallet and your registration and proof of insurance elsewhere in the car, for example, when the officer asks for your documents, inform him first that you have a CCW and whether you are carrying or not and ask him what his pleasure is in gathering them up. Probably a good idea to have your hands on the wheel. Follow his instructions in a cordial fashion.

Always be cordial. The state has determined that you are a normal, law abiding citizen that has jumped through the necessary hoops to obtain your permit. So act that way. Acting civilized and having a CCW license may get you a warning rather than a ticket. There have been many examples of that happening as told by other members here on THR. It's no guarantee however.

 

[Len]

By now, with some good advice above, you should know how to proceed.

FWIW, last year, while traveling through a small MI town, I hit a a deer on a downtown residential street. It was wounded badly, and I got on the phone to request an officer, both to report the accident, and to put the deer down ASAP.

He was there within a minute of the call. Stepping out of the patrol vehicle, he asked me to stay where I was for a minute. Went across the street, finished off the deer. As he walked back to me, I told him I wasn't sure if this was considered a traffic stop, but that I had a CPL, and my pistol was in the truck.

All he said was "thanks for telling me, I appreciate it. Now just wait a sec, and I'll get you a report number for your insurance." That was all there was to the interaction.

Now, in Detroit things are a little different. A lot of my friends are metro area and Detroit cops or MI State troopers, but they all tell me that yes, they get a little more edgy when they're informed by legally carrying citizens that a gun is present, but they all also tell me that they also know that being told as required, and presented with documentation right away does a lot to elevate their comfort level...as stated above, usually only the good guys follow the procedure as required by state law! Your calm attitude, while waiting for instructions on how to proceed, will help.

 

[creitzel]

Well, I just got my Michigan CPL back in the beginning of October, so I haven't been pulled over yet while carrying. Our instructor basically said the same thing as others here have been saying.

It is law that you have to inform the officer when you are stopped. As a matter of fact, the law actually says immediately inform the officer, so it better be the first thing you do in your interaction with the officer. The recommendation of handing the permit with your drivers license, on top of your DL is a good one

The Michigan state police have a decent question and answer page about CPL's in Michigan. See here

For more information on this specific question from that page, see here

Hope this helps. Feel free to pm me if you have anymore questions. Also, my CPL instructor is also a member on this site, and he would be more than able (and I'm sure willing) to assist you with info regarding the Michigan CPL. His username is Trebor. If you do end up going through the class, I highly recommend Trebor as an instructor.

Chris