First LEO interaction while packing

[jakk280rem]

yeah, we got it pretty good here in oregon. i dont ever remember having a bad leo eperience ever. when some of the other members post a bad experience, i just shake my head, wonder how it could have gotten so bad, and thank god that i live in oregon.

 

[Treo]

QUOTE: " Besides, as soon as I run your DL, I'll know anyway... "

Not mine you won't I live in El Paso County, Terry Maketa is very pro 2A & interprets the state law forbidding registration of gun owners to mean that CHPs don't go on that computer data base you have in car. some county sherrifs add names to the data base not all.

QUOTE: "Honestly, I'm just curious, has that ever happened to you? "

Nope, it's never happened and I'm still not legally required to do so.

The reaction of that one cop ( who really was decent in all other respects) was enough to make up my mind. I can't think of any good reason to interject the fact that I have a gun into a traffic stop.

Given that the agency I'm most likely to interact W/ (CSPD) is institutionally anti-private citizen gun ownership, I see no reason to hand them an excuse to hassel me. and that has happened.

Even the reasons you've given are for your convieniance not mine.

 

[mhinagoya]

Gentlemen.

I have met a number of LEO's and socially known many in my life. My kid brother was a sheriff's officer while he was in med school.

Without exception, it has been my experience that the outcome of a 'meeting' with a LEO is determined by the attitude of the driver.

A couple of months ago, I was on my way to work (very early in the morning) and a HyPo lit me up. I immediately pulled over, killed the engine, turned on the flashers and my interior lights. I rolled down my window and had both hands on the window sill when the officer walked up. When he got to my door, I said "Good morning officer. What may I do for you?". He seemed a bit shocked but recovered quickly and asked for my license. At that point, I informed him that it was in my wallet in my left hip pocket and I asked for permission to get it, which he granted with a smile.
The rest of the stop was uneventful and very comfortable for both of us. Seems that I had a tail light out.

The officer treated me as if he were talking to an old friend and that is how we parted company.

These guys are just people (as has been previously stated). The nature of their profession is such that they interact with the best and the worst of society. When stopping someone, they will decide which category the driver is in and the outcome of that decision is usually up to the driver. Regardless of how some people feel, LEOs aren't universally stupid and if you are working hard to accommodate them, they will notice.

There is nothing difficult or complicated about this. Do everything you can to make their job pleasant. It costs you nothing to be friendly and considerate.

I'm one of the good guys and I make every effort not to keep that a secret.

Bill.

 

[papajohn]

I talked to a lot of cops as a reporter back in my radio days, and asked one sergeant I knew pretty well the best way to respond to being stopped at night in a vehicle. His response was to turn on the inside light, put your hands on the steering wheel, and wait. Nothing made him more nervous than someone who was thrashing around in the car in the dark, hiding or grabbing god-knows-what. I later became a dispatcher for his department, and later went on the street myself, and always remembered that info. While working in radio, I also repeated it on the air often, trying to spread the word.

These days, I don't get pulled over much, but I still adhere to his advice. Once the officer has approached the vehicle, I'll tell him I'm getting out my wallet, and hand him the CCW permit with my DL. Most of the time the officer informs me why I was stopped, asks me to correct the problem (or stop driving like my @$$ is on fire) and it's over. No cop I know likes surprises, and yes, polite is the ONLY way to go, no matter what his attitude. As many loonies as cops run into, they'll know pretty quickly you're not a threat, which is exactly what they want to know first. Allay that fear, and 99% of the time you're on your way.

"Common Courtesy" and "Common Sense" are no longer common, but they are still essential in many situations!

PJ

 

[BMacklem]

I don't post here often, and I have several stories about LEO's pulling me over, but none of them have gone sour at all.
I drive a delivery truck (24 foot straight truck) that is quite obviously a comercial vehicle.
I can't count the number of times that I have been pulled over for moving violations.... lights burned out, not having the DOT number stickers applied, a general safety inspection, etc.etc.etc.
The last time I was pulled over though, I was doing absolutely nothing wrong.
I am not bashing any LEO's by any means, as every one I have been pulled over by have been courteous, and professional, but this last one still makes me shake my head.

I was heading along a 55mph zone on the way to my next stop, and was following a landscaping pickup for a few miles, I was driving approximately 52-53mph, as my spedometer is a little off, and along came a state trooper in the left hand lane. I had to slow down for the landscaper as he turned off the road, and the LEO slowed down a hair as well...he then pulled behind me and proceeded to pull me over, his reason? "Was there a reason you were going so slow?, it seemed like you didn't want to pull past me there.."
Bear in mind that it was overcast, and there had been intermittent rain for a few miles, and the road was wet, so in Wisconsin you aren't allowed to drive the full speed limit, except in ideal conditions. I don't speed anyways....ever, it's just not worth it, and I get paid by the hour.
So I was doing everything RIGHT, and was pulled over for no apparent reason.
He did an informal safety check...lights, brakes, turn signals...etc, and then proceeded to give me a 30minute writeup showing that "No violations found".

Now Wisconsin is a no-carry state...meaning we cannot carry concealed...or for that matter openly (not without possible disturbing the peace, or disorderly conduct charges), so I was not carrying anything illegal, but had I been, I don't know if this kid would have responded politely to me had I been carrying.

Just goes to show the level of a few bad apples in the crate, and that you can apparently be pulled over even when you aren't doing anything wrong at all.

 

[FranklyTodd]

Very smooth LEO interaction...

Just t-boned a guy on the way to work this mornng with an LCP .380 in my pocket (his fault). This is in a "conservative" suburb in Ohio (a must-inform state).

I called dispatch, told her about the accident, told her about my CHL and pistol. She was obviously taking down info, but didn't seem worried. She just said - I'll send someone out. So I offered - want me to lock the pistol in the glove box? She said, ok, sure. I don't know what I expected, but it was going too smoothly - maybe the cop would be a jerk about it... So far it was apparent I was more concerned that I was armed than the cops!

So he arrives, as per the law I start my schpiel that I have a CHL - he waves me off - "I'm not worried about that." Nothing else mentioned the rest of the encounter - I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure if I'd just left it in my pocket, he still wouldn't have cared. I would have been sitting in the back of his cruiser filling out paperwork armed!

Anyway - pretty boring story - which I'm very happy about. Most people are resistant to change, and cops are just people. Maybe I got lucky, or maybe cops are getting used to the fact that a % of the population they interact with is going to be packing, and it's ok...

Ok, gotta go, I have online car research to do (is it bad that I'm hoping they total my 10yr old car?).

Stay safe (in your cars, and with your firearms!)
FT

 

[romma]

I'm not obliged to mention it in CT, and I am not saying anything unless specifically asked.

Up here it can open up a whole other can of worms.

 

[Maia007]

As you know, you are not required to report that you are carrying in the State of Oregon.

But so what.

The objective here, for the both of you, is to get thru the stop, take care of business, with the least amount of needless stress for you both.

It is a simple matter to hand your CHL to the LEO along with the ODL and to answer any questions he might have concerning the weapon truthfully. He doesn't know what sort of person he is dealing with. And being up front about it gains you some instant credibility and identifies you as someone that is most likely responsible...despite your traffic infractiion.

You either get a ticket or you don't and then you are both on your way.

Those who insist on stridently asserting their rights (in any situation) are itching for a fight. And there is only one way that will turn out.

 

[MT GUNNY]

I cant remember where I saw it, maybe some one can help ?
I read, in MT you dont have to inform the officer, yet Ive been told you do buy a officer(go figure).

 

[FranklyTodd]

I never really thought about it, as it is recorded on our license in Ohio, AND there are severe penalties for not informing.

However, assuming that wasn't true...

If I was in a state where I knew the cop didn't find out when he ran my plates or my license (somebody above said their state was that way), AND I was confident in the concealed part of my concealed carry, maybe I shouldn't say anything.

It wouldn't be a "rights" issue, it would be more a "path of least resistance" issue. If the officer is just writing you a run of the mill ticket, and not having you get out of the car, wouldn't telling him "I have a gun, just thought you should know" stress him out more? The encounter would be over in a flash - with him none the wiser...

Honestly I totally come out on the side of informing, whether required to or not, just looking at the other side.

 

[Scratchshooter40]

I spent several years as an investigator with a South Georgia Police Department. While there is no requirement to advise in Georgia, it is a great way to show respect and avoid the entanglement of discovery, if you are carrying concealed. The one item that hasn't come to light is that when you advise the office that you're carrying and you present your Concealed Weapons Permit, he/she can be assured that they are dealing with a member of the public who has been "vetted" and is clean. Go ahead and search, no incidents of law abiding CWP holders committing crimes with their carry weapons. Most of our crimes are committed with our right foot on the skinny pedal and you can do more damage with an F150 Supercrew than you can with an automag.

 

[Templar223]

Only when required do I mention that I'm armed.

If it's not required and I see no reason to volunteer it, I won't.

Here in IL, it's only an invitation for a very prolonged stop.

Hence, when I've been pulled over here (and I'm carrying - legally), I have never mentioned it.

I encourage others to do the same.

John


ETA:

Without exception, it has been my experience that the outcome of a 'meeting' with a LEO is determined by the attitude of the driver.

Lots of good advice in this thread, but this probably summarizes it best.