Got pulled over while carrying and...

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gp911

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...absolutely nothing bad happened aside from a speeding ticket that I earned.

Quick background: In Ohio we're required to inform LEOs at first contact that we're carrying. I've heard all sorts of stories about people being told to get out, unload their firearm, watch the cop manhandle their firearm in an attempt to clear it, etc.

I was driving my boss' car with him in the passenger seat, in a wide open 4 lane area that is 55mph but it goes up to 65 in another mile or so. I was talking and cracking jokes, the car is an Audi A4 that naturally likes to cruise about 80mph, glance over and see a Trooper headed the other way and then glance at the speedo to see about 79mph indicated.

Check mirrors, sure enough, he's turning around, pulls me over, "license and registration please."

I give my rehearsed spiel: "I'm required by law to inform you that I have a concealed handgun license and I'm currently carrying a loaded firearm on my right hip."

Him: "You have a concealed handgun license?"

Me: "Yeah.

Him: "You're carrying a firearm right now?"

Me: "Yeah."

Him: "Where is it?"

Me: "It's holstered over here (pointing) but it's buried under my shirt, coat..."

Him: "You have your wallet?"

Me: "In my back pocket."

Him: "Go ahead and get it out."

End of gun-related conversation aside from him asking my boss if he had a CHL. From that point on it was a normal traffic stop, and Trooper Bee was both courteous and professional. I can think of other LEOs who have stopped me that would have been very unpleasant, so his courtesy was a nice surprise.

Mindset helps, as I was well-prepared for this incident thanks to the excellent CHL course through Buckeye Firearms and the advice of lawyer Ken Hanson. I can see how easily somebody could get in trouble when they're just nervous over the traffic stop.

gp911
 
He asked if I was going to go to court, but I'd only do that if I thought I was caught dirty when I wasn't really speeding. He joked that he should have said I talk about my gun all the time and I scare him. :D That's about it, he's glad I carry.

gp911
 
How was he able to get a legally viable measurement of your speed if he was traveling in the opposite direction? Normally they'd have to clock you with a radar gun while stationary or traveling at a fixed speed, or pace you by matching speed, or at least they do here. "Eyeballed" speeds have very little legal standing.
 
He asked if you were going to go to court because his answer might have been.

"Y'know, I have fishing plans for that court date." ;)
 
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How was he able to get a legally viable measurement of your speed if he was traveling in the opposite direction? Normally they'd have to clock you with a radar gun while stationary or traveling at a fixed speed, or pace you by matching speed, or at least they do here. "Eyeballed" speeds have very little legal standing.

Lessee, it's a very common practice here to use moving radar, I was in an open area with no nearby traffic, and I knew I was speeding and don't feel like lying under oath just to save some cash? Call me a sucker but I know the risks when I hit the road and if I'm doing 20 over when they pull me over I don't feel like arguing over tactics. If I did the deed I take the punishment and move on. Income tax ain't legal either but I pay it every year...

gp911
 
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Yeah, Doppler -- figures out the speed of a moving object coming at you, subtract your speed and there ya go.
 
Going to court does not require you to lie under oath or plead not guilty to get a reduction in sentance. If you have a clean record you will probably get a substantial reduction of the fines even if you plead guilty.
 
I've had good and bad encounters with cops who pulled me over. What it boils down to is that no matter how nice and friendly you are, the cop either feels like being nice or he doesn't.
 
I live in Alabama, so take what I say with the understanding that the deep south views things differently, but every time I get pulled over (which doesn't happen much anymore) I hand the officer my pistol permit along with my driver's license.

Also note that I'm not a reckless driver, but I used to be a process server, and had to drive around in bad neighborhoods, often late at night, and had to circle the block a lot to find the right address. It looked suspicious, so I got pulled over about every other night. I've dealt with dozens of LEO here, and not a single one has cared that I had a firearm on me.

I got pulled over around a few years ago in Hoover, Alabama, and had my carry gun holstered in the glovebox. It seems like a great place for one until you get pulled over and need to get to your papers.

Anyway, I gave the cop my pistol permit with my license. He glanced at the permit, and asked me for my insurance. I told him it was in the glovebox with the pistol, and he told me to just go ahead and get it. I opened the glovebox, and pulled the junk out from under my pistol, and handed it to him, he never said a word, or appeared concerned about it (though I'm sure he was ready to respond if necessary).

The most extreme reaction I've ever had was when I got pulled over again a few months later for having a blown tail light. I handed my permit to the female officer with my driver's license, she asked me if the gun was on my person, and I said no, it was in the center console (I changed location due to the first experience!). She asked me to step out of the car and come stand with her while she was running my driver's license. She wasn't hostile at all about things, and I just leaned on her car and talked to her while she ran my name.

I don't blame her, I'm a 350lb 6'5" man, and she was 5'5" and 130lbs at the most, so anything to help her feel more secure was fine.
 
Times change

If I did the deed I take the punishment and move on.
we used to call that manning up in todays alcoa world it makes you a statist
 
If I did the deed I take the punishment and move on.
we used to call that manning up in todays alcoa world it makes you a statist
Click to expand...

Amen.

The last traffic ticket I received, a failure to yield (rolling stop), the officer was sympathetic as I was on my way home from third shift and half a block from my house, and told me point blank that if I went to court he wouldn't show.

I paid the fine anyway because, well, I failed to yield, and I got caught.
 
I don't blame her, I'm a 350lb 6'5" man, and she was 5'5" and 130lbs at the most, so anything to help her feel more secure was fine.


that sounds like a form of situational awareness many folks lack but i'll wager you've got practice at it
 
Unlike previously stated an officer's visual estimate of speed is legal evidence so long as the proper foundation is laid as to his training. In addition radar can be operated while moving and can clock vehicles traveling in the opposite direction.
 
I'd have at least asked him if HE knew how fast I was going.

Actually he told me he got me at 76mph, which is 79mph indicated in that car, so it was right in line with what I saw. If he had stated a figure that made no sense I'd have argued about it. I've had to argue that I was wearing my seat belt before, not a problem if I know I'm in the right. The troopers here tend to be on top of their game re: traffic since they seem to mostly write tickets and investigate accidents. Usually they'll even tell you the tracking history (Sir, I got you at 72, 73, 73, 72), maybe even mention the last time the speedo/radar gun was calibrated (and this gun was calibrated 17 days ago), as showing up for court is a big deal to them. Small town cops are bad about sloppy/crooked speeding violations (google New Rome, Ohio where I used to drive every day). Oddly enough I rarely see Sheriff's deputies lying in wait for speeders anymore. They must be busy enough with other duties nowadays.

There are plenty of opportunities to righteously fight a ticket here in Ohio, but this incident wasn't really one of them. I apologize if I came across harshly, I was a little snappy because I have a couple acquaintances who would fight a ticket just to get out of it no matter how egregious their violation, and they apply that philosophy to other areas of their life too, to the point that I doubt they'd ever back me up in a dangerous situation. I have examples, but they're way off topic here. Character... It's a rare thing these days...

gp911
 
If I did the deed I take the punishment and move on.
we used to call that manning up in todays alcoa world it makes you a statist

I can appreciate that. :)

gp911
 
...absolutely nothing bad happened
Click to expand...

I know it can be a bit 'exciting' the first time you inform a LEO you are carrying BUT one needs to get used to the idea of it being perfectly legal. We're not criminals and shouldn't let anyone make us feel that we are.
 
I won't fight a ticket if I know I'm wrong, but if I have good reason to suspect the officer is bluffing and doesn't have the information he acts like he does, I'm going to try to catch him on it. Often officers in such cases will try to get you to incriminate yourself. If the things he's saying don't line up with your knowledge of the situation and local police protocol, you need to call his bluff.

Patrol cars, at least around here, don't do radar while moving. They may turn around and follow someone who they see going fast, but if you apply your brakes before they can either pace you or get a reading, they have nothing to go on.
 
they have nothing to go on.

Reminds me of an old joke about a police station where someone stole all the toilet seats... :p

gp911
 
The radar in the VA State Trooper cars works quite well while moving. I got a speeding ticket a couple years ago. I was on a two lane road, about 3-4 miles from home, passed a car and didnt slow down to normal speed quick enough. When I rounded the next curve, I could see his light bar over top the car he was behind. By the time I hit the brakes he had already turned on the lights and was preparing to turn around before I went passed him. I looked down at the speedo when I saw his light bar as I was going for the brakes, 71mph, and thats what he wrote on the ticket.
He was even nice enough to alert me that my state inspection sticker had expired(2months, I hadnt seen it, drive the truck everyday doh!!) with a ticket.

That was not a good day. I had been notified earlier that day that the truck I had signed papers and put a down payment on, had been sold to someone else before the dealer could go pick it up.
 
twoclones said:
... BUT one needs to get used to the idea of it being perfectly legal. We're not criminals and shouldn't let anyone make us feel that we are.
Click to expand...

Absolutely 100% agree - gunowners oftentimes perpetuate the notion that we are all shady and dangerous criminals by ACTING like shady, dangerous criminals. Not intentionally, but just by assuming a 'guilty' attitude when discussing or performing their hobby.
 
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