in my state apparently they run the plates prior to even walking up to the car; and the plates (assuming its your car) tells them about the ccl.
thats how i found out my dad had a CCL. i had just dropped off my girlfriend and was returning from her neighborhood when four squad cars came my way. two turned into her neighborhood and the other two followed me into my neighborhood, where they then pulled me over. apparently someone in my gf's neighborhood had reported seeing a "lurker" on foot in their driveway dressed in all black. well, i fit that description (black gloves, black hat, black coat, black pants), so they pulled me. they asked me if i had a weapon or a CCL. i said no, and they asked me if it was my vehicle. no, its registered to my dad. they saw i had no suspicious items visible in my car, and when got out they were able to see my fuzzy mocasin house shoes LOL (my gf's house was just 2 minutes drive away), so they let me go. when they told me i was free to go, i asked if my dad had a CCL. they played dumb. apparently, they realized i didnt know about my dad's secret, and they werent going to be the ones to give it away. when i got home i told my dad about what happened, and he told me he'd gotten it to see what the process was like (very easy for him since he's ex-naval air reserve) and to have the option of exercising his right, should he ever get a handgun. its our secret now. my mom still doesnt know...