License Plate/CCW Permit Disassociation in VA

[627PCFan]

Does anyone know if there is a legal way to disassociate a license plate from a CCW permit in VA? My wife was pulled over last night, and while the traffic stop had no issues the police were professional but aggressive as they already knew that the car had a permit holder registered to it. She was not carrying at the time but was drilled over pretty well about it. This AM she asked if we could break the tie between the permit and plate. I’m worried she might cancel her CCW permit as a result.

 

[Midwest]

Does anyone know if there is a legal way to disassociate a license plate from a CCW permit in VA? My wife was pulled over last night, and while the traffic stop had no issues the police were professional but aggressive as they already knew that the car had a permit holder registered to it. She was not carrying at the time but was drilled over pretty well about it. This AM she asked if we could break the tie between the permit and plate. I’m worried she might cancel her CCW permit as a result.

I think a meeting with the police chief is in order and a complaint filed. No one should be treated as a second class citizen because they have a carry permit. In addition to having a meeting with the police chief, the Virginia pro-gun group http://www.vcdl.org/ and any other local and state pro-gun group should be contacted as well.

I think Kentucky does that association with carry permits and license plates as well. Although I have not heard any issues that I am aware of. The last thing anyone should do is to give up their legal right to carry due to police intimidation in my opinion...

 

[627PCFan]

Im not in anyway suggesting that the officers stepped out of line. IMO it was a cookie cutter traffic stop, maybe uncomfortable for her but there was no wrongdoing, however I think the permit amplified his normal traffic stop anxiety.

 

[Grapeshot]

Technical point: A Virginia permit (CHP) is not directly tied to the vehicle tag/license plate. However, a LEO search of the tag number will yield the registered owner's name and DL number. It is a small step (automatic?) to confirm whether the vehicle registrant has a CHP, but until the officer has the DL in hand he doesn't know whether the registrant and operator are one in the same.

If one wishes to avoid this connection, then the vehicle will need to be registered in another manner. RKBA attorney Dan Hawes has made some suggestions I believe as to how this may be best accomplished.

I too subscribe to the thinking that any problems in dealing with the officer because you have a CHP are egregious and should not occur. The difficulty comes in when if you object (hold court of the street) you are probably more likely to get a traffic citation than a warning. Having a digital recorder now becomes an obvious benefit. I would follow up after the fact - such is part of LEO/LEA citizen training.

 

[keithbayne]

im in SC and our info for CCW is taken directly from DMV. it even ha ou same picture on it we used to driving licsense.so they are connected,but why the officer singled her out like that is unexplainable and inexcusable.he was out of line if she was breaking no laws.i agree with the others.complaints to the right folks are in order here.

 

[swinokur]

Does this link of registered owner DL to permit exist for non resident CCW holders as well? I'm in MD.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

Tennessee Handgun Carry Permit number is the same as my Tennesse Driver License number. TDL check will reveal TCHP status and is my understanding they know the THCP status of the registered tag owner just as easily.
required to be useful or necessary.

I have never had any unusual treatment by local LE just for being a THCP holder. I have yet to encounter a "Harless".

Tennessee is with the majority of notify-if-asked states. LE has not found notification of THCP with TDL useful or necessary. It's the un-permitted gun carrier they worry about.

 

[splithoof]

All the more reason, if you are able to, establish vehicle ownership in a manner not tied to you personally. An example for some is a trust, a business, or a foundation, some of which also have positive tax implications.

 

[essayons21]

the police were professional but aggressive as they already knew that the car had a permit holder registered to it. She was not carrying at the time but was drilled over pretty well about it.

Not okay.

Call or write a letter to the chief or IA. The only response the officers should have upon finding out there was a CCW tied to the plates would be to politely ask if she was carrying a weapon, and to politely ask her not to touch it during the traffic stop.

A CCW is not reasonable suspicion of any illegal activity. If the chief supports his officers aggressively questioning a citizen with a CCW on a traffic stop with no other evidence of criminal activity, then a call to the VCDL is warranted.

 

[wojownik]

Was this in Loudoun or FFX county, if I may ask? I've noticed starkly different approaches to policing and the approach to citizens with firearms in these two adjacent counties.

 

[calaverasslim]

The only way to break the bond between the plate number and ccw is if the both of you give up your ccw. If she give it up, then you will still be there

 

[Blackhawk30]

How about putting your car in a trust?If this is legal in VA.I would thing that it would be a good disconnect.However when the run your DL its gonna come up.

 

[AirForceShooter]

no it does not.
I drive Fla to NC a lot.
Been stopped in SC.
Really ticks the SCSP that they can't tell I have a Fla CCW by running my D/L.

AFS

 

[Birch Knoll]

The only way to break the bond between the plate number and ccw is if the both of you give up your ccw.

Ah, no. It's simple enough to create an LLC or other legal entity and register the vehicle in the entity's name.

 

[Owen Sparks]

This is the one good reason keeping some people from getting a state issued carry permit. If they know you have it, it is not concealed. What if you had to travil through Illinois? To LE there a gun might as well be dope and they could turn your car inside out if they ran your tag and it came back that you had a permit.

 

[henschman]

She could get a non-resident permit from another state, and cancel her VA one. VA cops only have access to records from VA. The vehicle would have to be registered to her alone if this was done, unless you want to cancel yours as well. It is definitely a benefit -- the less of your records are in your own state government's databases the better, as far as I'm concerned. You'll be in some other state's records, but they are a lot less likely to be the one who is violating your rights.

Not a great dilemma to be in -- choosing which government will have you in their database for permission to exercise a natural right -- but that is the world we live in.

 

[splithoof]

A cop I know loves CCW's tied to vehicle license plates; he sits by popular parking lots and "goes fishing". When he finds one, he waits until the vehicle drives away, then finds a reason to initiate contact, looking for the slightest discrepancy as a reason to get some more hooks. Politicians call this good police work; those who seek to avoid this call it citizen survival. All the more reason to have no connection between vehicle ownership and carry permits.