My carry permit got me out of a speeding ticket, but I feel bad about it.

[jlbraun]

I'm in the car with 2 friends driving late at night in southern CO to go skiing. Limit is 50. They know I have guns but don't know I'm carrying.

So I get pulled over.

"Good evening, officer."

"Sir, you were going 61 in a 50, license and registration please."

I'm tired, CO doesn't require you to notify the officer that you're carrying, and there are other people in the car that I didn't want to unsettle them so I don't tell the officer that I'm packing.

"Sir, I'm going to go ahead and issue a citation for speeding. Please wait here."

He comes back a few minutes later.

"Sir, do you have your weapon on you?"

Crap.

"Yessir. It's on my right hip, and here's my permit. I do apologize for not telling you, I wasn't thinking."

"Next time, please tell me about that. I'm going to issue a warning. Sir, please slow down and drive safely."

(A minute passes as we get back on the road, sans ticket.)

"Dude, you have your gun on you? Why?"

"Um, late at night, driving through tiny little towns with meth problems..."

So, I feel bad about not manning up and telling my friends about it, and for not telling the officer about it. I was tired and hungry, so I wasn't thinking.

:banghead:

But I'm pretty sure that I got out of the ticket because of it. Interesting lesson.

 

[bucktail]

I wouldn't be too sure that the the carry permit got you off with a warning. I've never gotten a speeding ticket during DUI hours and I've only had mine for a couple of years.

 

[TexasRifleman]

But I'm pretty sure that I got out of the ticket because of it.

May be pure coincidence but since I got my Texas CHL I have not received anything but warnings from Texas Highway Patrol officers. They react in a very positive way when they walk up and I hand them both my drivers license and CHL (I am required to notify LE in Texas).

I've never been asked to disarm and rarely even asked where or what type of firearm I had, and been given nothing but warnings.

Maybe coincidence, but I'll take it

 

[ranger58]

I would of givin the officer my permit and license, no need to tell your friends unless you wanted to, if they know you carry and had a problem with it take some other friends, you were just helping protect them and your self.

 

[TexasBen317]

good ole highway patrol.. Back in history, mid 60s I always carried a hand gun traveling Texas highways.. When I would get pulled over always had my hands on the wheel and window down when Cop walked up.. Always told him,, I have my gun with me,, They would ask where and get out of car.. I would and he would look at gun and ask where I was going etc etc.. Back then if you were traveling long distance out of your county, no problem.. I never got a ticket or a warning for speeding, and never a word about having the gun or guns..

 

[230RN]

"Never look a gift perquisite in the mouth."

I haven't been stopped in 25 or more years.

That was when I learned to actually drive as opposed to merely "operate a vehicle".

But I would have handled it the same way as I did a couple of weeks ago when I witnessed a hit-and-run accident and happened to capture the license number of the hit-and-run car.

I walked up to the officer and asked "I guess you need ID from me?"

"Yes."

I pulled out my wallet and said, "Just so there are no surprises, I'm armed," and showed him my CCW license. He looked it over and I said, "OK?"

He nodded, said thanks, and then I flipped the wallet envelope over to show my DL and he took that information down.

Just a courtesy.

I just would have answered to my friends, "Twenty-four seven." If they react with fear, note my current sig line.

And don't look a gift perquisite in the mouth.

 

[El Tejon]

You feel bad about beating a ticket, pre-litigation?

You're a rare breed.

 

[creekerdoug]

Here's what may also happen. My wife and I were driving through Ohio during a holiday weekend when I was pulled over for speeding, despite the fact that I had the cruise control set on 53. We were in a 55 mph zone.

When the deputy walked up to the window I had my insurance card and registration in hand and I was pulling my dirvers license out of my wallet. The deputy reached into the car and jerked my wallet out of my hand. He demanded to know why I had two drivers licenses. What he actually saw was my company's photo I.D. which looks nothing like a drivers license. He thumbed through my wallet and found my WV carry permit.

He asked if I had any weapons in the car. I told him that I did. As soon as I said that his partner on the other side of the car pulled his pistol and pointed it at my wife's head. My door was jerked open and I was thrown to the ground on the side of the road and put in hand cuffs. My wife was pulled from the car, thrown to the ground, and also placed in hand cuffs.

Long story short, they searched the car, without consent, and found my gun locked in on one set of luggage (yes they broke the lock on the suitcase) and my magazines (empty) and ammo in another locked suitcase. Yes, they broke both locks. To maked matters that much sweeter, after throwing my wife and I down on the road side for no reason they gave me a ticket for for going 15 mph over the speed limit and threated to confiscate my car and gun.

I now have zero respect for cops.

 

[rmarcustrucker]

I suppose you could petition to have the ticket given to you or go speeding in that area until you get caught again???? Just kidding I don't think the permit got you out of the ticket. Could be wrong, but from personal experience he probably checked your DL, saw it was clean (i suppose) and decided to let you go. Don't be upset that your friends didn't know you where packin'. Not any of anyone business, if you don't want them to know. All you need is someone in your group to get into trouble and start yelling for you to "shoot that guy for me." Or pick the worst time to ask " so are you packing today?" Believe me, if you had a need to use your gun (God forbid we ever do) they wouldn't be very upset with you, then.

 

[LT1coupe]

That's not uncommon. You've gone the extra mile to carry legally, you've passed a background check that demonstrates a certain amount of respect for the law, you've shown respect for the officer by acknowledging his authority & making him aware of your weapon. I had one officer start laughing when he asked where my gun was & I replied "which one?"
I was not being cute, I had my carry & a couple of extras that I was hoping for an opportunity to get some target practice.

 

[sammoh]

Creeker,

Depending on how long ago this occurred, you can file charges. They have no right to search your luggage unless you give consent, especially if its locked. having a CCW permit in a state that doesn't allow CCW doesn't give them the right to search you.

Sam

 

[stevelyn]

My personal policy has always been to send AK CHL holders off with a warning. Besides there are more high value targets out there that are more worth my time and the community's benefit than to ding someone for a minor traffic infraction.

 

[fearless leader]

I was driving on some beltway around Richmond, VA, quite late to meet the fellow that was to show me how to get to the new job site. I was trying to maintain a reasonable speed, but I was on about a 8 lane highway and virtually no one on it, anxiety got the best of me and I was speeding.
A Richmond PD Officer pulled me over, and asked why I was doing 85 in a 55.
I told him, and he asked for my license and registration.
I explained to him,"before I reach toward my glove box, I want you to be aware that there is a .45 on the seat next to me. Would you like to hold it while we talk?"
He said he would, and picking it up by the muzzle, I handed it to him.
He asked why I had it and I explained I had a permit (which at the time, the top of which read "Court Order, District Circuit Court of _____," and showed it to him.

He said he had never seen a gun permit before (this was 1985). He continued to examine my Gold Cup and unload it. We talked briefly, him asking some questions and me answering them, but he kept playing with my gun. I could tell he wanted one like it.

He placed it on the back seat, with the magazine, and the chamber round, the action locked open, and told me not to reach for it until he pulled away. He told me to keep my speed down and have a nice day.

I thanked him, and he sped away.

A permit application, at that time in VA, had to be signed by your local Sheriff, who would know if you were a trouble maker, and a circuit court judge.

Your permit likley told him you were in good standings with the law enforcement community, barring any recent indiscretions they would find out on NCIC (National Crime Information Center) , and he probably didn't have to worry about you.

I got a guy to trust me to take a check one time when I broke down near a gas station that doesn't take checks, because I had that permit. It can speak volumes for your character, provided you aren't talking to a gun bigot.

 

[hank327]

My carry permit has never gotten me off with a warning. I don't get many speeding tickets, only two in the last 18 years and both of those were while I was on my motorcycle. The first was in a small town speed trap. It was the Sunday after Thanksgiving in 2001. It was late afternoon and I was just cruising along with the speedo needle resting on about the 50 mph which was the speed limit as I approached this little town. Traffic was almost nonexistant on this little two lane blacktop road and I was just taking in the scenery. With the edge of town still over a mile away, I failed to notice the speed limit drop from 50 to 40. The small town cop was hiding in a home's parking lot and got me for 48 in a 40. I wasn't carrying at the time and therefore was not required to show him my permit. I didn't know at the time that my CCL status would appear when he ran my license so I figured I'd be avoiding opening a potential can of worms by witholding my carry permit. By the way, I had pulled over immediately on noticing the cop after me and removed my helmets and gloves and stepped away from the bike while keeping my hands in clear view. Anyway, the cop asked me if I was carrying and I answered no, that I don't carry while riding. He asked why and I told him that the odds of me being involved in a motorcycle accident were much greater than needing my pistol. I told him that I didn't fancy landing and sliding on a chunk steel. He said he had never considered that. We talked about bikes some and he went ahead and issued me a speeding ticket anyway.

A couple of years later, I was on my bike out on HWY 16 just north of Llano, TX. Traffic was almost nonexistant and I met a state trooper while doing 81 in a 70. I pulled over as soon as I saw him hit the lights and do the U-turn. Again I removed my helmet and gloves and stepped away from the bike. The trooper was polite and thanked me for stopping! I ride a sporting type bike, but I'm in my late forties and I'm not about to run from Johnnie Law over a speeding ticket! This time I handed him my CHL along with my DL and told him that I was not carrying. Again we had a pleasant chat and again he wrote me a speeding ticket despite my being cordial, respectful, and having a CHL.
I'm not complaining about getting the tickets, (except for perhaps the first one, lol) but I think you are lucky to have gotten off with just a warning.

Perhaps had I been in my old Ford F-150 instead of on the Kawasaki, the outcome of traffic stops might have been different.

 

[Big Boomer]

As far as telling the friends thing, mine are always amazed that I am ALWAYS packing.

It's sort of the like the don't ask, don't tell policy. I don't tell, and they usually don't ask.

Went out bowling the other night and had my little friend strapped to my side all night. There were six of us, no one asked. I am fairly sure that they thought that I wasn't carrying but I never asked either.

They'll just be glad that you have it if the time ever arises.

 

[gunsmith]

the last time I got pulled over

I told them 1st chance I got that I was packing.

I could have gotten multiple citations but they didn't bother.

 

[chris in va]

Yeah, it's hard to say whether a CC permit helps any, but I can vouch the last two times I've been pulled over they gave me a warning.

I think a lot of it is just politeness, no arguing, hands on steering wheel and turn the interior light on.

 

[Autolycus]

Dont feel bad because the officer decided not to ticket you.

 

[Javelin]

I have to say Concealed means Concealed. Yes you should out in any circumstance tell the LEO that you are carrying even if its not the law, its good manners.

But as long as it is *your* vehicle and you are operating it you are not in any circumstance obligated to tell them about it (same with *your* house). In fact, in some states, it is illegal to even tell someone you are carrying while in the possession of a CHL. You did the right thing. Keep it up!

 

[LT1coupe]

I live in AZ now, but grew up in TX. There you did have an obligation to produce your CCW with your drivers license if you were carrying. If you were not carrying, you did not have to, but by not doing so, you just consented to a search.

 

[Tinker]

jibraun,


Your pard asked: "Dude, you have your gun on you? Why?"

It's a shame that folks would have to ask you such a thing. They should realize that you carry a tool that facilitates the safety of all in your vehicle. In a more rational world they'd thank you for packing. Maybe one day they will.

 

[BobbyQuickdraw]

You didn't do anything wrong. You're not required to tell the officer, so you don't have to. He asked and you chose to tell him and that was fine.

You don't have to tell anyone that you are or why you are carrying, unless its a LEO and required. Don't feel bad. There's nothing to "man" up about.

 

[WinchesterAA]

Don't speed...


Well, I mean.. speeding should be less of an issue than it is.. But, if you want to speed.. you always run the risk of being pulled over by a cop and having him tell your friends you're packing.

 

[foob]

From the way you described it, carrying didn't get you out of a ticket.

He already wrote the warning in his car while checking your particulars, and walked over to give it to you.

 

[Hkmp5sd]

My CCW didn't get me out of a ticket. It just gave the deputy a chance to fondle my Glock 27 while waiting on the information to come back. Since then, I don't bother telling the LEO that I'm armed unless he brings up the subject.