Showed My CHL to a LEO for the first time today.

[hobbeeman]

I had a wreck on my way home today. As I stood in the street, waiting on the police to arrive, the thought occurred to me, should I put my tool in the truck or leave it on my person?

When the officer arrived, I gave him both of my ID's and informed him that this was my first interaction with an officer since obtaining my CHL. He politely said "that's fine, just keep it concealed and don't mention it again" and that I "did everything just the way I was supposed to do it", and then thanked me.

All of my worry was for nothing. After all of the stories that I had heard of interactions that went poorly were not substantiated in the least by this event.

I hope that all of your interactions go as smoothly as mine.

Hobbeeman

 

[Optical Serenity]

Good deal, I've never had a situation where it went south showing my GA firearms permit to an officer... Thats before I became an LEO...and afterwards, I typically just hand it back and say "I just need your license"

 

[RugerSAFan]

Hobbeeman - Glad it worked out well for you. I've heard attitude can make all the difference....

 

[jeepmor]

Aren't you obligated to show permit with drivers license?

I typically just hand it back and say "I just need your license"

Serenity - Are we technically supposed to provide a LEO with our permit to make him aware of a concealed weapon. I thought it was part of the obligation as a permit holder. I imagine this varies from state to state. I also imagine as a LEO, once you have our license number that information becomes available through the database resources (if in the same state).

jeepmor

 

[MarshallDodge]

I have a friend in Texas and based on what he said I believe the law requires you to show your permit in this case.

 

[Mad Chemist]

Serenity - Are we technically supposed to provide a LEO with our permit to make him aware of a concealed weapon. I thought it was part of the obligation as a permit holder. I imagine this varies from state to state. I also imagine as a LEO, once you have our license number that information becomes available through the database resources (if in the same state).

jeepmor

It depends on your state's CCW statutes. Some require it others do not. The last time I was pulled over I was carrying. I just handed over the CHL with my ID and registration. I told him I had a CCW and where it was. His demeanor changed immediately upon confirming all my ID. His body language became more relaxed and his tone was more friendly and informal. He told me I had burnt out taillight and let me go. He didn't even run my info through the computer.

JH

 

[chrisTx]

I have a friend in Texas and based on what he said I believe the law requires you to show your permit in this case.

in Texas, only if you're armed. it shows up on your driver license return. when i see a CHL permit, i usually know that i'm not going to have any problems out of the person.

 

[The-Fly]

in Colorado your not required to say a word, but i do anyways out of common sense. Got pulled over 2 months ago by state patrol for expired tags. Notified him that i had a permit and a piece on me and he didnt bat an eye. He still gave me a ticket (which i deserved), but was totally polite and didnt hassle me in anyway regarding my firearm.

 

[orangeninja]

It's really not as big a deal as some people think. A lot of cops I know have a CHL for two reasons:

1.) Before 218 a CHL allowed carry outside of your home state.
2.) It saves a NICS phone call when you buy a gun. Go figure, a CHL requires no phone call but a Peace Officer Certification? Well, they gotta check you anyhow.

 

[timdennis]

Texas

The applicable law is TGC 411.205:
Yes you have a duty to inform and it shows up when they run you thru the system.

 

[rms/pa]

notification is not required in PA.

i do it. just in case the officer wants me to come out of the car for a pat down.
no surprise enviornment(sp?) for the officer is a GOOD thing. i just hand over the
LTCF with the reg. and lic.

rms/pa

 

[jd25q]

It makes good sense to mention it. Keep your hands on the steering wheel as you are saying it. When we are nervous sometimes words don't come out exactly as planned. Imagine what how it would be taken if instead of "I have a concealed carry permit and am carrying a pistol under my jacket" this comes out, "I have a gun", while you are reaching in your jacket pocket for your wallet.

 

[Ringer]

In Michigan you are required to inform only if you are carrying during an ecnounter with law enforecement. Only been in this situation once. The accident is a story in itself - was teaching my 15 year old daughter how to drive when someone pulls out in front of an SUV that is coming towards us, it flips over and skids to a stop in front of us on it's top.

Anyway encounter went something like this:

As we are standing in the middle of the street-
Officer: Can I get your name and phone number?
Me: I need to inform you that I have a CPL and have a handgun on me at this time
Officer: OK, can I get your name and phone number?

Wasn't sure what to expect but it was obviosusly a non-issue. This was in Walled Lake, MI, small town in Metro Detroit.

 

[MDG1976]

In MO you are not required to tell.

 

[TIMC]

I have been pulled over twice in the last 7 years since I have had my CHL, only one resulted in a speeding ticket. Both times I gave the officer my CHL with my drivers license. In both cases they asked where the weapon was, both times I told them in an IWB holster on me and both times they just said OK (didn't even ask to see it). I did notice both times the officers seemed much more relaxed once they new I had a CHL, I guess they know someone with a CHL is not going to be a problem.

 

[thatguy]

State laws will vary, but I think it's best to tell a cop and I think the best way is to simply hand over the permit with the license. I would not recommend blurting out "I have a gun!"

After an accident or any other event causing me to wait for the police would be a bad time to start pulling the gun out of concealment even if you just intend to stow it. Best to just leave it where it is lest witnesses or arriving officers misunderstand what you're doing.

 

[geekWithA.45]

As previously mentioned, PA doesn't require disclosure, though the letter you get with your permit tells you that "common sense suggests you disclose" when encountering an officer.

In general, my policy is to hand over the LTCF with the license, _unless_ in Philadelphia. In PHL, if I judge the topic of armaments unlikely to come up, I will STHU, rather than risk an unnecessary bad interaction. Everywhere else in PA, it seems to consistently not be a big deal, whereas there are some dark forces in play in the city that tilt the odds a little bit against us.

 

[rms/pa]

VERY TRUE , all rules go out the window in Phila.
**** in Phila. is a really good idea.

QUOTE:geek witha.45
_unless_ in Philadelphia. In PHL, if I judge the topic of armaments unlikely to come up, I will STHU, rather than risk an unnecessary bad interaction.

rms/pa

 

[sacp81170a]

You're only required to show a CHL in Arkansas when asked by an LEO. And +1 to whoever said us LEO's get CHL's so we don't have to go through the NICS check. I took a "Lautenberg" letter on department letterhead, signed by the chief and my supervisor to a local store to buy a duty weapon with standard capacity mags a few years ago before I had a CHL. They *still* ran the NICS check. Go figure.

 

[Hot brass]

At the tire shop my wifes CD`s were stolen and I called the cops.
The cop was going through the car and I was worried that the cop would see my gun on my right hip (I had on a light jacket, it was warn that day). I told the cop that I was armed, piece on my right hip, CCW in wallet, do you want to see it. Cop replied don`t worry about it. I thought that I would get a talking to.

 

[Aguila Blanca]

Serenity - Are we technically supposed to provide a LEO with our permit to make him aware of a concealed weapon. I thought it was part of the obligation as a permit holder. I imagine this varies from state to state. I also imagine as a LEO, once you have our license number that information becomes available through the database resources (if in the same state).

Correct. It does indeed vary from state to state.

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

in Texas, only if you're armed. it shows up on your driver license return. when i see a CHL permit, i usually know that i'm not going to have any problems out of the person.

Not quite. In Texas, anytime a law officer requests identification, you must show both forms of ID, whether carrying or not.

http://www.packing.org/state/texas/#statenotify_officer_law

Failure to do so can result in suspension (and punishment escalates with repeat occurances).

 

[lawson4]

In SC you must tell the LEO, only if you are armed. Also, since our State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) does a basic background check daily on CWP holders, there is no requiremnet for a NICS check when purchasing. LEOs don't get checked daily, so we have to go through it.

lawson4

 

[ny32182]

My first time being pulled over in 7 years, and first time since obtaining a CWP occured in December. We are required to notify in SC. I showed him my card, and started with "At this time, I'm required by law to tell you that..."

He says "...you are armed today"?

"Yes".

"Ok, licence and registration please."

He radared me at 23 over, and wrote the ticket for 5 over. I can't complain, and it was obviously a non-issue for him. I would expect that to be fairly typical around here.

 

[Ryder]

I had a funny incident a couple weeks ago. My permit is expired awaiting rewal and a cop caught a glimpse of it in my wallet. I told him it was expired and I wasn't carrying. He did not want to take my word on that. I'm still laughing about it.

There were no coffee cans on board but he did look through everything else that might conceal illegal product. The expired permit stays home now