Traffic stop w/ a CCW/CPL/CHL

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7mmRemMag

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I live in MI(turned 21 this year and got my CPL couple months ago) and about a week ago I was stopped for going 70 in a 55:eek: Wasn't really paying attention to how fast I was going, just kind of looking out the window enjoying the view of the countryside. In MI you must immediately disclose to a "peace officer" when you come in direct contact w/ them that you are packing:cool: So as I handed him my DL, registration and POI, I also handed him my CPL and informed him that I had a concealed pistol. His eyes got as big as saucers. I was surprised. (maybee it was the fact that everyone tells me I look 16:confused: ) He asked me where it was, and I told him it was in my right pants pocket.(its a 5shot taurus 2" 357) He then told me that he needed to "secure" my "weapon"(not that it wasn't secure in my posession). He had me step out of the vehicle(made me feel like a criminal) and told me to slowly hand him my gun. I told him that I would not hand him my pistol, but that he could take it out of my pocket himself(the last thing I wanted was have him drill his Sig 9mm into the side of my head because he thought I was reaching into my pocket too quickly, not to mention it would also be on camera)He didn't seem to have a problem w/ taking it himself, he reached into my pocket and "secured" it, then went back to his car, I got in mine, then he did whatever cops do, then came to my window. He handed me my papers and then he handed me back my loaded pistol w/ the butt pointing at me and the barrel aimed directly into his chest. I thought to myself "this guy has got to be an idiot" not to mean any dis respect but an officer that has been through any training ought to know better than that.

He then proceeded to tell me to drive carefull and have a nice day. Never did he give me a ticket and I am still wondering why?

So my question is "Has anyone gone through a traffic stop w/ a concealed and does my incident seem out of the ordinary?"

7mm
 
So my question is "Has anyone gone through a traffic stop w/ a concealed and does my incident seem out of the ordinary?"
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Yes,I have been stopped in North Carolina where you must notify the officer.
I did ,he was not interested in seeing my CCW,wrote me a ticket for going 75 in a 55,wished me a good day and drove away.
Your experience was certainly not ordinary!:D
Mine was the norm.
 
This is a frequent topic of discussion here. From what I've read, your stop is not that uncommon. He didn't do a search, he didn't yell at you for carrying, he didn't diss concealed carry; but he DID do what he is allowed to do in securing the gun. He didn't even unload your gun before giving it back to you, which some LEO's will do.

Lots of LEO's don't secure a person's gun during a traffic stop; some do. All in all, your experience wasn't too bad.

Springmom
 
Never personally, but I've had friends stopped while carrying. Some got tickets, some didn't. Some had their firearm(s) secured, some did not.

The best was a friend stopped while carrying his new (at the time) KelTec P3AT. He mentioned it to the cop (no duty to inform here) and they got into a discussion about it; turns out the cop was thinking of getting one as a BUG. Conversation continues for a while before my friend is let go with a warning and a 'good night'.
 
I was pulled over once while carrying. It was a perfectly normal traffic stop. Here in TN we don't have to disclose we are carrying.
 
Solo Flyer, be glad he didn't keep your DL - 20 mph over will get a ticket just about anywhere
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I didn't complain.I was guilty and made no fuss.I deserved the ticket.
But why would he keep my DL?
Or were you joking?:confused:
 
Been pulled over 4 times now after getting my CHL. Each time I had a weapon with me, either on my person or under the seat. Each time the officer was friendly and professional and did not require me to do anything unusual. In fact, when I told them where the gun was, they all said "leave it there." And, here is the kicker, EACH time I received only a warning. I attribute that to the good advice I received on THR. I keep my hands where the officer can see them at all times, and if it was dark, I turned on the light. I was polite and acknowledged my fault in driving too fast. My friends all belive it is some secret code to cops to not give me a ticket because of my CHL, but I think it is my attitude, not my license.
 
Your experience is pretty much the norm. I have been pulled over three times while carrying. One officer did secure my gun, but he didn't make a big deal out of it. They other two times after I handed them my license and CHL they just said Thanks. Haven't met any real Nazi's yet.
 
Been pulled over 4 times while carrying. Never an incident.

My advice: When the officer comes to your door and does the greeting THAT is the time to disclose. Do not get out your DL/CPL before hand. My standard reply is "Hi there. Before we go any farther I have to let you know I have a CPL and have my gun on me. It's in a holster on my right hip." Mind you my hands are on the steering wheel at all times unless directed otherwise.

Then let the officer take it from there.

I've never been questioned, never been harrassed, and never been disarmed (in MI it is lawful for an officer to disarm during a stop). After the stop they always thank me for letting them know about the CPL and tell me I handled it well.
 
"My friends all belive it is some secret code to cops to not give me a ticket because of my CHL, but I think it is my attitude, not my license."

Politeness, non-confrontational attitude, and honesty can go a long way sometimes.

I haven't had a ticket in about 10 years, but I've been pulled over about 5 or 6 times in that timeframe. One of my brothers gets a ticket every single time. He's the type that immediately start the issue with "I was only going 20 over...." go figure
 
my CCW is still in the paper work stages.... perhaps! The GF and I where driving to IKEA and I noticed the light turning yellow, I thought I had enough time to go through and I didn't want to toss my GF into the windshield with an abrupt stop. Turns out I didn't(?) and it was a red. Got pulled over and the officer told me the light was red etc etc. Officer was a real nice guy, a really good representation of the areas police force. He also asked if I had weapons in the car and I replied no and also if it mentioned something about a CCW. He said it did! I'm not sure what that means though... I haven't received anything in the mail. Hopefully it means the paper work is all done and that they will be sending it out soon! (Unless I have to pick it up in MI?)
 
For a traffic stop I would not bring it up as I remain in the car. If the LEO ordered me out of the car then I would tell him I am licensed to carry and am carrying and where it is. Then I would wait for the LEO's directions as to what is next. Here in rural NM and CO there is a general assumption there is a firearm somewhere. Passing the initial attitude and "smell" test is important. Being old helps some. Being young probably raises the level of anxiety.

Sorry you were so treated. The LEO is only trying to fullfill the first rule of law enforcement. Not that it makes you feel any better.
 
I live in MI(turned 21 this year and got my CPL couple months ago) and about a week ago I was stopped for going 70 in a 55 Wasn't really paying attention to how fast I was going, just kind of looking out the window enjoying the view of the countryside.
Click to expand...

This is a good example of how our driving skillz can generate complexities involving firearms. Let's not forget the fact that if you were not situationally aware of your driving situation (on at least two dimensions--actual speed vs. posted and of a traffic cop in your area)

The bottom line is that your stop was avoidable. Either by going the speed limit or with some lesser degree of speeding. If, in every single traffic stop you will have to inform a LEO that you have a gun, then you have to calculate the benefits and costs of the tell a cop I got a gun experience in the decision process you go through when committing a traffic violation. There is variation in the pleasantness of such experiences.


So my question is "Has anyone gone through a traffic stop w/ a concealed and does my incident seem out of the ordinary?"
Click to expand...

I think you perhaps made a huge mistake in disagreeing with the LEO's instruction regarding how to transfer the gun. Depends on how you negotiated that change, what kind of words you used and what kind of movements you made. I think it can generally be said that not following instructions from an LEO in such situations is not a riskless proposition.

Of course, I would tend to think that the transfer method you came up with was, in fact, better for all concerned. So, I'm glad it all worked out just fine.

I'd be interested in a LEO here commenting on suggesting (or insisting) on a change to a direct instruction as detailed by the OP.
 
Traffic Stop

From what I have been told your stop sounds relatively normal. I have not been stopped since I have aquired my CCH, but from how the law reads in NC you do have to announce when you are carrying. Freakshow10mm said it best.

I did get stopped years ago before I had my CCH and did exactly like freakshow10mm describes but I had my weapon in plain view. The state LEO asked for my weapon with my left hand/thumb/index finger and my DL. When he returned he hand me my DL, a warning ticket, all my rounds loose, empty clip and an unloaded weapon with the order not to reload until he returned to his vehicle. All the while he was very polite.

Here is the question i think everyone should ask themselves... If you were in the LEO position how would you want to treated in the traffic stop?
 
I think some people are or will make a bigger deal of this than should be. What was this officers department policey? maybe he ran the gun to varify it was not stolen. some folks would complain if he gave the gun back unloaded some would complain it wasnt unloaded personaly I see nothing wrong with what happened. To the op I am sorry you felt like you were treated as a criminal even though you broke the law.:confused:(speeding right) under the assumption of calling in your gun how else were you to be disarmed? getting you out of the car is a good start IMO. Place yourself in the officers shoes. I think he played it very cool. And you did not get a ticket.:p

Let us all remember there are diffrent rules every where. Some places state you must disclose being armed(duty to report) where as others do not. I know in Va and Mi the officer has legal authority to disarm at their discretion if you dont want to be disarmed dont brake the law.
 
Solo - here is the link to NCDMV.
http://www.ncdot.org/dmv/driver_serv...spensions.html
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That is very good to know, thank you!
I was completely unaware of that law.
I guess I was very fortunate to avoid a suspension.Or perhaps the law was not in effect at the time.This was around 2004.
Whatever,I am in North Carolina every year passing through to Virginia.I'll be extra vigilant after reading that scary info.I'm sure others on the forum didn't know about it either.You may have saved some hides!
Thanks again.:)
 
I recently got pulled over...well..it's more like I wasn't paying attention until I saw the black and white. I was already stopped on the shoulder by the time he got turned around. He told me when he walked up to my car that he wasn't going to ticket me....

Anyway, for the first time EVAR the officer wanted my handgun. He said their "manuals" now required officers to run the serial numbers on any firearm they come into contact with. I got out, he got my S&W M66 out of the console, unloaded it, and then took it to his truck to run the serial. He came back, put it back in the console, told me it was still unloaded, and gave me a warning. We talked for a few minutes and he sent me on my way.

I've gotten three tickets, and a bunch of warnings since I got my CHL. The last ticket I got was from a small town barney fife(except 100-150 pounds overweight) type. I was less than pleased with the lack of ethic he displayed---yes, I was speeding and no that wasn't the issue.

Be very certain to inform the officer and display your license if you are required to. The officer above attempted to claim I had not shown him my CHL, when I had shown it as soon as he walked up to my window. After I called BS, he admitted to having seen it.
 
It depends a lot on whether the cops where you are stopped have to "run" the gun. Here in NV they do so you will be disarmed. It's happened to me once, wasn't fun, but it wound up going as well as could be expected.
 
maybe he ran the gun to varify it was not stolen.
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If the officer doesn't have legal grounds to believe the firearm was used in a crime or was stolen, then he cannot run it to check.
 
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