Volunteering CCW permit to officer

[Bill_Rights]

I am not a sheep, but I do know some and respect all LEOs, so I will produce my Virginia CHP without being asked. I reviewed VA Code Section 18.2-308, and, like ditch_digr above, I don't see where I have to volunteer the CHP info. However, the law and my training make it very clear that this info is in the VA State Police database. I assume that even County or City traffic cops can access this info right from their police cars, these days.

My instructor urged us to reveal CHP status tp LEOs. No surpizes = good. Also, for what it's worth, CHPs are issued by a court and have the weight of a court order in Virginia. (This whole permitting deal is an infringement of 2A rights, by the way, IMO.) In some sense a CHP holder is "deputized" in Virginia, though most cops would rather not have the "help" or involvement of a CHP holder at a crime scene, I read.

 

[Zach S]

I'm on the fence, however I lean towards "no."

We have to inform here in NC, and a lot of officers I spoke to about it don't care if we have our permission slip and pistol or not.

If I didn't have to inform, I dont think I would. However, I might. A previous poster mentioned it got him out of a ticket, and I think mine has got me out of several. Ine one case, the officer and I got to talking about guns, and he forgot why he pulled me over.

 

[John Parker]

y obeying the law is all of the "ease" he needs. Where do you draw the line?

If you are obeying the law though, then why were you pulled over?

 

[stickhauler]

Somewhere In This Thread...

A poster from Ohio said it was the law to inform police only if you were carrying at that moment, and from what I've been told by law enforcement in Ohio (I'm from there as well) they'll know if you hold a CCW if your vehicle is registered in your name anyway regardless of the fact you informed them or not, the CCW is linked to your vehicle registration.

My CCW class instructor advised informing police of your license whether you had your firearm with you or not, and then ask the officer what they wanted you to do next (if carrying at that moment). I can't say I'd blame a cop for wanting to know if a loaded firearm was present at that moment. I have no problem letting them know myself, most cops understand what the procedure to get a license is, and aren't going to consider you a criminal if you are actually practicing your right to carry.

Of course, there are going to be some who decide immediately that you're a scumbag if you're carrying a firearm, licensed or not. These are the same cops who give the good ones a bad name. To get to the wheat, you have to shift out the chaff. Too bad civil service boards are so damned inept at that.

 

[Cactus Jack Arizona]

In Missouri, the Department of Motor Vehicles gives the information to the officer during each traffic stop. The LEO will know that you have a CCW permit once he runs you. Therefore, Missourians might as well let the LEO know as you hand the LEO your driver's license, registration, and insurance card.

 

[wrs840]

In NC, "duty to notify" is the law whenever encountering a LEO who is interacting with you in his/her official capacity, so you do it, they'll know as soon as they run your NCDL anyway. My experience is most all are cool with it and start treating you like one of the "good guys"... ...except for this one fat-chick-cop one time. Hmmm... Maybe fat chicks should be bus-drivers instead of cops. ...Sorry...

Les

 

[bensdad]

Obey the laws in your state. If you don't have to tell, then don't tell.

Frankly, I'm a little miffed by the posters who say that when they tell, the cops give them warnings rather than tickets. Do any of you view this as a positive thing? It tells me that some cops play favorites. I don't pay them to play favorites. I pay them to ticket speeders, look for bad guys, draw chalk outlines, be present in my neighborhood, etc.

A cop doing you a favor because you showed your permit-to-carry is one slice of bread in a s*%$ sandwich. The other slice involves being "out of favor."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8z7NC5sgik

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08fZQWjDVKE&feature=related

 

[Valkman]

I believe in giving my CCW permit to the officer - when I'm carrying. I say that because last night I got stopped and wasn't carrying but did have a gun in the truck. He never asked and I only gave him my DL. I thought my CCW permit would come back on the check but he never metioned it and.... he didn't give me a ticket either.

 

[PT1911]

Obey the laws in your state. If you don't have to tell, then don't tell.

Frankly, I'm a little miffed by the posters who say that when they tell, the cops give them warnings rather than tickets. Do any of you view this as a positive thing? It tells me that some cops play favorites. I don't pay them to play favorites. I pay them to ticket speeders, look for bad guys, draw chalk outlines, be present in my neighborhood, etc.
A cop doing you a favor because you showed your permit-to-carry is one slice of bread in a s*%$ sandwich. The other slice involves being "out of favor."

Maybe you should tell them that next time you get pulled over.. I pay your salary to do what you are doing... ***? So a cop thinks your honesty about a loaded weapon is a good thing... or a cop is pro-gun and appreciates those who choose to carry... personally I find it to be a better reason for a warning than a pair of breasts in a tight shirt..

OOOOOOOOO...cops playing favorites.. is it choosing favorites if a routine stop leads to a ticket because you tell the cop he needs to let you go since you pay his/her salary...

Last I checked cops had the option to give tickets or warnings at their choosing...it is called positive v. negative reinforcement...

I guess the world would be a better place if police had no judgment.. maybe they should shoot first and ask questions later too.. after all... that is what they are PAID to do right? Protect... what better way to protect than to take out a potential threat.

 

[bensdad]

Maybe you should tell them that next time you get pulled over.. I pay your salary to do what you are doing... ***? So a cop thinks your honesty about a loaded weapon is a good thing... or a cop is pro-gun and appreciates those who choose to carry... personally I find it to be a better reason for a warning than a pair of breasts in a tight shirt..

OOOOOOOOO...cops playing favorites.. I am sure you would complain about a routine stop leading to a ticket when you told the cop he needed to let you go since you pay his/her salary...

Wow.

 

[Rockwell1]

If you are obeying the law though, then why were you pulled over?

I can think of several reasons why someone could get pulled over with out breaking the law, Wrong place at the wrong time, known drug dealing neighborhood, matching the description of a car the police are looking for or a tail light out just to name a few

 

[Gamera]

Here in SC we're required to notify the officer if we're carrying.

If you are obeying the law though, then why were you pulled over?

Last year I was pulled over in Georgia even though I had done nothing wrong. Long story.

 

[Deanimator]

If you are obeying the law though, then why were you pulled over?

Any reason or no reason at all.

Sobriety check point
Resemblance to a known suspect
Mistaken identity
Racial/ethnic profiling
Boredom

A friend's wife once took me to the Amtrak station very early in the morning. She was pulled over by Lakewood police for "weaving". She most definitely was NOT "weaving". I have my suspicions for the real reason. We were not detained long, nor was she cited for the imaginary "weaving". It would have been a VERY bad idea, since her husband's a very experienced criminal defense attorney. I would have happily delayed or canceled my trip to make any required statements.

You can be stopped and have absolutely no reason why. If you are, obey the law, nothing more, nothing less.

 

[Inginegirl]

AirForce Shooter stated that by not telling he had to go to Traffic school for the citation.? Why is that? They gave you a ticket for NOT telling that you carry a CWL. I live in Central Florida also, and have never heard of that..WOW

 

[Deanimator]

AirForce Shooter stated that by not telling he had to go to Traffic school for the citation.? Why is that? They gave you a ticket for NOT telling that you carry a CWL. I live in Central Florida also, and have never heard of that..WOW

I think his point was that he was not given a "break" for having violated some traffic law.

If you don't disobey the law, you don't need "breaks". If you don't need "breaks" you don't need to jump through extra-legal hoops.

I'll stick with obeying the traffic laws and the CCW laws, to the letter, to the best of my ability.

 

[Mainsail]

The two-dimensional thinking in here, on most subjects, still amazes me. Why does it have to be one or the other? I will or will not depending totally on the attitude and demeanor of the officer. I’m not going to throw fuel on the fire by handing my carry license to an obviously hostile police officer. Likewise, l may elect to offer it with my other credentials if the officer approaches with a sense of mutual respect. Play it by ear. Not everything has to be defined so narrowly.

 

[bensdad]

The two-dimensional thinking in here, on most subjects, still amazes me. Why does it have to be one or the other? I will or will not depending totally on the attitude and demeanor of the officer. I’m not going to throw fuel on the fire by handing my carry license to an obviously hostile police officer. Likewise, l may elect to offer it with my other credentials if the officer approaches with a sense of mutual respect. Play it by ear. Not everything has to be defined so narrowly.

Sometimes "two-dimensional thinking" is appropriate. I'm afraid this is one of those times. Mainsail, you might want to watch the videos I linked. Your decision to assess the attitude of an officer assumes that you are better at assessing his/her attitude than he/she is at HIDING it. You can't know their motivation. You're not psychic. It's good to be fluid and adaptable in many situations, but not this one. Letter of the law - NO MORE - and no less.

 

[Geezer59]

Kansas requires you to advise LEO on request. The CCL is tied into the DMV database, so they'll know anyway as soon as they run your DL info.

If during a stop the officer is acting professional (no obvious attitude, etc.), I have no problem advising voluntarily. Every encounter so far has been smooth - hope it stays that way.

 

[bensdad]

Kansas requires you to advise LEO on request. The CCL is tied into the DMV database, so they'll know anyway as soon as they run your DL info.

If during a stop the officer is acting professional (no obvious attitude, etc.), I have no problem advising voluntarily. Every encounter so far has been smooth - hope it stays that way.

For your sake, I hope it stays that way too. But again, you're assuming that you can somehow devine the motivations of a LEO.

 

[JT sport]

My son-in-law and I were discussing the same topic a while back. He is a former county deputy sheriff. His comment was that in AZ you don't need to disclose; all deputies assume the occupant of the car is armed. If he has that "feeling" while checking you out he will ask. The deputy is in control, let him decide whether to go that direction or not.

 

[logical]

Absolutely not it's not germane to the stop.If I'm a law abiding citizen how is my gun a threat to the police? I suggest anyone who thinks it's a good idea do asearch on the topic here and read the stories of THR members who have volunteered the information and ended up face down across the hood of a cop car for it

In Michigan, you are required to inform only if you are actually carrying. problem is, that is the law now but it originally was inform of the permit regardless...and I've had two cops already stop me while I wasn't carrying and tell me I had to inform regardless...guess they need a refresher course.

While the license plate may or may not tell them the owner has a CCW, it shouldn't be relied on to assume they know. They have no idea if the driver is the registered owner...it just tells them I might have a CCW. If I am in my truck, they will get a hit, but my wife's car is in her name and I'm in rentals and company cars all the time.

Just follow the law...which begins with knowing it.

 

[Cannonball888]

No good deed goes unpunished. A friend volunteered that information even though not required and was harassed the entire time.

 

[mgkdrgn]

It tells me that some cops play favorites.

Welcome to the real world.

 

[divemedic]

I live in the Orlando area. I used to tell cops that I carry. A Sergeant with the Orange County Sheriff's office changed all of that, back in 2000. I was sitting at a stop light for a pretty long period of time, and after about 10 minutes assumed it must be broken. There was no traffic, so I went.

The deputy came up behind me and pulled me over. I still do not know where he came from, I never saw him. He asked me to step out of the car, so I did. I handed him my DL, registration, CCW permit, and Insurance. When he saw the CCW, he asked if I had a weapon. I told him yes.

He stepped back, put his hand on his pistol, and told me, "Make one move and I will kill you where you stand." Then he said, "Go ahead, try me. I bet I am faster."

I asked him what his problem was, and he began cursing me out, calling me names, and was a real jerk. Bragging about his 20 years on the force, etc.

I do not tell anymore.

 

[SCKimberFan]

Quote:
i'm surprised treo hasn't shown up yet. he'll definitely be a vote for NO.

I was reading on the other THR and theres a user over there named Treo who says he's banned here. Same guy?

Yup.