Do people get pulled over on purpose?

70 may be the speed limit in most of Richmond but get out on 295 and you'll be lucky if there isn't a herd of cars blocking every lane running 65.

but I have been pulled over with a truck full of guns before. Not a word was said about them.
 
Does anybody else ever get the impression that, for some, having an opportunity to tell an officer they are carrying is very very important?
Click to expand...

I know for a fact there are a few people at the far other end of the IQ bell curve. I can't prove this, but sincerely believe the vast majority of those who are smart enough to qualify for drivers' licenses are smart enough to understand being pulled over isn't entertainment.
 
The whole point of CCW is to be discreet. I don't doubt there may be a small percentage of wannabe LEOs or LEO drop outs that behave as you speculate, and those guys probably buy the CCW badges for sale in the Sportsman's guide catalog. But the majority of CCW holders keep a very low profile.
 
I've posted in another thread that I'm sure people go out of their way to un-conceal their concealed carry weapon just so someone will notice. Just as that, I'm sure people may get pulled over in the regular course of driving and the knowledge of them carrying a weapon is revealed somehow. I bet there is a very small minority out there violating the law just to meet officer friendly on purpose just to let him know he is carrying a weapon.
 
I worked for a motel chain that required a valid ID for checkin, can't tell you the number of CCW permits people flashed when checking in. I had to explain every time that a carry PERMIT is not an ID, at which point they pull out the drivers license.

To my way of thinking (and Lazarus Long, Heinlein character often quoted on these forums, will back me up on this) the whole point of a concealed carry is that no one should know you're packing.

I've also had CCW permit users engage me in conversation that seemed to feel that their permit was a badge and that if they saw an altercation it was now their duty to intervene. Again they somehow missed the point.

It's the Right to keep and BEAR arms people not the Right to Grin and Bare 'em.
 
Don't cross the Blue Line

Any adversarial encounter with police while carrying concealed has the potential of turning out badly for you, from a cop who doesn't understand the gun law in effect and arrests you to the cop who never attended judgment pistol training and draws down on you.

Best to avoid the blue line altogether. You need not disclose your possession of a firearm unless required by law or if in your judgment, reaching for your wallet, in close proximity to your gun, could cause the officer to misread your intentions and blow you into next week. When a disclosure is made, humility works better than arrogance and follow the officer's instructions to the letter. Keep both hands in view and don't exit your vehicle unless instructed to do so.

My situation is a bit different as I carry incident to being a retired LEO. Nevertheless, I'm careful to not attract police attention, especially as a commuter in New York's Penn Station, which is crawling with cops and inadaquately trained national guardsmen.
 
Here's a recent experience ... my wife and I are heading from Texas to Branson MO for a week's vacation in a rented Toyota with AZ plates ... I'm licensed in Texas and my PM9 is in the door pocket of the car ...

We get pulled over in AR ... the cruise control is set on the speed limit, which is 70, so I know I wasn't speeding ... seat belt on, check ... the officer comes to the passenger side and asks for my license (never asked to see the rental agreement or proof of insurance) ... I immediately hand him my DL and CHL, advising him that I am armed ... he asks where the gun is and I tell him ... he tells me to get out of the car and then proceeds to PAT ME DOWN ... asks if I have any other weapons and I tell him about a 3-inch folder clipped to my left pocket ... he says he doesn't care about that and tells me to sit in his car ...

he's very friendly the whole time, asks about my gun and proceeds to tell me he pulled me over because my right front tire crossed the curbside white line ... well, ok, so what? Did he think I was drunk? never asked if I'd been drinking ...

he writes me a warning and we go about our business ...

Was I trying to get pulled over? hell, no ... was his reason totally bogus? we spent the next half hour trying to figure out what he REALLY had on his mind ... incidently ... I'm a 66-year-old retired guy ...

I mentioned this in another thread and somebody suggested that Texans are always running weed to the heartland ... but the car had AZ plates so that doesn't work ... also, he never asked me to open the trunk or search the car ...

I finally decided he was bored ...
 
Last edited:
bikerbill
Here's a recent experience ...
Click to expand...

You were from another State. That by itself is enough reason for cops to be extra vigilant. For example, if you're on the I-95 corridor with out of state plates, you would have a better chance of being pulled over, too.

In your situation, once he turned his lights on, the trooper had to go through the motions - even though he now knows you're an old retired gentleman traveling with your spouse.
 
Last edited:
bikerbill, I'm sure you and most others know this but.....regular patrol officers(not talking about traffic officers) stop motorists on "PC" stops. Probable cause for a stop is an expired sticker, a light out, speeding, etc. These stops aren't to enforce traffic laws per se, but to investigate. There is a huge amount of illegal narcotics running north and east from the border and huge amounts of money and guns going south.

Back on topic, every officer is different and you just don't know how he'll react so the best thing to do, don't go out and flaunt your ccw to a cop.
 
I've found in the very few times I've been stopped, if I show my hands out the window, most LEO see this as a sign that you're showing them that your hands are free of weapons. If they ask why you're showing your hands out the window, I tell them that I conceal carry, and I wanted him or her to know that my weapon if properly concealed. I've never been asked for my permit, and more often than not they're linient with you or dont give you a ticket at all. They also thank me for letting them know that I have a gun on me. If there is any LEO on this board, we might be able to get their views if they're appriciative of this action. This is in South florida.
 
Onward ... who you calling old?

And I kept my hands on the wheel until he appeared at the window, as my CHL instructor, a retired cop, suggested ...

not sure what fttuu means by "flaunting." If I'm armed, in Texas I'm required to show my license and advise the officer I have a gun in the vehicle ... seemed a good idea for AR too ...
 
I only do that when I know that Barney is going to pull me over and Andy will come to my rescue in Bubbaville:eek:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top