I would like to throw in my experience:
While stationed in MD I traveled I-95 regularly going to and from home in FL. I bought a Beretta 92F and decided to carry it in the car (for road-side protection). I asked around, and the best I was told was "two steps". So, step one, in the glove box. Step two, unloaded (although mag was readily accessible).
Anyhoo, I'm driving my IROC (pull me over please) car, and sure enough, get stopped in SC or NC, can't remember which. Now, somehow, the trooper is able to detect something funny. Cause after I give him my license and registration, he asks me to get out of the car. We go to the back of my car and he asks me where's the gun. Holy crap, how the hell could he tell? Well, I told him, explaining that this was how I was instructed to carry it. Now, maybe being in the Army helped, maybe it was the honesty factor. But, he simply instructed me that it has to be in the trunk. So we watched me put it there, wrote me a nice speeding ticket and I was on my way.
Moral of the story: I think there were two factors involved in my incedent. 1) Officer was friendly, courteous and helpfull. 2) I was friendly, courteous and helpfull (okay, scared sh**less too). Sure there are some bad cops out there, but I think most are simply trying to enforce the law and come home alive at the end of the day.
LL