I have no idea whether Florida does or not, but if they do, then it's happened to me at least four times.
I don't get pulled over often, but I have been pulled over let's see... 6 or 7 times in the 8 years I've been living here. I had my permit for all those times. Of those times, I've been issued a citation only 3 times.
Last night, in fact, was the last time I was pulled over. It was 3 a.m., and I was leaving the Walmart parking lot, pulling out onto a four lane road with a median. I happened to get out in front of the
only car that was coming down my side of the road -- a Palm Beach County Sheriff's deputy. (I couldn't see that it was a PBSO car just by the headlights.) I didn't cramp him, or cause him to have to brake, but when I crossed the next intersection and put on my signal to get gas at a station there, on came his lights, and I pulled over inside the station lot.
I remained in my car with the window closed, and placed my hands at about 11 and 1 on the steering wheel.
When the deputy came to the window and knocked, I raised my left hand, pointed at the window button, and then clicked it to Auto and it rolled down. I said Hi or something. He was decked out in full gang-division garb, with a Taser on the front of his vest and all. He immediately started to impugn me for rolling through the stop sign in the Walmart lot where it exited onto the roadway. I put on a sort of, "I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking" kind of attitude and didn't really deny (or admit) that I had blown a stop sign. Mentioned something about how my mind was really on getting gas and what it was gonna cost me. He asked for license and reg. and took them back to his car before I could give him my, "Officer, I have a clean license and really would appreciate it if you could give me a break," speech -- which
has worked in the past. (If you don't ask to be not given a ticket, you will be given a ticket. You gotta ask!)
When he came back to my car, he handed back my license and registration, and the first words out of his mouth were, "This one's on me." Proceeded to tell me that the violation woulda cost me $118, blah blah blah.
Then he shocked me. He ACTUALLY SAID HE APPRECIATED THE FACT THAT I HAD MY HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN HE APPROACHED THE CAR!
I could barely believe it! I had him there a few more seconds while I told him that I always believed that a motorist should do whatever is necessary to keep a cop at ease, since I understand the risks of what he does. I told him that I had always wondered if officers had an appreciation for people who conduct themselves politely and predictably when stopped.
Apparently they do, and not only that, they may let you off!
But the deputy NEVER mentioned anything about my CCW license.
I was left to wonder if maybe he was aware of it, and likes a motorist who is that kind of "good guy." I also have my NRA Life Member sticker on the back, along with various others like skydiving dropzone stickers, and AOPA and USPA. Maybe if a cop relates to you, or respects your affiliations, he will be nicer to you. I dunno.
-blackmind
