I am no expert on this subject. It would be hard to be a expert on this subject simply because of all the different laws in each state and this is a forum and anyone from any state in the USA could be reading it. I have read a lot of info on the subject and just want to share some points and advice that makes the most sense to me. After reading on the subject, one source might tell you to do the opposite of what another might tell you to do, so this is just my views on what I would do and how I would conduct myself if being pulled over by the Police on a traffic stop with a Concealed handgun.
Before your trip:
If there is something you don't want the police to discover, put it way out of site and the best place is to put it is in your Trunk, if you have one. Why? Because no one wants to have there vehicle searched even if you have nothing to hide and as long as the police don't see anything illegal or have cause to think you are a danger, they do not have the right to search your vehicle unless they have prob cause or see something illegal or you give them permission.
When Being Pulled Over:
You want to get to a safe spot as far off the road as possible, without taking to long or coasting. A traffic stop is the number one cause of police deaths in the U.S because of traffic accidents. During this time don't be reaching into the glove box, console or under the seat, in some states this is cause enough to search your vehicle, If you seem to be hiding or concealing something.
After You Stop:
Turn off your vehicle and if it is night time, turn on the inside light, roll your window down all the way, place your hands on the steering wheel, in plain site. Once again, do not go into glove box's and consoles looking for your license and registration. doing this will make the officer a lot more at ease. Also if you have a visor voice recorder, it would be a good time to turn it on. It is legal in some states to record the event. If you are not sure if it is legal, look your state up, it follows the same laws as a phone call. Its called one-party voice logging, means only one of the 2 party's involed has to know about the recording. Here is the link.
http://www.connectionsmagazine.com/articles/2/183b.html
Officer at the window:
Always let the officer speak first, he will most always ask for your license registration and proof of insurance. Now the rest of what happens is really up to state law and you and is a matter of great debate. In this state we do not have to disclose we are carrying a firearm, in some states you do. some states he has already called in your Plate number and knows you have a CCP. If you don't disclose that you have a firearm, he might find out by running a check on your license and be upset that you did not tell him. Some states you do not have to disclose and the info is tied to your Plate or License..Go figure!
I for one tell the officer I have a handgun and give my permit. If he asked where is the handgun for god sake don't pat your side and say "Right Here" If you touch that handgun or even reach for it, the officer can charge you with a crime. Thats not to say he will, but why give him any thing against you. Some would say "I am not giving up my firearm, I have done nothing wrong and its safest right where it is". I feel the same way but why invite the trouble. In every state the police can ask you to exit your vehicle and you by law have to comply. He could disarm you, if he does court is where you should work out that matter, The roadways are the Police officers Forum and you are not going to win no matter what you say. If asked to hand your firearm over, do so in a non threatening manor and how he asked you to do it.
Be polite and calm. Depending on State Law you can be arrested for disorderly conduct if you swear or curse at a police officer. Virginia is just one of several states that this law applies. Polite and calm can go along way in regards to a ticket also. They ask you things like "Do you know why I pulled you over?" or "Do you know how fast you were going? these are trick questions designed to get you to admit guilt! Most of the time now days the officer has a wireless mic on his person tied to the camera in his cruiser, correct answer to the first question should be "No", second should be "yes I do" If he asked you permission to search your vehicle and you say "no" he might say "why do you have something to hide" I would say No.. but I do know the law and I am not relenting to a search of my vehicle. Now as long as he cannot see anything illegal in your vehicle and you did not have your handgun under or between the seats he cannot go into your vehicle and search it. He might say "if you don't allow me to search your vehicle I will call in a dog to search it." He is lying, he cannot unless he has reasonable cause to believe you are hiding something. If you have nothing illegal visible and you have not lied to him, he has no prob cause. he can not search your vehicle without it.
Legal in some sates to carry a non concealed weapon. If you have a handgun in the car and no CCP then make sure its in plain view, on the seat next to you, up on the dash, just make sure its not touching you.
Like I said, I am no expert, take this thread for whats its worth. Dismiss it, add to it, would love to hear some feedback, corrections or questions. Above all try to use good sense.
Before your trip:
If there is something you don't want the police to discover, put it way out of site and the best place is to put it is in your Trunk, if you have one. Why? Because no one wants to have there vehicle searched even if you have nothing to hide and as long as the police don't see anything illegal or have cause to think you are a danger, they do not have the right to search your vehicle unless they have prob cause or see something illegal or you give them permission.
When Being Pulled Over:
You want to get to a safe spot as far off the road as possible, without taking to long or coasting. A traffic stop is the number one cause of police deaths in the U.S because of traffic accidents. During this time don't be reaching into the glove box, console or under the seat, in some states this is cause enough to search your vehicle, If you seem to be hiding or concealing something.
After You Stop:
Turn off your vehicle and if it is night time, turn on the inside light, roll your window down all the way, place your hands on the steering wheel, in plain site. Once again, do not go into glove box's and consoles looking for your license and registration. doing this will make the officer a lot more at ease. Also if you have a visor voice recorder, it would be a good time to turn it on. It is legal in some states to record the event. If you are not sure if it is legal, look your state up, it follows the same laws as a phone call. Its called one-party voice logging, means only one of the 2 party's involed has to know about the recording. Here is the link.
http://www.connectionsmagazine.com/articles/2/183b.html
Officer at the window:
Always let the officer speak first, he will most always ask for your license registration and proof of insurance. Now the rest of what happens is really up to state law and you and is a matter of great debate. In this state we do not have to disclose we are carrying a firearm, in some states you do. some states he has already called in your Plate number and knows you have a CCP. If you don't disclose that you have a firearm, he might find out by running a check on your license and be upset that you did not tell him. Some states you do not have to disclose and the info is tied to your Plate or License..Go figure!
I for one tell the officer I have a handgun and give my permit. If he asked where is the handgun for god sake don't pat your side and say "Right Here" If you touch that handgun or even reach for it, the officer can charge you with a crime. Thats not to say he will, but why give him any thing against you. Some would say "I am not giving up my firearm, I have done nothing wrong and its safest right where it is". I feel the same way but why invite the trouble. In every state the police can ask you to exit your vehicle and you by law have to comply. He could disarm you, if he does court is where you should work out that matter, The roadways are the Police officers Forum and you are not going to win no matter what you say. If asked to hand your firearm over, do so in a non threatening manor and how he asked you to do it.
Be polite and calm. Depending on State Law you can be arrested for disorderly conduct if you swear or curse at a police officer. Virginia is just one of several states that this law applies. Polite and calm can go along way in regards to a ticket also. They ask you things like "Do you know why I pulled you over?" or "Do you know how fast you were going? these are trick questions designed to get you to admit guilt! Most of the time now days the officer has a wireless mic on his person tied to the camera in his cruiser, correct answer to the first question should be "No", second should be "yes I do" If he asked you permission to search your vehicle and you say "no" he might say "why do you have something to hide" I would say No.. but I do know the law and I am not relenting to a search of my vehicle. Now as long as he cannot see anything illegal in your vehicle and you did not have your handgun under or between the seats he cannot go into your vehicle and search it. He might say "if you don't allow me to search your vehicle I will call in a dog to search it." He is lying, he cannot unless he has reasonable cause to believe you are hiding something. If you have nothing illegal visible and you have not lied to him, he has no prob cause. he can not search your vehicle without it.
Legal in some sates to carry a non concealed weapon. If you have a handgun in the car and no CCP then make sure its in plain view, on the seat next to you, up on the dash, just make sure its not touching you.
Like I said, I am no expert, take this thread for whats its worth. Dismiss it, add to it, would love to hear some feedback, corrections or questions. Above all try to use good sense.