Traffic stop with legal weapons in the car.

H

hellenichunter

Inactive
I like to know if there is an S.O.P., as to the way you behave as a motorist, in the event that you get pulled over for a traffic infraction and you have legally owned weapons in the cargo area of your S.U.V.. Do you tell the officer up front, you have weapons in your S.U.V., or only if you're asked? I' appreciate a reply from the membership, law enforcement officers in particular. I thank you all in advance, and wish everyone Happy Holidays.
 
Legal Guns In Car

All I can do is share with you what our instructor in CWP class said when someone asked him that question but its a predictable answer from him cause he is a cop also. But he said if you were to get pulled-over that alltho you didnt have too it would go ahead and inform the officer that you had a weapon in the vehicle, if it was out in the open or not. I dont really understand that but didnt say anything cause i wanted to get back home sometime that night. I mean if he cant see it or anything and it was a minor moving violation I would feel kinda dum just up-and saying that ''oh by the way, I have a firearm''. Now if for some reason I was asked to step out of the car I would then say like for instance '' by the way, I have a gun on me w/a permitt'' just incase he were to see it as I was exiting the vehicle, wich in certain he wouldnt appreciate, I mean citizens w/guns do make cops nervous and i can understand why, they have seen some pretty stupid and deadly stuff because of guns being in peoples hands. They probally seldom have to deal with people like us who have a gun a permitt and most of all a brain, they see and deal with the other side of the coin. But like i said if it was concealed and just a '' Better come to a complete stop next time'' type thing I probally wouldnt mention it.
 
Is there an SOP? Hell Yeah if you don't want to get shot!!!

I got pulled over for my registration being not up to date. I had gotten it in the mail, but gotten busy and not changed it. Anyway, I get pulled over and the first thing I do is keep my hands on the wheel at 2 and 10. Tell the officer I am carrying concealed with a license and what would he like me to do. He asked where was my gun? It was in the glove box in a holster. I had the .45 Taurus Millinium PT-145, I know,don't forget the details, 11 rounds .45 ACP . He wanted it, so I being a young black man, VERRRRRRRRY CARRRRREFULLY RETRIEVED IT FOR HIM:) . I told him it was,"hot", and then said ,"loaded"...And he took it to the rear of my car and unloaded the chamber and removed the mag. He came back and got my regular license, and ran my name and plates. All this time my young lady friend is kinda shaken, she knows I ALWAYS carry, but the cop and my gun made her '"feel funny". About 3-5minutes later he returns and rights me a ticket for out of date registration. He leaves my .45 Taurus on the trunk of my car and ASKS(not commanded) me not to get out and retrieve it until he leaves:D :rolleyes: ....He leaves, I get out and on a PUBLIC STREET, I load the mag back in, Rack the slide to rechamber a round, put it on safe, drop the mag and place the gun and holster at 3o'clock, while loading the round the officer removed from the chamber back to the mag, I inserted the now fully charged mag back into the holstered pistol in my pants at 3 0'clock, remove the safety, ALL while traffic watches, and then get in my car and leave:D. Most fun I've had in years . Got some funny looks brandishing(not technically brandishing of course) a pistol on a public a road, and was completely legal while doing it.I would have loved to see his face if I had also been carrying the PDW(ar pistol), now that would have been priceless:D.
 
my point exactly

Unless he asks or i have to get out of the car (wich i havent yet, by the way) Im not going to mmetion it. But I dont keep my driving info in thr glove box either, its up in this thing on the passenger side sun visor for that very reason, I mean if you were to go for your proof of insurance or registration and a gun pops out of the glove box thats different, but to mention it if its not and wont be seen i dont want to go through all the ''scene'' you described, friggin neighbors bugging around and all that, firearms being taken out of the car and stuff, sorry not me, i dont want to be that famous.
 
Posters, remember that he asked not about on-body carry (CCW or open) but about storage in the rear cargo compartment of and SUV (no trunk).

I wouldn't bother mentioning it to him and might even tell him it is none of his concern if he asks.

Rick
 
Don't tell the officer unless it's in the glovebox with registration you need to get. Keep them separate so you don't have to. If it's on your person, tell the officer only if he would be able to see it, or if he asks you to exit vehicle.
 
I agree rick & super

Thats my take too, i mean i just dont want any more attention drawn to me and my little friend than need be. And all that cop takes gun and jacks it, removes clip puts it here and there, freaks out chick and stuff aint for me. When that cop got done he probally said to himself ''man, that guy probably had a arsonell of wheapons at home'', settle down guys, im definatly being sarcastic here.:p
 
Depends on your state, of which you didn't mention so therefore, we cannot give you any advice that may or may not be correct.

Go to www.packing.org and research the legalities of your state, what they allow you to do and not to do and what to do when pulled over.

Other than that, Welcome to TFL.

Wayne
 
When in my car I always keep a piece stuffed between the seat and the center console so I have easy access to it. I don't want to be having to reach in the glove box, or under the seat and I have muscle memory because it always in the same place when I am in the car/truck. I am occasionaly pulled over just like everyone else. If it is night I turn on the dome light, keep my hands on the wheel and as soon as the copper comes up to the window I tell him that there is a pistol stuffed in the seat next to me. I have my ID already in my left hand that is on the wheel. I never make any attempt to conceal the gun under the seat etc...because I know how I interpret such actions when stopping someone.

If I was on duty and someone had a pistol stuffed in the same place I would really appreciate them mentioning it so that there are no surprises. If it is in the glove box and you have to get in there to get your documents then you are stupid if you don't say something before you open that box. If the gun is under the seat, or otherwise out of view, I could care less if you mention it. An honest citizen, carrying legal is of little concern to me. No one is going to say "Gee, I have a gun that is legal, that I am legally carrying and I am going to tell the copper about it and then shoot him with it." The criminal that is considering an attempt on my life is not going to tell me he has a gun. If for some reason you are asked to get out of the car then I would absolutely say something.

Steve
 
If it was on me, I'd like to hope that when he gets up to the window my hands will be on the dash in plain view along with my wallet. Lisence and CCW handed at the same time, and hands not moving.

WHy bother hiding it? What if its more than a speeding ticket, wouldn't YOU want to know the guy you pulled over was armed.

I'd also happily tell him that my trunk contained whatever firearms. Again, I'm not going to risk having it come out and the guy becoming irked with me. If I were a cop, I hope someone I pulled over would do the same.
 
If I stop you and you have a gun in the trunk or cargo area I really don't care. If it's accessable to you then yes, I'd appreciate you telling me. I've never disarmed a person who had a CWP who told me up front about his gun. (Except for the guy who had beat up his girlfriend and had a meth lab in his house).
 
Personally, I think it has gotten me out of two tickets telling the highway patrol officers I had a pistol on me. Once, I was doing 62 in a 55 zone, on the Hopi Indian Res. in AZ, and the other was not having headlights on early enough on an AZ freeway. Besides the fact that nothing was excessive necessitating a ticket (i.e. 90 mph in a 75 zone), I was issued a warning both times, and the officers were nice enough to hand me back my pistol.
 
If the officer has (or manufactures) PC for something and starts searching the vehicle, I'd inform the officer at that point to avoid surprises.

Otherwise, no.
 
In Minnesota as soon as a LEO runs your plate they know if you have a "Permit to Carry a Pistol". If stopped my hands go up onto the dash board, fingers and thumbs only touching the dash. The LEO then can see I have no weapon in either hand. I also have a photo copy of my permit and DL on a paper that is hidden up in the drivers side visor, that is placed on dash before the LEO even leaves his squad. If he wants to see more I ask him how he wants me to get my info (origionals), thats in my left rear pants pocket. I tell him where my carry piece is located, and that the only thing on my left side is a spare mag. If there is another gun in the Jeep I let him know that also, with it's location. In Mn if asked by a LEO you must tell them if you are carrying or not. This may sound overboard to some but cops love to see your hands... I want him to be as much on "my side" as possible.
 
Tyme,

Out of pure curriosity, what is it that happened to you, or you perceived as happening to you, to make your hatred of the police so intense? Your bias seems to have clouded your ability to think rationally with any topic that has to do with the police and you seem driven to perpetuate and spread your hate.
 
This happened to me....

My wife, 2 kids and I were driving across Alabama (where I was stationed at the time). We were in a 95 Saturn and I had my Kimber stuck between the seats and console with the butt sticking up. (I had a CC permit for AL). When the Trooper walked up, I had both hands on the wheel with the window already down. He asked for my insurance and registration. I told him there was a 45 right next to my right thigh. He looked down at it, then at me and said, "Thanks for telling me, now may I see your insurance and registration". That was the end of it. I did still get a ticket for illegal tinting on my windows.
 
I'm with CraigJS.

I have/do about the same as he. I don't have photocopies of my DL or permit (could be an idea to look into).

I also turn on the overhead light if it's at night. Traffic stops are hard enough on your nerves (both you and the LEO), no reason to make either or more jumpy then they already are.

Wayne
 
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