Washington State Carry/Notificaton law

R

riverkeeper

New member
Apparently I am not current on WA state carry/notification law.
I thought:
1. there was NO requirement to advise an officer that I was carrying(except on demand);
2. there was NO duty to retreat;
3. my car regis/driver license was NOT associated with my carry permit via shared databases.

2 seems intact, but over the last several months I’ve read here that 1 and 3 were changed. (I believe mandatory notification, shared cw database info and no duty to retreat are all good ideas.)

Spouse has no carry permit but usually drives a vehicle registered only to me…I explained to her how to talk with an officer about the issue. Assume it is possibly tied to driver license which could quickly be derived from registered owner.

I seldom carry cw in a vehicle and have kept the permit with the weapon which goes on extended walks many evenings….wallet does not. Maybe it should always be with me regardless.

Could someone who knows for sure provide the info or a statute cite. Looked thru packing.org, but may've missed it.
Thanks,
rk
:)
 
Check with your state troopers or attorney general (visit their website) for current laws.
If you carry your cw as on your walks then you had best carry your permit. It would be the same as driving your car without your driving license.
Even though your vehicles are registered to you and you have a CCW any othr driver is judged by their driving license. So if they have no CCW then they aren't accused of any firearm crime unless a firearm is present.
 
Riverkeeper -

I've looked up my name and my car through my buddy's MDT in his cruiser and no where did it say anything about a ccw. This was just last week.
 
Even if you have a CCW, and neither the CCW nor the firearm is on your person or your car then you have broken no laws what some so ever. If your wife drives your car and ther there is no concealed weapon there is no problem. In fact car registration is not tied to your CCW in any way, how can it be?, It's the individual who has the CCW, not the car. However as here in Arizona, there is a notation if they run your drivers license, it will show you have a current CCW. Most of the times here they don't care , if it's only a traffic stop and they may or may not ask . If they ask and I'm carrying I tell them. They may ask where I'm carrying it and not to touch it. As my son said when he was with the Scottsdale police, it's the AO who are carrying and don't have a permit, they are ones they are worried about. I lived up in Renton for several years, real nice state except for MT St. Helen. I was there when it blew it's top
 
Thanks for the input. Here is some of the background for the questions.

It was my understanding that in WA there is a database for driver info which is cross referenced to outstanding arrest warrants, failure to appears etc. Another for vehicles including stolen and basic vehicle license info. Another for concealed carry PERMIT info.

My assumption is that it is possible for all data to be computer cross referenced and for the officer to know: status of vehicle and weapons permit info AND arrest warrant info on the REGISTERED OWNER PRIOR TO approaching the vehicle on foot. I HOPE THEY DO KNOW ALL THAT INFO.

I understand IT IS LEGAL for spouse or myself to use the vehicle without a weapon and ccw permit together OR without a weapon but with a ccw permit.

PART of my question simply is: in Washington state, from these databases and possibly others, what does an officer know about the vehicle and owner PRIOR to approaching? For their safety and to simplify communication, I hope it is as much as REASONABLE FOR WHAT THEY MUST DO.

RJAY-- WA is lovely but so is AZ in winter!
 
i don't know if officers are able to pull up on their computer info about CCW but if you look on your CPL, your driver's licesnse number is right on it, which i suspect is is readily available info if the officer runs your DL #. i'll seek confirmation of that and report back if i find anything more out.

Bobby
 
See, I was under the impression that I had to advise that I was carrying here in WA.

I'll just be handing both out the window always, just in case.
 
Do a Google search under Revised Code of Washington. Chapter Nine. Or go to Packing.org and follow their link to Washington States website.
 
regarding your #1 question, you are correct. there is no law that says you must inform and officer that you are armed. since i'm thinking its a fair bet that you mean an officer no harm, there's no need to let them know unless they ask. no sense in making the officers hairs stand on end. i've never offered my permit and have never been asked. it seems like a don't ask, don't tell policy. seems to work fine for everyone involved. there is no duty to retreat in WA either. i still can't confirm whether or not the DL is linked to the CCW but since the DL # is on the permit, i would suspect so.

Bobby
 
Bobarino, I would have to disagree with you there. If I get pulled over I will hand my WDL and CPL to the officer. This way he knows ahead of time that I am armed. I don't want to wait until he has to ask me if there are any weapons in the vehicle. Waiting will cause suspicion and I may be looking at the wrong end of the officers gun. Although I don't have anything to hide, I feel it's best for his and my safety. If I show him my CPL and he feels it nessessary to handcuff me then so be it. Being pulled over for any reason is a tense situation for both the officer and the citizen. Why make it worse?
 
When I last patrolled (1997) running a DOL check did not return a CPL hit. That may have changed since then. FWIW, I was pulled over for speeding a couple of years ago by WSP and I neither volunteered that I had a CPL nor did the trooper inquire. (I didn't get a speeding ticket either.)

Years ago, it used to be a "Concealed Weapons Permit," that was issued and administered by local law enforcement. It's still issued at the local level, but WA DOL is involved now. I don't know the particulars behind the change, but I believe it's primarily for monitoring and control purposes, in case the licensee either commits a revokable offense or becomes the subject of a restraining order (such as during a divorce).

I suggest you examine the fine print on your license closely. Mine says I shall have it on my person any time I'm required to have a CPL and shall display it upon demand.
 
Thanks for the fine answers

and it shows you can't believe everything on the net ( :eek: )-- even tho most folks mean well often they just do not know but can't refrain from passin 'stuf' on. Lesson relearned. ;)

My strong inclination would be to hand over Driver' on top CPL on top registration with insurance info in hands which are on the wheel for the reasons BobK said. Very seldom vehicle carry but an officer may be able to guess the contents of the left side cross-draw small pouch if he sees it at all when I do.

The law does not require showing except on demand so 'offering it' is not required it appears.

I've rethought this and decided to carry the CPL always and to PLAN to offer it to the officer if I ever get stopped again.

EDIT -- Shawn-- I've read many of the articles on your site, good stuff.
 
BobK:

I agree, RCW (http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9.41) is much more comprehensive, but at this time of year one has to be careful. Per the main page (http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx): "The online version of the RCW is updated twice a year, once in the early fall following the legislative session, and again at the end of the year if a ballot measure that changes the law passed at the general election." The last update occurred on 7 January. Hence there can be lag time between when a law goes into effect and when its published/updated online.

riverkeeper:

Thanks for your kind words.

As for *no duty to retreat* see: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9A.16. Nowhere will you find a requirement that a defender has a duty to retreat. In essence, if attacked you can defend the ground you stand on.
 
to each his or her own :) both of us do it right. i don't offer that i'm carrying so as not to make the officer's job any more complicated than it needs to be. just my opinion.

Bobby
 
Upon demand

that is my understanding as well (from memory). You must have the license on your person every time you carry. I will check the latest and greatest to be sure nothing changed. I think everyone should read the RCW and USC for themselves. That being said, I think it boils down to a personal choice unless you are asked.

Keep in mind that not all LEOs are anti. Not all LEOs are pro. Not all LEOs keep their cool under stress and remember to keep the finger of the Glock's Trigger. :eek: Try to think about it from the Officers perspective, keeping in mind all the variability that go with the different temperments and personalities. Yes, training is standardised by the WSCJTC and all go through BLEA, unless reserve, but they are still people.

Stay calm. Be coureous. Listen and respond appropriatly. Avoid making any sudden or furtive movements. Keep the gun and ammo concealed. Have your registration and WDL together in the visor or what not. Keep your hands visible. If they ask you, DO NOT reach for the gun or your waist to get the LCCP. Just answer directly. They are trained to take control until things are sorted out. Depending on a range af variables, you could be facing the muzzle of a gun yourself. Be prepared for it. Lastly, officers may lecture you if they find out you did not disclose voluntarily.

You make the call.

Shooter429
 
Personally I always advise the officer I am carrying before I move at all in the vehicle. Especially because the gun is right in front of my wallet where the liscence is. Never scare someone who can shoot now and do the paperwork later :) Actually it has gotten me out of a couple small time speeding tickets. "I'll be happy to give you the lic and reg but 1st you should know I have a gun over my wallet. How would you like me to proceed officer?" The response has been "keep your hands on the wheel and slow down next time". I had a job at a gas station and asked most of the LEOs about these type of situations. They always advised being upfront and honest. Even if the LEO is anti he can't F with you if your stuff is right. The other things to do are drive the speed limit and make sure all the lights work. No probable cause to be pulled over in the 1st place, no LEO to worry about :)
 
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