When stopped by police.

It entirely depends on your state. In Florida, I would say nothing. It's none of their business and there is no requirement to say anything.
 
From me being an LEO, the safest and best way is to have all your windows down, car off, and both hands on the wheel. Usually the first words out of an officers mouth is, " do you know why I stopped you" or "license, registration, and proof of insurance please". Once an officer has asked that you should tell the officer that you have a gun and where it is located and to not make the officer feel uncomfortable make sure your hands are away from where the gun is located. The best thing to do is to have your paper work in easy to get to place to where you don't have to dig and search for it. In Florida it is not mandatory to tell an officer that you are carrying unless asked. So when people tell me that they have a firearm in there car I'll let them go out of respect unless they did something really wrecklace. Me personally, I don't like writing tickets. Hope that helps.
 
Sorry, but there is no way I would tell the police I have a gun. If asked, the law requires me to produce my CCW, not the gun. In thie times I've been stopped, no one has asked, I've not volunteered, I've received a warning and end of story.
 
Best thing to do is not get stopped in the first place. I've been pulled over once since I got my carry permit and it was totally my fault. Here in Oregon you don't have to offer that info but it will come up when they run your licence. The very first thing I did was tell the officer as soon as I had a chance and it wasn't an issue. He asked me where they were and then asked me what I had with me but that was more out of his own personal curiosity than anything.
 
We're not required to notify.

When I called the police because a guy plowed a 5th wheel RV trailer into my parked vehicle..... eliminating the rearend of my car.... when he arrived, I handed him my permit.

He told me , " I don't need your driver's license you weren't driving " .... and I just told him, "it's not my drivers license " . He looked at it, said "thank you for letting me know" and handed it back.

Last thing ever said about it. That's how it should work.
 
talking with a lot of police officers on the subject the common thread is that if you tell them you are a ccw holder then they don't have to worry they will usually not take possession of it but if for some reason they find out you have a gun on their own, that makes them wonder
 
Massad Ayoob and Tom Gresham cover this subject in the following video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dT-nePQuT-s

One good idea a friend uses in Nevada.
He puts photocopies of his permit, license, registration and insurance into a clear ziploc baggie, kept in the overhead "sunglasses" compartment of his truck. When stopped, it comes out and is handed to the officer. He then sees the D/L and permit on one side, Reg & insurance on the other.
 
I've never been stopped, but in Kentucky it is not a requirement to tell the police if you are actually carrying. With that said, if they run your license it will come back and notify the police if you have a valid CCW license or not.

Knowing that, I'm still not sure if I'd notify them or not.
 
He puts photocopies of his permit, license, registration and insurance into a clear ziploc baggie, kept in the overhead "sunglasses" compartment of his truck. When stopped, it comes out and is handed to the officer. He then sees the D/L and permit on one side, Reg & insurance on the other.
Click to expand...

LEO's generally want to see the originals.
 
LEO's generally want to see the originals.
Click to expand...
Generally only of the person's D/L and permit. But the photo copies for registration are perfectly fine in most states. Using a copy like that gives him an easy, not-threatening (hands visible) method of presenting his "papers". It also notifies the officer of his permit silently. Next move is the cop's.
 
When traveling across the country it would be unlikely that any driver remembers each and every state's requirements for informing the LEO about carrying. Doing what is in the video is probably the best general advice.
 
Mossy500: Lake Stevens, WA? You do not have a Concealed Weapons Permit, you have a Concealed PISTOL License...CPL, and it only covers a pistol, no other weapon. You need to remember that...it does not cover that knife in your pocket, just your pistol.

I have OC (mostly) and CC'd (winter) in WA for over 40 years. (Both sides of the mountain) My way of handling the situation:

Traffic stop: Drivers License, registration and proof of insurance in hand, window down, hands on the steering wheel. Don't be digging for your information, have them ready. When the officer asks for your information give it to them, and put your hands back on the steering wheel...all will go well.

I have never volunteered I was armed, I have never been asked, and I have never been asked for my CPL...I don't get stopped often, but this is over a 40+ year period (I first carried in WA in 1970 when I found out unlicensed OC was legal) even when my pistol was in it's holster, and the WSP approached from the right side and could not possibly miss seeing it. I do have a CPL.

Also, you do know that when they run your drivers license they can see your CPL??? you do know that right? Your CPL is not public information, but it will come back with a license screen for LE.

Of course, If you are asked, be honest. There really is no reasonable reason for them to ask though. Having a weapon, or not, does not have any bearing on a traffic stop.
 
Everything changes when the stop is not a routine traffic stop.
If involved for some reason in a felony apprehension stop things can get dicey.
The 1st indication might be one or more backup officers and they could very well be O D on adrenaline with gun(s) drawn. Their objective is all about having you cuffed and on your face on the ground. Your carry gun falls out of your holster at this time could..........
What do you LEO's say?
 
The best course of action is to not do anything that will get you pulled over in the first place. Also remember that you aren't carrying a gun, you're carrying a "firearm".

"Gun" is a trigger word (no pun intended) for a lot of officers.
 
Everything changes when the stop is not a routine traffic stop.
If involved for some reason in a felony apprehension stop things can get dicey.
The 1st indication might be one or more backup officers and they could very well be O D on adrenaline with gun(s) drawn. Their objective is all about having you cuffed and on your face on the ground. Your carry gun falls out of your holster at this time could..........
What do you LEO's say?
Click to expand...

Given the propensities of 99.9% of the members here, this is a very unlikely scenario. It's possible (your vehicle matches), but probably unlikely.

If a felony stop is initiated, get your hands into plain sight and do exactly what they tell you to do. If others are in the car, tell them to keep their hands in plain sight and do as instructed. Keep your hands away from your body at all times. You will be handcuffed and searched. Most likely they will see your firearm at some point and tell you not to touch it -- follow that advice. Remain calm. Once all parties are in custody, officers will then talk to you and straighten things out.
 
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