First time pulled over while CC'ing

[XDonRightHip]

I left the office at about 1am yesterday. About a mile from the office, I realized I left a CD on my desk that I needed. I was on a 6-lane overpass to a major freeway. Normally traffic would be pretty busy, but at 1am, it was almost non-existant. When I realized I left the CD, I pulled into the center lane and checked my passenger seat. No CD. I could have gone up to a turnaround about 1/4 of a mile up, but with no one around, I just did a u-turn.

About a mile later, just about to turn onto the street my office is on, I look in my rearview mirror and see the outline of the rooftop lights. As I completing my turn, they light up. First instinct was to pull over, but being as it was a major road, I went up about 100 yards and pulled over in to a parking lot (the lot of my building as it were) so the officer could get out of his car with less traffic.

Then it dawned on me that I was carrying. I unbuckled my seat belt and got my wallet out. I took out my DL and CPL and put my wallet on the dash. I turned the engine off and put my keys on the dash. I rolled down my window and kept my hands visible. I should have turned on the interior lights.

The cop spent some time in his car before he approached, I assume running my plate. When he came up to the window, it was "license, registration and proof of insurance." I gave him my DL and CPL and told him my registration and proof of insurance were in the glove box, and that the glove box was locked and also contained a loaded .357. I then advised him that I had a loaded .45 on my right hip.

He asked if I knew why I was pulled over... I really didn't, because I was a mile+ from the u-turn sight. He asked if I was coming off the freeway (I wasn't). My immediate reaction was to admit nothing, so I denied being on the freeway. He then said, "you weren't on the freeway and did a u-turn?". Then it clicked it my head why he pulled me over. Reluctantly, I acknowledged the u-turn. He barely glanced at my ID and handed it back to me saying he was going to give me a break.

I was actually floored at how dismissive he was about the weapons. I expected that he might ask me to get out of the car and that he's secure the weapons. He didn't. I told him to have a safe night (Friday of Memorial Day weekend) and went in to get my CD off my desk.

Every experience is different, but this experience went super smooth and I think its at least in part to running through the scenario in my head in advance. I knew what to do and say because I had done it dozens of times in my head.

I hope the rest of you have a similair "first time"...

[Excalibur01]

Some states, you don't have to tell the officer you are armed unless it is necessary. If he didn't ask and it is a simple pull over for your creds, then it's fine. Some states you do have to tell.

[AmickAndAmick]

Originally Posted by Excalibur01

Some states, you don't have to tell the officer you are armed unless it is necessary. If he didn't ask and it is a simple pull over for your creds, then it's fine. Some states you do have to tell.

THe first thing I want to do is make the officer feel safe...

[Devil Dawg]

Originally Posted by AmickAndAmick

THe first thing I want to do is make the officer feel safe...

^^^^ Safest way to leave happy and without holes in your door. ^^^^

[inanebignate]

Originally Posted by Excalibur01

Some states, you don't have to tell the officer you are armed unless it is necessary. If he didn't ask and it is a simple pull over for your creds, then it's fine. Some states you do have to tell.

yea but if they run your license is gonna pop up that you have a ccw license

[Helmn]

Originally Posted by inanebignate

yea but if they run your license is gonna pop up that you have a ccw license

^not in Michigan

[ta2dave76]

In Nv you must tell them.

Being on motorcycle, and being a patched member for an MC, puts them on edge. They will get my dl, ccw, location of my pistols, and a bunch of yes sir no sir from me.

[knfxda]

A day after I got my CWP I was pulled over for speeding. I was on my way to an interview and didn't have a gun with me. Officer asked for DL and such. I immediately told him that I have my CWP (not required to in FL) and that I do not have a firearm in the vehicle. He thanked me for letting him know. Left for his car, came back with a warning, and thanked me again for my "honesty".

A couple of weeks prior to that I had been pulled over for the first time with a firearm in the vehicle (also for speeding). I was on my way to an IDPA event and had my gun in my closed range bag on the passenger seat. When pulled over he asked where I was headed and I told him the range and immediately told him I had a loaded gun in the bag. He asked to see it and I complied. As I retrieved the gun I gave him a play by play before taking any action. "I'm going to reach in the bag for the gun. I'm going to drop the magazine and lock back the slide". He took my gun with him back to the car and upon returning with a warning he handed me my gun back and complimented my XD-m 9.

So, what do I take from this? 1. I'm always going to be upfront about my firearms and status as a CCW. 2. Doing so appears to have a good result on whether or not I get a ticket. 3. I've practiced theses responses in my head prior to them occurring and that was a very good thing. 4. I need to slow the "f" down.

[Houseboat]

Originally Posted by ta2dave76

In Nv you must tell them.

Being on motorcycle, and being a patched member for an MC, puts them on edge. They will get my dl, ccw, location of my pistols, and a bunch of yes sir no sir from me.

That is the best way to handle it..No surprises..

[DixieXD]

The second thing he asked (after the obligatory "you know why I pulled you over?") was "Do you have any firearms in the vehicle". "Yes sir, I have one on me."

Did he run my plate somehow?? Naw, the NRA sticker on the bumper was my tell.