florida right to carry ?

[Catholic Damage]

i live in florida, and i know i am allowed to carry my weapon in my car, secured, in a holster. but the cops down here are some of the worst ive ever dealt with. i dont have my CCW yet, but i know that when you get pulled over, if you have a CCW you must present it with your DL. if i get pulled over, and i am legally carrying my gun in my vehicle(not on me, just in the car) should i tell the oficer i have it right off the bat, or wait till he asks?

[scurtis_34471]

You are actually incorrect. Florida law does not require you to disclose your license status or the fact that you are armed. I think it is a good idea to inform the officer as a way of avoiding problems and misunderstandings and as a courtesy. Many officers appreciate that courtesy and may even be more predisposed toward giving you a warning rather than a ticket than they would be otherwise.

[gkelley3]

Originally Posted by scurtis_34471

You are actually incorrect. Florida law does not require you to disclose your license status or the fact that you are armed. I think it is a good idea to inform the officer as a way of avoiding problems and misunderstandings and as a courtesy. Many officers appreciate that courtesy and may even be more predisposed toward giving you a warning rather than a ticket than they would be otherwise.

+1.

[The Tengu]

Each time someone has told me they have a CHL on a traffic stop I have appreciated it tremendously. I usually let them go without a citation unless there is a reason I just can't let them go with a verbal warning.

I remember one night I was riding a two-man unit, and we stopped a black Expedition. I was on the driver's side and he was on the passenger side.

My partner saw the SIG sitting in the console, and I did not because the driver was obstructing my view.

HOWEVER, the driver immediately told me he had a gun in the car and a license for it as soon as I approached his vehicle.

If he didn't, things could have been tense for a moment until everything got settled.

Lucky for everyone, the driver settled the issue right off the bat. And of course, he received a verbal warning instead of a ticket.

[CLAYBROOK]

I live in TX and if you have a CHL you have to inform. Our laws recently changed allowing concealed carry in a vehicle without a CHL. I too have wondered if someone without a CHL has a legal responsibility to inform LEO. If anyone knows the answer, I'd love to hear it.

[Palmguy]

Doesn't matter in FL in any case...there is no duty to inform with or without a CWFL.

[Mercmar]

I'm in GA, but frequently travel to Tallahassee. If I were carrying "in plain view," or if I needed to retrieve something from the same compartment in which I had my handgun stored, I'd sure want the cop to know. I can't remember the last time that I got stopped; however, I probably wouldn't begin a discussion of something that I didn't feel that the cop needed to know about.

[Palmguy]

If you stow your pistol in the car somewhere, I recommend placing it in a different place than any documents an officer would ask to see. Seems like things could get a little tense if you have to lift up your XD to get your registration...

Also I wouldn't do the "plain view" thing in Florida.

[dray]

this should answer it:

Statutes & Constitution :View Statutes : flsenate.gov



790.25 Lawful ownership, possession, and use of firearms and other weapons.--
(l) A person traveling by private conveyance when the weapon is securely encased or in a public conveyance when the weapon is securely encased and not in the person's manual possession;


790.001 Definitions.
(17) "Securely encased" means in a glove compartment, whether or not locked; snapped in a holster; in a gun case, whether or not locked; in a zippered gun case; or in a closed box or container which requires a lid or cover to be opened for access.

[Tally XD]

I live in Tallahassee and mostly what you hear is that rediculous "Three Step" rule. Thats crap! Statute says nothing of three steps but you will actually hear it out of many police officers mouths. I am aquainted with many duty officers of FHP, TPD and Leon County and I have heard that quoted out of the mouths of some of all of these departments.

Its not true though. I follow the statutes. I have my handgun in a snapped holster that rides inside of a camera bag sitting in my passenger seat or floorboard.