Officer, what would you like me to do?

[Ishpeck]

In my state, I'm required by law to tell the LEO. But after that, the LEO's just say "keep your hands on the steering wheel" and don't seem to care.

[Jim B]

My situation was a bit different, not pulled over for traffic stop or anything...

I was rear ended and pushed into another vehicle during the accident. The company car is company property and thus no weapon allowed. When the accident investigator officer arrived with his partner they asked for drivers licenses. Suddenly I remembered, oh gez, I need to tell the officer (per Michigan laws) so as I handed him my drivers license I showed him my CPL (less than six months old). The other drivers must have thought it was something weird that I was offering to show the officer something besides my Chauffeurs license but as the officer looked at what I was holding up he said 'thank you for telling me' I told him there was nothing in the vehicle or on me and he took our licenses and returned to his car to write up reports.

At the end of it all, he returned my license to me....had not needed to take my CPL so I had that back in my wallet.....and wished me the best. After thank you's I was on my way......

Personally I didn't want to raise unnecessary concern from the other motorists about my CPL so it was presented to the officers view only, and then with his approval returned to my wallet.

Boy tho.....if this thing shows up when someone runs a plate.....(not sure if it does).....I want to be squeaky clean, driving, etc!!!!!!!!!!

J

[Joeywhat]

I've always been taught to say only what is needed whenever you are caught doing something wrong. I don't disclose any information that I'm not supposed to...when I get my CPL, and if I get pulled over, I will simply hand over the CPL along with my drivers license and say nothing. If the officer has any questions, he/she can ask and I'll gladly elaborate. I can also say that during that time my hands will be welded to the steering wheel unless told to do anything differently.

My dad has been pulled over while carrying and he did just that. Handed over the CPL and was asked if he was carrying. Nothing more was said after that...except a lecture on why not to speed

[hibidi-shibidi]

Originally Posted by Joeywhat

I've always been taught to say only what is needed whenever you are caught doing something wrong. I don't disclose any information that I'm not supposed to...when I get my CPL, and if I get pulled over, I will simply hand over the CPL along with my drivers license and say nothing. If the officer has any questions, he/she can ask and I'll gladly elaborate. I can also say that during that time my hands will be welded to the steering wheel unless told to do anything differently.

My dad has been pulled over while carrying and he did just that. Handed over the CPL and was asked if he was carrying. Nothing more was said after that...except a lecture on why not to speed

This is kind of the situation I was referring to in my original post and the reason why I created this thread.

My concerns came as to whether I should tell the officer that I am carrying prior to handing him my license and CCW Permit or just hand them to him and wait until he asks me any other questions.

My concern came with me carrying my license in my right pocket and my gun on my right hip. If I reach for my wallet in my pocket, and my gun is adjusted up to the front of my hip (as I often adjust it after getting in the car), my gun could accidentally be shown. I figured this would probably be a bad thing prior to the officer knowing that I am legal.

Officers?

[StrykerDM]

I live in Houston, TX, and I have two questions:

1. Just to be clear, I should ideally inform the officer of my chl and carry status BEFORE I even reach for my wallet with my DL and CHL? Or do I just pull out the DL and CHL as they walk to the window and hand it to them then?

2. What do you LEOs recommend when an officer asks you to step out of the vehicle before even asking for license and insurance? Twice in TX I have been motioned in the mirror or at a distance from the window to step out of the vehicle before being asked for DL and insurance (I'm assuming because they were busy highways and the officer didn't want to spend much time on the side of my car facing traffic).

any advice would be appreciated...

[danp]

Originally Posted by hibidi-shibidi

This is kind of the situation I was referring to in my original post and the reason why I created this thread.

My concerns came as to whether I should tell the officer that I am carrying prior to handing him my license and CCW Permit or just hand them to him and wait until he asks me any other questions.

My concern came with me carrying my license in my right pocket and my gun on my right hip. If I reach for my wallet in my pocket, and my gun is adjusted up to the front of my hip (as I often adjust it after getting in the car), my gun could accidentally be shown. I figured this would probably be a bad thing prior to the officer knowing that I am legal.

Officers?

Go back to my first post in this thread. If you don't tell me that you are legally carrying and I see your gun, I am going to screw my .45 into your ear. If you do tell me, I am going to ask where the gun is and maybe take it from you during course of the stop, but its going to be low-key and you and your gun will soon be on your way.

If you don't tell me up front, I am going to assume you're hiding something when I see the gun. I'm going to point my gun at you and call for backup. My partner is going to point his gun at you. I am going to remove you and anyone with you from the car and you will all be wearing handcuffs. I am going to search you and remove your weapon. Eventually it will all get sorted out, but not without a lot of embarrassment for you and your friends/family.

As cops, we are jumpy around people we don't know when they have a gun. Bad guys shoot cops. Bad guys don't tell cops they have guns so they can surprise the cops and make it easier to shoot them. Good guys also carry guns. Good guys don't shoot cops. Tell me you are a good guy who is carrying legally and I won't be so nervous about the gun.

[danp]

Originally Posted by StrykerDM

I live in Houston, TX, and I have two questions:

1. Just to be clear, I should ideally inform the officer of my chl and carry status BEFORE I even reach for my wallet with my DL and CHL? Or do I just pull out the DL and CHL as they walk to the window and hand it to them then?

2. What do you LEOs recommend when an officer asks you to step out of the vehicle before even asking for license and insurance? Twice in TX I have been motioned in the mirror or at a distance from the window to step out of the vehicle before being asked for DL and insurance (I'm assuming because they were busy highways and the officer didn't want to spend much time on the side of my car facing traffic).

any advice would be appreciated...

1. I personally would rather that you pulled over, rolled down the window and sat with your hands on the wheel until I get to you. I don't like to see folks moving around to much because I can't tell if you are getting paperwork together or reaching for a gun. When I get to the window, I will ask for your driver's license, registration and proof of insurance. At that point, before you move, tell me something like, "Officer, I have a CCW, I am legally carrying a concealed handgun and it is on my right hip. How would you like to proceed?" I will take it from there.

2. If I call you back from your car, don't go grabbing a bunch of stuff before you get out of your car. Again, I can't tell what you are reaching for. As soon as you get to where I have called you to, tell me something like, "Officer before we proceed I would like you to know that I am legally carrying a concealed handgun. The gun is on my right hip and my license is in my wallet."

[yeahYeah]

Officers out here get easily excited, so when i get my CCW and if i ever get pulled over, i will disclose that i am armed.

It's the responsible thing to do.

[Bree]

The difference in a traffic stop is that you are being stopped by the authority of law for a violation. You have or are thought to have committed a violation of the law. The police are not there to chit chat with you. It's business and not pleasant business for you. So telling the officer that you are carrying is perfectly appropriate and desirable from both points of view.

OTOH, I was carrying a flag to honor a dead soldier at his wake. I got to talking with the Chief of Police and two other officers from the city where the soldier was born. I had an XD-45C and a P3AT on my person. But I did not inform the police of that fact. Quite frankly they have no need or right to know under those circumstances. I was legally carrying and posed no threat to them or anyone else. The fact that they are police is irrelevant. That gives them no special rights over me in that circumstance.

Same thing when a Major General of the Army came up to me to shake my hand at the funeral of one of his soldiers. There was no need or requirement that I disclose to him that I had weapons on my person despite this being a military funeral on civilian ground. He had no need to know. I had no legal requirement to tell as the state of NY allowed me to carry my weapon in that place under those circumstances.

In either of the latter two cases, had the officers or the General asked about my guns, I would have been happy to produce my carry license. But in the case of being stopped, I am being detained by force of law and it is appropriate for me to protect myself and the officers by an ounce of prevention rather than experiencing a pound worth of the cure.

[tomfoolery]

As Bree has said (much like everything she says being right on the money) it depends on the nature of the stop or interaction.

If being pulled over just politely say "i have a ccw and am carrying, its on my right side..or where ever you keep it". Typically that is fine and you go on with the business.

In casual settings you are not required to tell them like you are during a stop (in Ohio).

just repeating whats been said really....