I am in Pa and I have a legal CCW permit and have my handgun under my carseat. What is the best practice in the situation when. a state trooper/local officer pulls you over for a routine traffic violation? In a split second you have time to assess the attitude of the officer and determine if you come forward and inform him you possess a legal CCW license and have a weapon under the carseat or do you say nothing and leave things more or less up as chance? What do the experts say and what are the pros and cons? I would be interested in some of you fellow officers opinions and/or preferences...Tell or not to Tell?
Decision to make if an officer pulls you over for a routine traffic violaiton
- Thread starter dmiladin
- Start date
Phillip Gain
New member
In some states, you are required to inform the officer. Other states have no such requirement.
Personally - I always inform. With a few (much publicized) exceptions, officers are appreciative and put at ease if you let them know.
Personally - I always inform. With a few (much publicized) exceptions, officers are appreciative and put at ease if you let them know.
localgirl
New member
There has been a lot of traffic regarding this topic in the past.
So much depends on, of course, whether you are legally obligated to inform, whether a routine plate check will reveal you have a CCW, the attitude of the officer, the attitude of your local force in general, the part of the country you live in and how much crime it sees, the circumstances of your detainment, and any priors you might have.
Me, even though some of my local cops are real dill-holes, I have yet to see the level of dickery that would make me clam up about my weapon. At the present time, I would hand the officer my license as well as my CCW card as a courtesy, mainly because I carry in a bag and wouldn't want a glimpse being interpreted as a threat, and I know that it is a gesture that would be appreciated.
Phillip Gain
New member
PS - under the seat is a less than optimal place to carry a firearm. If you have a concealed carry permit, I recommend keeping it on your person, on your console, in an under-the-dash holster/holder...or any place that is readily accessible. If you get car-jacked or otherwise assaulted while driving, there is NO WAY you're getting at a gun under the seat.
Here in Massachusetts there is no law to inform and IMO it is best not to. This is a basically non-gun friendly state culturally and the LEOs are no different than the population. If they want to know they'll ask. I work with several LEO's where I teach and they all agree they don't want to know and all say every LEO they know doesn't want to know either because it creates a hassle for them. If you declare they have to call for backup, take the gun off of you, and see if everything is legal and etc. Why turn a simple traffic stop into an extended ordeal? Only declare if mandatory, if asked, or if they ask you for some reason to step out of the vehicle.
Nightmare45
NRA LIFE MEMBER
Law requires it in Texas and is connected to your drivers license, they know.
trophyhunter
New member
Not required here in New York, but as a General rule I do notify, and give them my permit when I hand Drivers License to Officer.The 2 times I jave been pulled over, producing my CCW has gotten me out of 2 tickets
luv2shoot
New member
As far as I can find, PA LTCFs have no legal duty to inform.
I live in WA and there's no duty to inform. I will only inform when legally required.
If LE is in a good mood, what purpose would there be to it? If LE was in a bad mood, that just seems like an opportunity to stoke the fire.
I live in WA and there's no duty to inform. I will only inform when legally required.
If LE is in a good mood, what purpose would there be to it? If LE was in a bad mood, that just seems like an opportunity to stoke the fire.
No duty to inform = none of their business. Why turn a simple traffic stop into a potential firearms issue with you at the complete mercy of the attitude/opinion of the responding officer. No tell = no issue.
The only exception is if asked about a gun (has never happened to me) or asked to step out of the vehicle (also has never happened to me).
The only exception is if asked about a gun (has never happened to me) or asked to step out of the vehicle (also has never happened to me).
Warbirds
New member
Notification in not required in Utah but it is "recommended". I have no problem notifying the officer.
I have only been pulled over one time while carrying. I was driving my friends car that apparently had a tail light out. So on top of telling him that I didn't know if the car was insured and didn't know where the registration was, I told him I was carrying and produced my permit.
He clarified the car was borrowed, took my license and permit, asked that I don't shoot him and walked back to his car. After a few minutes he returned, handed me my stuff and told me to get my friend to fix the tail light. I drove away without even a fixit ticket.
I have only been pulled over one time while carrying. I was driving my friends car that apparently had a tail light out. So on top of telling him that I didn't know if the car was insured and didn't know where the registration was, I told him I was carrying and produced my permit.
He clarified the car was borrowed, took my license and permit, asked that I don't shoot him and walked back to his car. After a few minutes he returned, handed me my stuff and told me to get my friend to fix the tail light. I drove away without even a fixit ticket.
Firefighterchen
OC for Tactical Advantage
I do not inform. Why make the situation more complicated than it has to be?
Trophy, did the officer say he let you off because you produced a ccw? How did you know it was act of informing that got you off? I guess I can say this then...When I first started carrying, and received my first Oregon concealed permit, I would inform on all LEO encounters. Since then, I have been pulled over twice as well, producing my CCW has gotten me two traffic citations. I do not inform anymore.
Trophy, did the officer say he let you off because you produced a ccw? How did you know it was act of informing that got you off? I guess I can say this then...When I first started carrying, and received my first Oregon concealed permit, I would inform on all LEO encounters. Since then, I have been pulled over twice as well, producing my CCW has gotten me two traffic citations. I do not inform anymore.
Tucker's Mom
New member
No matter what anyone says or do, out of courtesy I will inform. My driver's license is not connected to my CCW. We have a choice here in Missouri whether we want to connect our CCW to our DL or not. We choose not because when we issue a cheque, we do not want the check-out chicks at the supermarket to know we carry.
titaniumman
Member
In NY, at least in Buffalo, I know for certain that it is not reported during a license check. I asked a LE friend of mine, he said no reason to tell.
unclewayne17
unclewayne
In Michigan we tell the officer we are licenced and whether we are carrieing at the time.
twotonevert
New member
It is required in Oklahoma. My LEO friends tell me they would feel better about knowing up front anyway.
silverdragontraining
New member
Probably the best practice is when you hand over your drivers license also hand over your ccw. He will probably ask if you are armed and where the firearm is. Then depending on the officer he may wish to take possession the firearm and return it at the end of the contact. He may just leave it where it is and tell you to do the same. Be honest. Better that you provide the information that you are armed than he notice it and order you out of the car and onto the ground at gunpoint. By handing him the ccw you show responsibility in a calm and respectful manner. Saying "oh by the way I have a gun" can cause stress, where if he sees you are licensed and he starts the conversation there is less stress.
