Inform the officer or not when concealed carry?

As far as people skills are concerned, it is best to get the police officer to enter a more "relaxed" zone than what he is in when he approaches the vehicle of someone he doesn't know. However, I certainly haven't met him either and don't know what he's up to as well. To keep the officer more at ease, I actually turn the car off put the keys on the dash and keep my hands at the top of the steering wheel before he arrives. I've just told him through action, I'm not a flight risk, I'm not going to give you a hassle. If I'm in a state that requires me to inform, I abide. In my state (PA) I do not have to. I will inform if I'm asked to step out of the car for some reason and then ask how he/she would like me to proceed.

My $0.02.
 
More often than not the LEO knows if you have a permit or not before he gets out of the car, thats if he bothers to ck, a lot of states DL# is the same as you CCW permit#, even still when he runs your plates it may come up then, i have been stopped 4 times since I got a permit a few years ago, and in each case the cop walks up and asked where my weapon was, and I would say on my belt, in the consol, or wherever, I never did say I always carryed two, and sometimes three, anyways there never was anything said or done concerning the gun, except one instince where officer Fife, called another cop to guard me, or guard him from me not sure which, while he was running my plates and DL
 
Rocketgeezer said:
More often than not the LEO knows if you have a permit or not before he gets out of the car
Click to expand...

Urban
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Some of you guys are amazing, when a Leo zeros in on you on a normal traffic stop the very first thing they do is call ion your plate#, your name, address, DOB, ht, wt, eye color, hair color, and whatever else come up on his computor screen, also your DL# and most states have your CCW permit tied to your DL, if not the same #, there is notification on the license info about the CCW, the only LEO agencys that may not have this capability, probably still walk patrol beats, if you ask a cop if they can do this or not, its a crap shoot if you get a honest answer, but most can, the only instince where this may not apply is if your not driveing a vehical registered to you, so as I said all this happens most of the time before they get out of the car, and if not then, it will when he runs your info, if a LEO tell you they cannot do this they are lieing, maybe its a bit more difficult for some depending on how there system works, but they can find this out while sitting in there car,
 
First off, don't get pulled over. Meaning, don't give them a reason to. Second, If you're not required by law, don't. Third, keep your guns and papers separate.
 
Rocketgeezer said:
Some of you guys are amazing, when a Leo zeros in on you on a normal traffic stop the very first thing they do is call ion your plate#, your name, address, DOB, ht, wt, eye color, hair color, and whatever else come up on his computor screen, also your DL# and most states have your CCW permit tied to your DL, if not the same #, there is notification on the license info about the CCW, the only LEO agencys that may not have this capability, probably still walk patrol beats, if you ask a cop if they can do this or not, its a crap shoot if you get a honest answer, but most can, the only instince where this may not apply is if your not driveing a vehical registered to you, so as I said all this happens most of the time before they get out of the car, and if not then, it will when he runs your info, if a LEO tell you they cannot do this they are lieing, maybe its a bit more difficult for some depending on how there system works, but they can find this out while sitting in there car,
Click to expand...

Again, so what?

1. Officer has no idea who is driving the car.

2. Officer knows the registered owner has a CPL.... so what?!? Now he knows that IF the registered owner is driving the car, any firearm there is 99% going to be legally possessed and carried, so why even ask about it at that point?

3. Why should I tell the officer something, according to you, they already know?

We aren't arguing with you that the officer can obtain all that information ABOUT THE REGISTERED OWNER of the vehicle from the license plates. What we are trying to get across to you is the officer has no idea who is in the vehicle until he obtains ID from them and whether or not that stranger has a CPL until he finds out who they are!
 
MyMrMarty said:
This seriously reduces the stress of a officer sitting in his patrol car first learning about it over the radio.
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I do not see why it would be anymore stressful as a leo to find out you are licensed to carry a firearm. a.) I think that should be as ordinary as them coming back on the radio saying you are registered to vote?? b.) I don't think it is any of their business. They should assume everyone is exercising their right... Sir I see you don't have a license to carry, do you have anything you need to tell me?? Any past drug or felony charges I should know about? Do you mind stepping out of the car with your hands where I can see them!! :lol:
If an officer gets worked up when finding out I am legally exercising my rights, he needs to find a new profession.

I have had a license to carry for 25 or so years and I have never informed an officer that I have it. I have never had a problem.
 
If a LEO wants to know if I'm carrying a firearm, all he has to do is: ask.

Otherwise, I'm not going to try and read his mind or "set him at ease" or any other nonsense like that. Just like I won't tell him about the ham radio in my vehicle, or my tools, or my spare parts, cell phone, Becker Necker knife, pocket knife, Leatherman tool .... well, you get the idea.

If we as gun owners want to live in a country where firearms are seen in all kinds of activities in all kinds of environments and no one give a crap about it, just like cell phones, pocket knives etc. then we need to stop acting as if they are something special! They Are Not! They are tools, nothing more.

And no offense, but all you "I always inform" types come across as nothing more than little third graders, frantically waving your arms in class "Hey! Look at me, I'm Speshul!". Outside those states mandating notification, there is simply no good reason to inform a LEO during a normal traffic stop. One "Canton cop" incident totally wipes out 100 mythical "he let me go with a warning" BS that the speshul ones are so fond of telling.
 
Rocketgeezer said:
Some of you guys are amazing, when a Leo zeros in on you on a normal traffic stop the very first thing they do is call ion your plate#, your name, address, DOB, ht, wt, eye color, hair color, and whatever else come up on his computor screen, also your DL# and most states have your CCW permit tied to your DL, if not the same #, there is notification on the license info about the CCW, the only LEO agencys that may not have this capability, probably still walk patrol beats.
Click to expand...
NYS has no link between CCW permits and registration or drivers license. LEO do not know anything when they run a plate or DL#. There is also no statutory requirement to notify him if you are carrying (thank God).
 
And this thread was only 1 1/2 years old before it was raised from the dead. We can do better than that... Try for at least 3 years old next time!
 
I have to ask what could anyone possibly add to a thread with over a thousand posts in it? What new information could anyone possibly have?
 
Well, after my last post which was #5 and dated 2009 I was finally pulled over! Town officer came to my door and mentioned why I was pulled over Only, at that point I informed him (with both hands on the steering) "just so you know I have a LTC and I'm just letting you know". His reply, "ok, thank you, if you don't use yours I won't have to use mine". We both were pretty much in good moods and you can obviously tell there was no unsteadiness. He then asked for the usual in which I replied, "registration is here (pointing to arm rest console) and license is in my pants pocket" (still with both hands on the steering). He said, "all right". Took them both out and handed them to him, then putting both hands again on the steering while he did his thing. Came back and said, "thank you and be careful". Personally, I have no problem letting the officer know I have a LTC. I'm not breaking any law carrying it. Be respectful to them and you may get the same back.
 
I personally prefer to inform the officer of firearms in the car as my pistols are often sitting on the passenger seat. And I would rather he know about them and be informed of my cpl than him discovering them and pulling his sidearm out in alarm. I would like the officers mind to be at ease and make his job easier. Their jobs can be stressful enough. If I can put his mind at ease then he will likely go easier on me.
 
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