A good video at link.
Hold your hands (pasengers as well) out the window in plain sight as the officer approaches. It will be greatly appreciated, and sometimes a ticket or citation simply becomes a frindly warning:)
Been pulled over twice for speeding since I got a CCW in 2001. Both times, rolled down my window and kept my hands on the wheel until the officer came to my window and asked for my license and proof of insurance. Before reaching for either I told him I have my license and CCW in my back left pocket, and where my firearms are located, then asked how he wanted to proceed.
In both cases the officer asked me to keep my right hand on the wheel and get my IDs out with my left. Then vice versa to get the insurance card out of the glove box.
And in both cases, after checking out my IDs they gave me a warning.
This being rural Texas and me being a local may have simplified things, but I think if the goal is to not come across as a threat it’ll go best for everyone involved.
Don’t click on ANY other link on that page, though. I tried one and ended up in clickbait central.
Thanks for posting. Good instruction/education BUMP!
Happened to us once in Chattanooga. A city officer pulled us over (husband was speeding) and as soon as he got close to the truck my husband told him he had a 9mm on the seat. The officer said that it popped up on his computer that he had a carry permit and that he didn’t worry about the permit holders. He said he worried about the guns he didn’t know about. He gave us a warning to slow down and told us to have a nice day.
I’ve had two experiences with being pulled over while packing. On both occasions I kept my hands on the wheel with my license/insurance and my carry permit in them. I handed all three to the officers and put my hands back on the wheel. They asked if I was packing and then asked where the weapon was (J-frame S&W in front pants pocket). Both times the officers were courteous and professional. They thanked me for telling them about the weapon, told me to leave it where it was. We conducted our business peacefully and went our ways.
Ayoob, the lying idiot, once again giving advice he knows nothing about. Ayoobis NOT a lawyer and fails to give proper advice.
For instance, he fails to mention that only in SOME States is notifying a cop of your concealed carrier status required. He also fails to state that some cops HATE being told you have a gun as it makes them nervous.
In Colorado, there is no requirement to notify and cops don’t want you to. Saying, “Hey, I have a gun” is often interpreted as a threat and not an informative statement.
Don’t ever follow what Ayoob says as he is often wrong. Heck, he started his career as an “expert” by lying about the Florida FBI shootout. I don’t think he’s ever been anything but a very small town cop with a big mouth.
If you’re a criminal, you lie and if all else fails you shoot the cop.
I think something like this was posted at FR a few years ago. Someone responded that the best thing to do when pulled over when carrying is to jump out of the car waving your hands wildly and shouting “I got a gun! I got a gun!” :)
I got pulled over because the officer saw I was driving a car with an out of state dealer plate. He thought it might be stolen. I kept my hands on the wheel and immediately informed him that there was a gun in the jacket on the passenger seat and that I had a CCW. He checked my CCW card and ran my drivers license. I told him I had the dealer phone # in my phone if he wanted to call them. He told me everything seemed legit and sent me on my way.
When I got home I looked up the Sheriff’s department website and sent them an email naming the deputy and complimenting them one his professionalism and courtesy. I got a very nice one back thanking me and stating that LEO’s very seldom got feedback like this and they were valuable for promotion. I would suggest anyone with a similar interaction with law in for cement do the same.
I don’t carry or have a permit, but was always told to put both hands on the wheel and leave them there. I’m NOT going to fumble around for ANYTHING before the officer approaches. How does he know I’m into the glove compartment/purse/pocket for my license and registration and not a gun? He doesn’t!!
The couple of times I’ve been pulled over and was asked for the items, I told the officer where they were located before reaching. In one case my purse (with license) was in the back seat where I couldn’t reach. Told the officer and asked if he wanted me to get out and get it or if he wanted to open the door and get it for me.
My personal opinion, when pulled over, the officer is in charge. Being an ass won’t help the situation, and whether the officer is right or wrong, could get me killed. My goal is to sleep in my bed at night.
In my 50 years of driving I have been stopped for moving violations maybe a dozen times. I have received 2 tickets. I deserved both. All the other times, though I was guilty, I received either written or verbal warnings. Most of these stops were by state troopers. The two I got tickets for were both small town cops. But even then they were polite and professional.
Cops are human and make mistakes and common sense on your part goes a long way in reducing those.
This is all nice, but the best way to be safe carrying during a stop is to be courteous when the officer initiates contact. You don’t have to agree with him, but let him know you are not a threat and he can conduct his business without calling for additional officers. Usually yelling, “What the F*ck did you stop me for,” before he reaches your car will cause him to become concerned. Yelling, cursing, demanding you know your rights, and informing him he can’t tell you what to do, is another good way to make a cop raise his guard. As noted in most of the posts so far on this topic, Freepers that were at least business-like courteous, found the officer to be the same.
So the carry permit is coordinated with the drivers’ license. Seems to me they never told us about this.
Too bad they never bothered to try to locate illegal guns in the hands of violent criminals.
Good to know.
Lots of anecdotal examples of this are cropping up elsewhere, and almost always the police are polite, professional, and calmed when notified there is a gun, while the driver keeps his hands on the wheel.
And, a noticeable number of times, having a gun means that the police officer just gives them a warning instead of a ticket(!) I suspect the reason being that police are learning that legal gun owners are not just law abiding, but are allied with, friendly and supportive of the police.
Though a special note, during the current unpleasantness, it is very wise to be extra controlled in your behavior during an encounter. For instance, keep your speech slow and clear, and keep it separate from your actions. That is, do not talk and move at the same time.
When ordered to do something by the officer, tell him where it is located, then tell him you will get it for him, and finally, announce *while* you are getting it that you are getting it, giving plenty time for him to halt you.
For example:
“May I see your license and registration.”
“I am carrying a licensed (or legal) gun with me.”
“May I see your license (and/or “where is the gun now?)”
“My license is in my wallet, in the left rear pocket of my pants.” (or perhaps) “My gun is in a holster in the glove compartment. My registration is in the glove compartment as well.”
“Please remove your license from your wallet and give it to me.”
“I am reaching for my wallet in the left rear pocket of my pants.”
“Please get your registration from your glove compartment, while leaving your gun in there.”
“I am reaching for my vehicle registration only in my glove compartment.”
All in all, it sounds very wooden. However, it is very calming to police officers. Something very good right now.
(Important note: during any police encounter, be very aware of any other police officers arriving on scene. While the first officer may be very relaxed, the new ones may still be very tense and nervous.)
Here you go:
http://www.gunlawsbystate.com/massad-ayoob/