Police contact

[Oceanbob]

In America, we have these two recognized rights called the 1st and the 5th that allow you to speak a lie, deflect the truth, or avoid the truth altogether.

This^^^

And since I feel an E search (now called a B search, thanks for the reminder QUIET ) is a violation of my 4th Amendment Rights, I plan to evade the question and even intentionally LIE about my legally locked up, unloaded Glock 20 in my trunk or locked case.

[negolien]

nice

Today i got caught speeding. In the process the officer saw my kabar inbetween the passenger seat and center console. He asked what i needed it for so i told him camping etc. I then proceeded to tell him i had a rifle in the back seat that was legal and locked up. He said Ok and walked off and wrote me the ticket. At that point i was expecting a felony vehicle stop with guns drawn but he never referenced it again. Well it sucked getting a speeding ticket but it was nice to have such a laid back experience regardig my rifle when all i hear is about cops being uptight on this forum etc. Just wanted to share my experience from today. This was my first contact with police regarding my rifles and went well

This is usually the case when you take off your and not act like a douchebag to a cop. They are just trying to do a tough job and protect us not trample your civil rights because they're "the man"...

[SanPedroShooter]

This^^^

And since I feel an E search (now called a B search, thanks for the reminder QUIET ) is a violation of my 4th Amendment Rights, I plan to evade the question and even intentionally LIE about my legally locked up, unloaded Glock 20 in my trunk or locked case.

'B' checks make it whole different ball game in California. There is no way I would tell a cop I had a gun in my car any more than I would volunteer to have my car tossed, as it seems to come to same thing.

I dont blame cops, but as long as b checks are 'law', police and gun owners are pitted against each other, I act accordingly. Actually what I really do is just avoid police at all times by following the law, its easier that way....

[strongpoint]

I already mentioned that it was illegal to lie to a Federal officer. I mentioned that it's not illegal to mention to any other LEO though.

missed that -- mea culpa.

[L84CABO]

Geez, if you're worried about lying to a cop then don't.

"Do you have any weapons in the car?"

"Officer, I know you're just doing your job but can we please stick to the reason that you pulled me over."

"Hmm...well it seems like you do have weapons in the car"

"Officer am I free to go now?"

See how easy that is?

[FalconLair]

My experience with cops is that there are more bad ones than good ones. If there were more good ones, there wouldn't be as many issues as we have now.

seriously, you actually think there are more bad cops than good? Let me ask you something, my friend, do you know what really pisses most cops off? It's when another cop pulls some crap bs and we all get to take the brunt for it. That's right, it pisses us off just as much when one of our own oversteps his bounderies. For the most part we wanna do our jobs everyday, just like you, and get home afterwards to our families like everyone else. The last thing I need is some pyscho bullcrap to deal with for not doing my job. Everyone has a video camera nowadays, what is there to try and get away with?

Look, i've had people in my family hassled by police, my sister and her 12 year old son had guns drawn on them in their own drive-way, so yeah, I'm sure it happens, but its alot less frequent then you can imagine. I'm sorry if you're thinking that everytime you get stopped you're in danger of getting the shaft, but I think that line of thought is gonna do you more bad than good.

I would 100% rather have a person tell me they are carrying a firearm then to hide it from me. Yes, I may want to make sure the firearm is legally secured but by no means would I have any intentions of hassling him for having it.

I just have a thing about being more concerned about the guy who doesn't tell me he is carrying versus someone who freely admits it. So long as everything checks out ok you'll be on your way to your destination. I strongly disagree with some of these guys and iono if its forum braggadero or what, but my advice would be to acknowledge, if asked.

[Pell]

I just had a run in with law enforcement a couple hours ago. I was with a couple friends on another friends property. This property is legal to shoot on (outside city limits, etc) and we were legally there. I guess some neighbors called the cops on us....

Anyways, right after I quickly emptied a 20-round mag, we here a voice yelling off in the distance "County Sheriff, put your guns down and your hands up!"

We look over and there are two deputies with shotguns trained on us about 80-100 yards away (I would be scared to death if I was one of them, they see our rifles and only have shotguns). We place the guns down, put our hands up. Then they ask us to walk towards them. We comply and meet them about 40ish yards away from our guns. One deputy asks us what we were doing and if we had permission to be here. We told him everything, and he asked for our IDs and if any of us were on probation or parole (the basics), and the other officer went and checked out all of the guns.

I was waiting for the officer to start harassing us for what was over there. Several 30 round mags for my friends AR (technically all legal), my 20 round mags (also completely legal), SKS with folding stock and pistol grip, as well as my gen 4 Glock. He starts handling them, and calling in the serial numbers, as the officer with us gets the all clear on our backgrounds.

Just as I think everything is going to be ok, the officer around the guns starts yelling "Who's .45 is this? Who's .45 is this?" I had no idea there could be anything wrong with an old 1911, but we were all at their mercy at this point. My buddy speaks up and tells him he is the owner. The cop then replies, "Your slide lock is broken. Its sh**ty pot metal. Go to midway usa, and get something better. That's an old remington rand and built like cr*p. Get some better parts."

After that, the deputies told us to have a nice day, and next time to make things easier, get written permission from the property owner. No harassment, no FUD, just two deputies reporting to a call and treating us with respect...

They had all the chances to be the "bad cops" and instead did the right thing as well as leave an impression on us that not all police confrontation is negative.

[jsragman]

Cali is worse than the former Soviet Union. I can't believe some of the stuff I read on this forum. WTF! A 90 minute stop after the cop verified that the gun was legally owned and properly stored? Cali must be relatively crime free if the popos have all of this time to harass Citizens(NOT CIVILIANS).

[mbaerg]

Today i got caught speeding. In the process the officer saw my kabar inbetween the passenger seat and center console. He asked what i needed it for so i told him camping etc. I then proceeded to tell him i had a rifle in the back seat that was legal and locked up. He said Ok and walked off and wrote me the ticket. At that point i was expecting a felony vehicle stop with guns drawn but he never referenced it again. Well it sucked getting a speeding ticket but it was nice to have such a laid back experience regardig my rifle when all i hear is about cops being uptight on this forum etc. Just wanted to share my experience from today. This was my first contact with police regarding my rifles and went well

Thats nice that he was so laid back.. not all officers are that laid back.. rule of thumb .. never give information unless legally asked

[Ron-Solo]

I already mentioned that it was illegal to lie to a Federal officer. I mentioned that it's not illegal to mention to any other LEO though.

While it is not illegal to tell a police officer that you don't have guns in the car when you actually have enough to outfit a small army, the above statement isn't 100% accurate either.

If you lie about your identity when having been stopped for a violation that could land you in court, you are in violation of 148.9 PC, a misdemeanor. If you give the name of a real person (such as your brother), reasonably knowing that the information belongs to a real person, you can be prosecuted for a felony (wobbler) under 529(a)(3) PC. Be careful what you say.

148.9 (a) Any person who falsely represents or identifies himself
or herself as another person or as a fictitious person to any peace
officer listed in Section 830.1 or 830.2, or subdivision (a) of
Section 830.33, upon a lawful detention or arrest of the person,
either to evade the process of the court, or to evade the proper
identification of the person by the investigating officer is guilty
of a misdemeanor.
(b) Any person who falsely represents or identifies himself or
herself as another person or as a fictitious person to any other
peace officer defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of
Title 3 of Part 2, upon lawful detention or arrest of the person,
either to evade the process of the court, or to evade the proper
identification of the person by the arresting officer is guilty of a
misdemeanor if (1) the false information is given while the peace
officer is engaged in the performance of his or her duties as a peace
officer and (2) the person providing the false information knows or
should have known that the person receiving the information is a
peace officer.

529 (a) Every person who falsely personates another in either his
or her private or official capacity, and in that assumed character
does any of the following, is punishable pursuant to subdivision (b):
(1) Becomes bail or surety for any party in any proceeding
whatever, before any court or officer authorized to take that bail or
surety.
(2) Verifies, publishes, acknowledges, or proves, in the name of
another person, any written instrument, with intent that the same may
be recorded, delivered, or used as true.
(3) Does any other act whereby, if done by the person falsely
personated, he might, in any event, become liable to any suit or
prosecution, or to pay any sum of money, or to incur any charge,
forfeiture, or penalty, or whereby any benefit might accrue to the
party personating, or to any other person.

[calif 15-22]

I'd be interested in hearing from Ron Solo as a retired cop his thoughts on the subject.

I know it's not fair, but if you have priors and they come up on a stop does the officer treat you differently.

Two Scenerios:
1. 25 year old, driving a lowered street racer gets stopped. Prior DUI or other.
2. 50 year old, driving a Toyota SUV gets stopped. No crimimal history.

Does the officer ask each "do you have any Illegal weapons"
Forget the answer we are supposed to give, I'm curious if it gets asked evenly to all.

I'm 50, drive the above SUV. I've been pulled over dozens of times by local PD, CHP even Fish and Game, over the years and NEVER been asked about weapons, ever. Is that because up until recently never had any guns on record, or is it I was just never asked??

Just curious from LE point of view.

[Mr.1904]

I'd be interested in hearing from Ron Solo as a retired cop his thoughts on the subject.

I know it's not fair, but if you have priors and they come up on a stop does the officer treat you differently.

Two Scenerios:
1. 25 year old, driving a lowered street racer gets stopped. Prior DUI or other.
2. 50 year old, driving a Toyota SUV gets stopped. No crimimal history.

Does the officer ask each "do you have any Illegal weapons"
Forget the answer we are supposed to give, I'm curious if it gets asked evenly to all.

I'm 50, drive the above SUV. I've been pulled over dozens of times by local PD, CHP even Fish and Game, over the years and NEVER been asked about weapons, ever. Is that because up until recently never had any guns on record, or is it I was just never asked??

Just curious from LE point of view.

I believe it's just based on that specific officers discretion. For some reason I always get asked if i have ILLEGAL weapons in the car. I almost fit #1 but i don't have a street racer per say. Do have a prior DUI, and have been arrested before. So i'm accustomed to more scrutiny than most. Part of the game. The second i admit to have been arrested before they immediately get this 'Oh really?' look on their faces and become inherently more alert. Don't blame them but it's just funny to me. The trick is don't lie about anything stupid and to let them do their job and be polite. Last time i was arrested was when i was 19 YO.

[johnny1290]

I was a guy that could have been cuffed on the curb last month. I told them I had guns in the trunk, allowed them to search, and got my ticket and left.

I didn't like it one bit. That said, I wasn't cuffed, and aside from searching my maxpedition bag for a firearm he didn't go out of his way to give me other tickets for window tint or anything.

Dumb as it seems, I drive a nice car, and have found LE seems to treat me better as a result.

when I've been pulled over driving a clunker, the bad guy assumption vs citizen seemed to be higher.

I have no proof or anything, just a hunch.

[FalconLair]

Dumb as it seems, I drive a nice car, and have found LE seems to treat me better as a result.

when I've been pulled over driving a clunker, the bad guy assumption vs citizen seemed to be higher.

I have no proof or anything, just a hunch.

i dont care what you drive...my actions as an LEO are not determined by the vehicle you drive. Just a couple of years ago there was a guy driving a white Rolls-Royce who got into a shootout with local PD. Don't remember all the details, but I will say I take the same precautions regardless of the vehicle.

[Steve G]

OP, I applaud you for wanting to pursue a career in law enforcement, as someone who is a gun owner.

I was in your very shoes, just a few years ago.
This should answer all your questions.
I was legally carrying my firearm in my car, and went around a corner a little too quick, and a cop lights me up. The honest guy that I am, I tell the officer that I was carrying a firearm, unloaded, and in a locked box. I was relaxed about it. I was polite. I was professional.
Immediately following, the officer unholstered his firearm and requested my passengers and I to keep our hands out the window. The LEO stood at my car, calling for back up. Officers came code 3. I was pulled out of the car on 1 side, while my passengers were held at gun point on the other.
They tore apart my entire car, including my trunk, which was full of work paperwork that they didn't care about ruining or getting out of order. While I sat handcuffed in the back of the police car.
They ran the serial number of the firearm over the radios, and then my address and name for anyone with a scanner to hear. The dispatcher confirmed the information, and then proceed to tell the officers that the firearm was legally mine.

I figured, that was it...I could go.

Nope. The LEO's then sat me on the curb, and proceeded to interrogate me on the sidewalk, in my home town, as cars drove by.

The entire stop took just under 90 minutes, with about 80 of those minute being handcuffed. One of the friends in the car with me til this day has anxiety attacks, that they have never had until the stop.

That my friend's....is why I don't tell PD ANYTHING.


Like the others have said.

1.) Am I being detained?
2.) Am I under arrest?
3.) Am I free to go?

Those are the only things that should come out of your mouth when an LEO is asking anything not relevant to your question.

Again, just my 2 cents. I have too much to loose, to have to spend time and money in court, convincing someone that I am innocent. If you have lot's of time and money, by all means...volunteer information.

Bada Bing. I highly suggest keeping your mouth shut!