i got pulled over today

[cal federal]

What city and county did this happen in ?

[solidstate]

I've been asked if I had firearms on me several times when pulled over. I was once told as a registered handgun owner or handgun safety certificate holder that this info pops up on their computer when they run your DL. Not sure if that is a fact but I always thought it odd they asked me.

[CBR_rider]

This might do better in the LEO forum. Anyway, on to your question

Hi everyone
My question is, is this something I have to live with whenever I get pulled over, or why Is that information instantly available during a traffic stop

Yes, every time you get pulled over dispatch can have your name run to include registered firearms. There seems to be a misconception on this thread that such a check requires extra work on the dispatcher's part or is otherwise an additional procedure to checking someone's driver's license status/warrants. In the old days, that may have been the case but in today's world of computer aided dispatch systems most returns are obtained with one input. What I mean is, say officer runs your name via radio. Dispatcher inputs your name into the computer system and she may get: registered firearms, driver's license status, parole/probation information, local information, and warrants all returned at almost the same time.

[surg]

This happened in Solvang, Santa Barbara county. It just didn't seem like asking if I had a gun with me had anything to do with the reason why he pulled me over.
It seems like it isn't normal practice for police to look up if a driver owns firearms, but It seems like it occasionally happens for whatever reason

[CBR_rider]

Here is why I may ask someone if they have any firearms on them if I am going to be interacting with them outside of the vehicle in such a way that I can't watch all their movements, traffic, and point out something that needs to be fixed(such as in your case, showing how to properly secure your trailer): You are legally allowed to carry a firearm and you have said lawfully possessed firearm either in your trailer or on your person. I don't ask if there are any on you/in trailer and you don't tell me (because you believe it doesn't matter/I didn't ask the question/you forgot/whatever it may be). Before fixing your trailer you start reaching into a previously locked box to grab a pair of gloves so you don't get the inside of your nice car greasy. Right next to your gloves is your legally possessed/owned handgun. All I see as I LEO is you reaching into a box and moving your hand right at a handgun. Remember, I don't know you from Adam and I have been in many fights (some even armed) with people who looked like "good guys."

I'm not suggesting I would shoot you on the spot, but the situation would go from me having you fix something to prevent a ticket to getting tense very fast. If instead I ask you something like "Do you have any firearms on you/in either vehicle" and you reply "oh yeah, my handgun is in the lockbox on my trailer, can I get my gloves out of that box first so we can fix this?" I can watch you get the gloves, lock up the box, and we can then get down to business.

[Ninety]

Would have been interesting had you answered differently .. probably would have received a ticket.

and in this instance , would lying about the possession of a firearm be against the laW?

[bodger]

Here is why I may ask someone if they have any firearms on them if I am going to be interacting with them outside of the vehicle in such a way that I can't watch all their movements, traffic, and point out something that needs to be fixed(such as in your case, showing how to properly secure your trailer): You are legally allowed to carry a firearm and you have said lawfully possessed firearm either in your trailer or on your person. I don't ask if there are any on you/in trailer and you don't tell me (because you believe it doesn't matter/I didn't ask the question/you forgot/whatever it may be). Before fixing your trailer you start reaching into a previously locked box to grab a pair of gloves so you don't get the inside of your nice car greasy. Right next to your gloves is your legally possessed/owned handgun. All I see as I LEO is you reaching into a box and moving your hand right at a handgun. Remember, I don't know you from Adam and I have been in many fights (some even armed) with people who looked like "good guys."

I'm not suggesting I would shoot you on the spot, but the situation would go from me having you fix something to prevent a ticket to getting tense very fast. If instead I ask you something like "Do you have any firearms on you/in either vehicle" and you reply "oh yeah, my handgun is in the lockbox on my trailer, can I get my gloves out of that box first so we can fix this?" I can watch you get the gloves, lock up the box, and we can then get down to business.

If only that type of encounter with every LEO would go as you described. Makes me think of the recent case posted here on CG where the gun owner was arrested because he had the unloaded handgun in a locked case with the ammo in there as well, which as we know is legal but the cop AND the DA apparently didn't know that and/or wanted to push the charge.

That is my problem with answering an LEO's question regarding whether or not I have firearms in the vehicle. Answering "yes" is probable cause for a search to insure they are being transported legally as I understand it.

[surg]

I'm with you bodger. If I had a firearm with me I would have not answered the question. But I didn't so by answering no I was not creating probable cause, and I was also not lying. Plus being cooperative made the process faster, and ticket free.

To CBR rider, I'm all for officer safety, and I completely understand what you mean. In this particular instance my load was secured well enough. I was transporting a skid steer on the trailer. I have 2 chains that i have always used. One secures the front side the other secures the rear. Apparently I have to use one chain for each individual corner of the skid steer. I did not know this. The officer told me the load was secured well enough so he told me to change it for the next time I transport it. That is why i say it was a technicality. He didn't really need to take his eyes off of me. It was a flatbed trailer with no storage compartment either.

My concern with this was that the officer never asked about firearms until after he ran my name through the system. Only then did he ask me about firearms. He never asked while I was in the truck and looking through the glovebox.

I'm not a criminal nor doi have skeletons in my closet. So I have nothing to fear next time I get pulled over. I just ask what calguns thinks of this situation. The officer was great, and respectful. I have nothing bad to say about him. I just find it uneasy knowing that if I get pulled over again in the future, the next officer may not be as respectfull, or worse misinformed about current gun laws.

[jay_cue]

This might do better in the LEO forum. Anyway, on to your question


Yes, every time you get pulled over dispatch can have your name run to include registered firearms. There seems to be a misconception on this thread that such a check requires extra work on the dispatcher's part or is otherwise an additional procedure to checking someone's driver's license status/warrants. In the old days, that may have been the case but in today's world of computer aided dispatch systems most returns are obtained with one input. What I mean is, say officer runs your name via radio. Dispatcher inputs your name into the computer system and she may get: registered firearms, driver's license status, parole/probation information, local information, and warrants all returned at almost the same time.

just curious if you've dispatched before, or how you've come to this conclusion.

edit: reading further, may seem you're possibly an officer. unless the computer system I've worked on is that far behind (which it possibly may be the reason) at least where I've worked, we weren't able to enter in one place to get all the drivers license info, NCIC check, and gun registration simply with one entry. it would be basically how I've listed in my previous post the exact string of syntax to obtain each of the requested data.

[sigstroker]

Would have been interesting had you answered differently .. probably would have received a ticket.

and in this instance , would lying about the possession of a firearm be against the laW?

Lying about anything to a cop is against the law. That's what got Martha Stewart 5 months in prison.

[Rider1k]

I have never been asked if I have a firearm when stopped. I have however been stopped while I've had firearms in plain sight and not even been asked about them.

[BisDak]

Maybe a gun related sticker on the vehicle?

[SilverTauron]

IMO, while the officer may not have direct access to gun ownership info, the dispatcher probably does at their terminal in Police HQ. When they ran the OP's info for warrants, the DROS info came up and the dispatcher likely passed on a code which said !!BE ADVISED THIS GUYS A GUN OWNER!! , hence the sudden demeanor change and inquiry.

[tonelar]

I've never been asked and I've got a couple of tickets in the last 5 years.

I own 11 RAWs and am a prolific gun collector and trader (hobby). Probably over 150 handgun DROS in the last 15 years.

Not a peep from anybody in Law Enforcement. Just a normal guy.

Same boat as Bob on this one, I have a lot of RAWs and have never been asked at any traffic stop.

[jay_cue]

Maybe a gun related sticker on the vehicle?

he said it was a work truck.

IMO, while the officer may not have direct access to gun ownership info, the dispatcher probably does at their terminal in Police HQ. When they ran the OP's info for warrants, the DROS info came up and the dispatcher likely passed on a code which said !!BE ADVISED THIS GUYS A GUN OWNER!! , hence the sudden demeanor change and inquiry.

gun info does not just automatically pop up.