LTC from Placer, Carry in/through L.A.?

[goodlookin1]

Hey guys,

I should probably know better than to ask this, because I know the CA laws regarding carrying. I know that if you get a LTC in one county, that license applies to all of California. However, I have heard that there are cities that are so restrictive that you basically cannot CC when in it unless you are licensed by them.

Well, I will be going to Southern CA soon and wanted to know if I might run into any problems should I get pulled over in the City of L.A. or something like this situation? Anything I should know about besides "concealed is concealed"? If I were to get pulled over, do I have an obligation to tell the officer that I am carrying?

If it came down to carrying with the potential for a HUGE legal headache VS not carrying at all, I think I would rather forgo carrying while I am down there.

Thanks for any advice.

[Purple K]

Unless your is issuing agency prints restrictions on your permit, it is valid statewide. You are not required to notify LEO's

[tenpercentfirearms]

You have an LTC and you most certainly should carry anywhere in the state. Wipe away this attitude of it is better not to carry than to carry with possible legal hassle. You are good to go and you should be carrying. The best thing about having an LTC is carrying through LA! That is why I have AR15 pistols on my permit!

[goodlookin1]

Dont get me wrong, I carry every day and everywhere it is legal to do so. However, I am not in the position (financially) to expose myself and my family to unnecessary monetary risk. Yes, I know that the outcome would be positive for me as the law is on my side, but I dont have the time, nor resources, to fight such an occurrence.

I will end up carrying....I will also be extremely careful to follow all the rules of the road. That's hard to do in L.A. when everyone's going 80+ mph

Thanks for the info!


By the way, who on earth issued you a carry license for an AR15 Pistol, and how on earth do you conceal that without wearing a trenchcoat?

[Big Ben]

Assuming that you get pulled over, you have no obligation to inform the officer that you are licensed and carrying concealed. However, when the officer runs your DL, he will likely be notified by the dispatcher that you have a LTC, so the officer will know that you are licensed and will assume that you are carrying.

From a recent personal experience getting pulled over, I've decided that the better option is to inform the officer (with hands on steering wheel) that you have a LTC and are carrying, and where the weapon is located.

In my experience, I was pulled over and didn't even think about the fact that I was carrying. The officer came to the window, I handed him license and registration, and he went back to his vehicle ... where he stayed for an extended period. Turns out that upon finding out I had a LTC, he decided he needed backup. When the 2nd vehicle arrived and the additional officers took up their positions, the now aggravated officer returned to the window and expressed his displeasure that I hadn't informed him I was carrying. At the end of the day, I received the traffic citation and went on with my business.

Regardless of what you think of the officer's response, (let's not devolve into the "jack-booted thugs" discussion), I came to the conclusion that if the officer is going to find out I have an LTC anyway (from the dispatcher), it is in my best interest to politely let him know about it first. Anything that I can do to make the encounter less dangerous for the officer (and by extension, for myself), so much the better.

[Knauga]

I have a CCW out of San Bernardino County and I carry all through LA County. There is no issue. What charge would you face if you were caught carrying a concealed weapon in LA County if you had a CCW?

Like Tenpercent says... wipe away that attitude!

[tenpercentfirearms]

Plus now I can just carry them around in my car and loaded. That is pretty much the plan. I have no real desire to carry around the AR15 as my primary CCW piece.

I went Geocaching the other day and just had this in my front seat, loaded and ready to go as I drove through the Los Padres National Forest.

[Smokeybehr]

I have a CCW out of San Bernardino County and I carry all through LA County. There is no issue. What charge would you face if you were caught carrying a concealed weapon in LA County if you had a CCW?

Like Tenpercent says... wipe away that attitude!

They'd *TRY* to nail you for PC25400, and would fail miserably. In LA ity, they might try and arrest you for violation of LAMC 55.01, but again, because of state preemption, it's all moot.

[Sir Stunna Lot]

You have an LTC and you most certainly should carry anywhere in the state. Wipe away this attitude of it is better not to carry than to carry with possible legal hassle. You are good to go and you should be carrying. The best thing about having an LTC is carrying through LA! That is why I have AR15 pistols on my permit!

damn, how did you manage to get an ar15 pistol on your permit? which county are you in? i wonder how sacramento county will feel about it if i tried...

[morrcarr67]

damn, how did you manage to get an ar15 pistol on your permit? which county are you in? i wonder how sacramento county will feel about it if i tried...

Kern Country. One of our more gun friendly counties

[Sir Stunna Lot]

Kern Country. One of our more gun friendly counties

you also have an ar pistol on your ccw?!?!

[tenpercentfirearms]

damn, how did you manage to get an ar15 pistol on your permit? which county are you in? i wonder how sacramento county will feel about it if i tried...

The worst they will say is no. I tried with Kern County and they said no. So I just switched to a Taft City permit.

[Wherryj]

Dont get me wrong, I carry every day and everywhere it is legal to do so. However, I am not in the position (financially) to expose myself and my family to unnecessary monetary risk. Yes, I know that the outcome would be positive for me as the law is on my side, but I dont have the time, nor resources, to fight such an occurrence.

I will end up carrying....I will also be extremely careful to follow all the rules of the road. That's hard to do in L.A. when everyone's going 80+ mph

Thanks for the info!


By the way, who on earth issued you a carry license for an AR15 Pistol, and how on earth do you conceal that without wearing a trenchcoat?

It's actually pretty simple. I own an M3 and an S2000. My last ticket was in 1990 (in a speed trap in Falls Church, VA). I can say that I drive in a "spirited" fashion.

The general rules are:
1. Make sure that YOU aren't the rabbit. NEVER be the fastest car on the road.
2. Don't be the jerk making abrupt and unsafe lane changes.
3. Keep your vehicle clean and in good operating order. All things being equal the unsafe, beat up POS will get the attention.
4. Never speed in residential zones.
5. Don't run lights/stop signs or do a "California stop".
6. If all else fails, remember that California has a "Trial by written declaration" option to contest a ticket.

It's also probably a good idea to refrain from bumper stickers that advocate illegal activities or say unkind things about law enforcement.

If you follow these rules, you will typically be watching the guys who don't follow these rules getting the tickets.

As far as the CCW, you should be good to go in the entire state. Don't let LA's empty threats keep you from exercising your Constitutional rights-after all, you have a card saying that it's OK.

[mej16489]

In my experience, I was pulled over and didn't even think about the fact that I was carrying. The officer came to the window, I handed him license and registration, and he went back to his vehicle ... where he stayed for an extended period. Turns out that upon finding out I had a LTC, he decided he needed backup. When the 2nd vehicle arrived and the additional officers took up their positions, the now aggravated officer returned to the window and expressed his displeasure that I hadn't informed him I was carrying. At the end of the day, I received the traffic citation and went on with my business.

Also note that as of today, what happened above would be an EXTREMELY rare occurrence in this state. An extremely low number of agencies will automatically cross-check into AFS (where your LTC and gun reg information lives)

99.999% of the time a LEO will never know you have an LTC on a traffic stop.

[adrenaline]

Last time I was in LA, I carried proudly and felt sad that my other Californians could not exercise the same. I would carry most especially in the restrictive counties. The bad guys probably have much more confidence in these areas.