ccw traffic stop

[IOUNRA]

I have had my ccw for about 6 months. If I get stopped by a LEO what is the best way to let an officer know that I am armed. Should you tell the officer first thing ? Or maybe hand the officer my ccw permit with my drivers lic. I know that nothing good would come from making an officer uneasy. Sometimes I have a glock 20 in my tank bag on my motorcycle with my ID and permit in the same bag. Would most LEO let you get the paper work out or would they get it out for me ? Thanks Ron

[tigerhui]

Keep your hands on the steering wheel or handle bars, and tell the officer:

"Officer, I have a concealed carry permit, and I am armed."
Continue by telling the officer where your firearm is located, and then ask him how he would like to proceed.

The big thing is to get the CCW part out there before you tell him you are armed. Don't reach or grab for anything. The officer will be happy to tell you how he wants to proceed from there.

[Jak1]

Careful though, I had an leo ask me to hand them my pistol. I instead handed them my permit. It went OK after that but some leo's may get a little jumpy. Think before you do what they ask just in case.

[pullnshoot25]

California is a no-tell state. I wouldn't say anything about it.

[Kurt Gepke]

California is a no-tell state. I wouldn't say anything about it.

So is Nevada, but as a CCW instructor, I teach exactly what was posted by tigerhui.

My opening line is: (hands are at 10 and 2, palms down and all fingers extended)
"Officer, for your safety and mine, I have a concealed carry permit and I'm armed right now with my Kahr semi auto. It's inside my waistband at 4 o'clock. What do you want me to do next?"



I was a DUI enforcer on SDPD in the mid 70's and my beat/unit# was 9 Edward which was Midway and Rosecrans where all the strip joints were and MCRD and NTC. Stopping suspected drunk drivers is risky business (sometimes it's down right entertaining) and traffic stops are the #1 incident where officers are injured.

I'll tell you one thing. LEOs do NOT like surprises and you're chops might be busted a little more if an 'undisclosed' weapon is found during a field interview.

Everyone wants to go home at the end of shift and speaking now as an LEO, we don't know you from Adam. Don't take it personal. It's strictly business. There are officers who are very lenient about letting you keep your gun on your person and there are those who oppose CCW and will disarm you to the point of unloading your gun AND magazine. Again.....don't take it personal.

When you got your permit, you went through an extensive background check and I can see where a lot of guys think that should automatically place them on equal footing as "one of the good guys".
The truth of the matter is that the background check is merely a snapshot in time and only affirms that you are squared away as of the date of the BG check. A lot can happen in two years. (5 here in Nevada)

Don't take it personal.

What's the downside to courteously notifying an officer that you are armed?
You could get a break for being courteous and respectful.

Whaddya think you're getting if they find out the hard way?


Just my 2 cents from an old fart.



KG




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[Casual Observer]

California is a no-tell state. I wouldn't say anything about it.

That's not true when dealing with CCW's. Many issuing agencies require the permit holder to notify LE Officers when stopped for any reason. Even when not required, it's still a good idea to notify them. If they find it themselves, for whatever reason, that's a quick way to end up on the pavement or shot.

Best bet is what's already been posted. Be sure you mention the permit before you mention the gun.

[Jak1]

My CCW instructors told us not to inform LEOs unless we were asked to exit the vehicle. The reason being, those with a CCW were being treated like criminals just because they carried. I have seen LEO forum postings (not here) where officers will draw their weapons, spread the person out on the pavement, and sort it out afterwards.

While I totally understand that everyone wants to go home after their shift, if an LEO busts my chops, draws his weapon, sprawls me out on the pavement, I will be pissed. While it may be "business" to the LEOs, I take it extremely personal. In my opinion (and maybe a fact) these actions infringe on my rights.

Whatever happened to protect and serve

[just4fun63]

My CCW instructors told us not to inform LEOs unless we were asked to exit the vehicle. The reason being, those with a CCW were being treated like criminals just because they carried. I have seen LEO forum postings (not here) where officers will draw their weapons, spread the person out on the pavement, and sort it out afterwards.

While I totally understand that everyone wants to go home after their shift, if an LEO busts my chops, draws his weapon, sprawls me out on the pavement, or is a jerk (replace jerk with choice of profanity) I will be pissed. While it may be "business" to the LEOs, I take it extremely personal. In my opinion (and maybe a fact) these actions infringe on my rights.

Whatever happened to protect and serve

Wow If I show a valid permit and end up on the ground (assuming nothing out of whack has happened) two things are going to happen: 1 at the scene I'm going to comply with the officer. 2 Someone is going to be talking to my lawyer

[Jak1]

^^^^ +1

[Fjold]

California is a no-tell state. I wouldn't say anything about it.

The issuing authority can and does put their own restrictions on CCW permits.

In Kern County when the Sheriff issues a CCW he requires that permit holders "shall immediately notify any Peace Officer with whom the licensee comes in contact with that the licensee is armed and has a permit in their possession"

I was at 10 year old girl's birthday party earlier today and found out that a guy that I was talking to was a detective for Bakersfield P.D. When I learned this, I immeditely told him that as a condition of my CCW permit, I had to inform him that I had a permit and that I was armed.

He thanked me and mentioned that he thought that it was a strange requirement of the Sheriff and it was probably meant for when the licensee was being pulled over by a cop but that it was better to be safe and mention it anyway, in any setting.

[tigerhui]

I guess you could go either way in telling the leo or not. There are compelling reasons for both, however I would still tell the leo that I had a ccw and was carrying.

When I lived in Nevada and had my ccw there, it was actually attached to my drivers license. While in NV, I was stopped on two separate occasions by the local sheriff's deputy. The one time I was not carrying, I didn't tell the LEO that I had a CCW. After he ran me out, he came back to the car and was a bit upset with me until I told him I was not armed. The other time I was stopped, I was carrying. I told him I had a ccw and that I was carrying. He asked me where my gun was, and just told me not to reach for that area.

Leo's in NV probably have a different attitude regarding ccw's compared to ones in CA, but I would still tell them. If the leo that stopped you happens to see your gun or sees it printing through your clothing, you are going to have at least one very agitated leo pointing his firearm at you. You will get pulled out of the car, proned out, and cuffed. Once he has secured you, your firearm, and everything in your pockets, he will start sorting out the details and you can explain that you have a ccw.

My rationale is that if I have a ccw, I've got nothing to hide and would much rather avoid the chance of having a leo draw down on me.

[IOUNRA]

thanks for all the replies. I will let them know first thing. I guess if you had the bad luck to be pulled over by a cop that is opposed to the whole ccw thing the permit will cover your ***. I think most leos treat you with respect as long as you do them the same.

[Ron-Solo]

I think most leos treat you with respect as long as you do them the same.

Exacty.

Working LA County, I didn't come in contact with many CCW holders, but always appreciated being informed right away.

Now, if I see a gun and you didn't tell me about the CCW first, you're gonna be looking at the business end of my gun until it gets sorted out.

Your choice.........it is business, and part of that is me going home every night.

[Kurt Gepke]

My CCW instructors told us not to inform LEOs unless we were asked to exit the vehicle. The reason being, those with a CCW were being treated like criminals just because they carried. I have seen LEO forum postings (not here) where officers will draw their weapons, spread the person out on the pavement, and sort it out afterwards.

While I totally understand that everyone wants to go home after their shift, if an LEO busts my chops, draws his weapon, sprawls me out on the pavement, I will be pissed. While it may be "business" to the LEOs, I take it extremely personal. In my opinion (and maybe a fact) these actions infringe on my rights.

Whatever happened to protect and serve

To which infringed rights are you referring? LEO can do pretty much what he deems necessary to secure his safety and that can be stretched a LONG way, pardner.

I would never teach that to a class because it's simply not true. It MAY happen from time to time but to say that it is an absolute is a disservice to students.
Sadly, there are MANY instructors who interject their opinions as fact and students believe it as though it were the gospel.

There are no absolutes in my class. Only possibilities and probabilities.

Getting back to the stop:
Everything depends on circumstances. Why were you stopped? Where? When? What are you driving? What do you look like as a first impression. (yeah, everybody profiles in one way or another).
Unless you have a police radio/computer in your car, you probably have little idea of what's going on in the neighborhood at any given time.

I'm definitely not saying that there are not cops who overreact and/or play power trip games. There are, but that the exception and not the rule.


KG




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[pullnshoot25]

I guess I should have clarified...

California is a no-tell state. If I were you (a CCW permit holder) I would not disclose my firearm unless it was stated, in writing, that I was legally required to.

That should cover all bases.