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[hardlyworking]

Um, no, that's not what we are saying.

ORLY? That's sure what it looks like to me. And I'm not trying to be an azz here. Allow me to direct quote:

I thrive on subtle cues. You give subtle cues constantly, and are unaware of what you’re telling me without saying a word. I’m watching them. I am also really good at detecting an attempted redirection of the conversion or my attention. People attempt to redirect my attention when there is something they don't want me to find. My job is to find things people don't want me to find.

You're going to pique my interest if you answer suspiciously or act like you are hiding something. It will likely prompt another line of questioning, while I am observing your movements, etc. If the stars align, I will be able to articulate PC...

“Are there any weapons in the car” is a yes or no question. NORMAL people answer yes or no. Anything else other than yes or no is an attempt to divert the question and conceal something you have hidden.

even if you flat out deny weapons in the car and lie, odds are pretty decent I’m going to pick up on your non-verbal cues. I’m really interested in finding out why people lie to me.

So, tell me again where I'm wrong?

If I have weapons, legally stored, and by chance I get asked "Do you have weapons in the car?" You ARE going to search my car if I answer YES, because you HAVE to be sure they are in a legal-travel configuration. And if I answer NO you will KNOW I am lying due to subtle clues, and you will get "real interested" and search my car anyway!

Since you (the civilian) just informed me (the officer) that you are in fact transporting a firearm, you do not have the option of giving me consent to search. It is my responsibility to ensure that the firearm is being transported legally (unloaded, in a locked container)

So, even if I KNOW I am good to go legally, I should answer such that I allow a search of my property?

Really?

[P5Ret]

I think you are misinterpreting, if someone says yes they have a gun in the vehicle in most cases it does not mean anything more than a inspection of the firearm to ensure legal transport, not a full blown search of the car.

[Ron-Solo]

ORLY? That's sure what it looks like to me. And I'm not trying to be an azz here. Allow me to direct quote:





So, tell me again where I'm wrong?

If I have weapons, legally stored, and by chance I get asked "Do you have weapons in the car?" You ARE going to search my car if I answer YES, because you HAVE to be sure they are in a legal-travel configuration. And if I answer NO you will KNOW I am lying due to subtle clues, and you will get "real interested" and search my car anyway!



So, even if I KNOW I am good to go legally, I should answer such that I allow a search of my property?

Really?

You are assuming way too much. Remember, this is the law enforcement forum, where someone asked a legitimate question, and received honest answers from LEO's with plenty of street experience.

Your comments are sarcastic and won't bode well for you. You sound like you are trying to "be an azz" to use your words.

Frequency clear, KMA628.

[MFortie]

For as often as this topic comes up there must be a lot of folks on CG that can't follow simple vehicle laws!

Ya know, don't speed, don't run red lights / stop signs, use your turn signals, etc.

And if you're really paranoid about getting pulled over when you have firearms in your car, just check all your lights and equipment and make sure everything is copasetic...

I can't even remember the last time I was pulled over -- maybe in the 80's for doing something stupid? And I run through the BP check in east SD county every day and have never been asked...

[Ninety]

For as often as this topic comes up there must be a lot of folks on CG that can't follow simple vehicle laws!

Ya know, don't speed, don't run red lights / stop signs, use your turn signals, etc.

And if you're really paranoid about getting pulled over when you have firearms in your car, just check all your lights and equipment and make sure everything is copasetic...

I can't even remember the last time I was pulled over -- maybe in the 80's for doing something stupid? And I run through the BP check in east SD county every day and have never been asked...

It only takes once to ruin your day.. I'm not paranoid but I was pulled over for an out tail light.. one out of 5 wasn't working.. one of two on the same panel was burnt out. The cops wanted to pull me over before they ever got behind me.. hence the reason they whipped into the parking lot to let me pass.. I was not asked about fire arms. But had I had firearms and was asked.. I wouldn't want to give them a reason to inspect them.

It's easy to sit here in the LEO forum as a LEO and say just tell the truth if you have nothing to hide and you are legal.. The problem here is that the LEO's here are a little more knowledgeable and probably a lot cooler then some of the cops you may run into in the street.

I'd just rather stick to the reason for the stop and stop any fishing expeditions in their track. If you take offense or get really interested in me because I'm exercising my constitutional rights then you need to remember the oath you took. Officer safety , it's for the children, if you have nothing to hide. They are all gateways to trample rights. You are not my friend. You are not there to protect me. You are there to enforce laws and lock up criminals..

You don't know if I'm some crazy person with a gun and I don't know if you are a bad cop. . So lets stick to the business at hand and we can both be on our way.

Thank you all for your service and I find your answers very informative here.. It's just a very scary place here in CA to be a gun owner. In AZ we drive around with guns locked and loaded and no body cares. It is much different here.

[hardlyworking]

I think you are misinterpreting, if someone says yes they have a gun in the vehicle in most cases it does not mean anything more than a inspection of the firearm to ensure legal transport, not a full blown search of the car.

Ok, but why should a law abiding citizen, who is in fact following the law, be forced to provide evidence of same?

Your comments are sarcastic and won't bode well for you. You sound like you are trying to "be an azz" to use your words.

Point taken, like many many people on this (larger) forum I'm not big on "authority" poking around in my life.

And because of that I don't invite trouble. I'd a dad. I turn 40 this summer. I drive a reasonable car, I don't speed, I make full-and-complete stops. I use my blinkers and I check my blind spots. I don't even own a "standard-cap" repair kit, my only magazines are 10-rounders. They are transported un-loaded, in the trunk.

I just see zero reason, knowing all of that, why I should allow anybody anywhere near my stuff. If I have a burned out license-plate lamp, give me a ticket, look through my windows, see nothing-whatsoever-amiss and we'll both be on our way.

[hardlyworking]

It's easy to sit here in the LEO forum as a LEO and say just tell the truth if you have nothing to hide and you are legal.. The problem here is that the LEO's here are a little more knowledgeable and probably a lot cooler then some of the cops you may run into in the street.

This is a fine point. The LEOs here are a self-selected sub-set of a whole. You guys are probably the MOST informed of your peers.

[MagnumPower]

The few times I have ever been asked that question, I responded the same way each time, with the following answer:
"How does that relate to this traffic stop? And suppose for a minute I did. What makes ya think I'd want sticky donut prints on my shiny rifle bits?"


I'm not saying this will work for everyone, but for me, it's never failed.

[PsychGuy274]

Cool story bro.


I find that hard to believe.

I don't understand what's so hard to believe about that. Is it that two people with a sense of humor were at the same place at the same time?

[CBR_rider]

I don't understand what's so hard to believe about that. Is it that two people with a sense of humor were at the same place at the same time?

For many on this site, apparently, yes.

[Zedrek]

I've probably been pulled over about ten times in my life and only asked once if I had any firearms in my car. I always keep my hands on the steering wheel during a traffic stop and a CHP officer noted that and asked if I had any. I didn't and just told him it was habit. I've never been pulled over when I was transporting firearms but I would tell the truth. I work at a prison and the inmates lie all the time. I can usually tell when I am being lied too and it irritates me. I'm sure it's the same for the officer.

[Marty33]

We (as police officers) don't randomly ask people we pull over about their guns. It is not a routine question, but rather one that is asked if we have a reason to ask it.