Carry permit. Would traffic stop make police be more cautious? yea or nay?

[GrumpyJoe]

After 27 years as an LEO maybe I can shed some light on this subject. In Ohio when I pull someone over and run their plate, it will tell me pretty much everything I need to know about the owner of the vehicle. This is even before I approach the car. I will know if you have a CCW, warrant, capias, driving and criminal history and if anybody with a warrant is attached to that plate. Also shows me the picture of the owner and co-owner. If a warrant/capias shows up on my screen I will know what it's for. It tells us what county you got your CCW from and when it expires. Do I feel safer? No. I treat every traffic stop the same. Just because I know who owns the car doesn't mean that person is driving it. So all you guys who don't want to show your CCW permit? We already know if you have one. And yes I will always ask the same question after I get your license. Do you have any guns, drugs, bombs, dead bodies, alcohol or anything else that I need to be concerned about inside of this vehicle? I agree that respect goes both way. But also understand the LEO wants to go and see his/her family. So what you might think is disrespect? Is us being very cautious. I hope this helps some.

 

[RNeumann]

After 27 years as an LEO maybe I can shed some light on this subject. In Ohio when I pull someone over and run their plate, it will tell me pretty much everything I need to know about the owner of the vehicle. This is even before I approach the car. I will know if you have a CCW, warrant, capias, driving and criminal history and if anybody with a warrant is attached to that plate. Also shows me the picture of the owner and co-owner. If a warrant/capias shows up on my screen I will know what it's for. It tells us what county you got your CCW from and when it expires. Do I feel safer? No. I treat every traffic stop the same. Just because I know who owns the car doesn't mean that person is driving it. So all you guys who don't want to show your CCW permit? We already know if you have one. And yes I will always ask the same question after I get your license. Do you have any guns, drugs, bombs, dead bodies, alcohol or anything else that I need to be concerned about inside of this vehicle? I agree that respect goes both way. But also understand the LEO wants to go and see his/her family. So what you might think is disrespect? Is us being very cautious. I hope this helps some.

The questioning you reference has chewed up about 4 of the 5 pages of posts......stopped for minor infraction and asked a series of potentially unrelated questions.

 

[topbuilder]

" So all you guys who don't want to show your CCW permit?"
I know you are responding to several people. For me, in Texas, there was a duty to inform CCW if any officer requests your ID AND you are carrying. My point was, I will never say the words "I have a gun". My duty is fulfilled when I hand you the plastic. I wait for the next question... which so far varies from one officer to the next.

 

[kenmac]

They don't have a data base here in Al that lets an officer know if the owner of said vehicle has a CCP. There is also no duty to inform ,or even produce the permit if asked to do so.
A CCP here allows you to do to things. 1 carry concealed on your person, and 2. carry a pistol loaded in a vehicle.
We have no permits for long guns. I can have a fully loaded AR on my front seat, and not need any type of permit

 

[GrumpyJoe]

Rneumann. The reasoning behind the potentially unrelated questions? We can tell if you are lying or not. Are you nervous? More so than any normal person getting pulled over? How did you react to my series of questions? Timothy McVeigh was pulled over for not having a license plate. Thats a minor infraction. See what I'm getting at here?

topbuilder. It all depends on how you say "I have a gun". My advice when pulled over is to have your ID and permit already out. Both hands on the steering wheel. Tell the officer that you do have a CCW permit and my weapon is... And then tell him where it is. Honesty can get you out of a lot of things. We may vary on how we do things but we all want the same thing in the end.

 

[TSO]

Honesty goes a long way ... Be honest, courteous, and respectful to the Officers, and they will most likely return the sentiment. They have a job to do. They are trying to catch potential "bad guys" and can often find them on the most minor of offenses (speeding, equipment violations, etc). Don't get butt-hurt or take it personally... It's like fishing. Some fish you can't keep, some you can keep but aren't worth the effort, and some are trophy's you remove from the water.

In Michigan, you are required to advise an officer that you have a CPL permit and are carrying concealed in your vehicle. Chances are, the Officer will ask you where the weapon is and ask you to keep your hands off of it during the encounter. He'll probably appreciate that you are a law abiding citizen that qualifies for concealed carry, and may grant you a warning for the original offense based on that.

I know alot of Police Officers... A very common theme i hear is that someone's attitude or demeanor talks them into a ticket way more often than the actual violation.

 

[LD48750]

Honesty goes a long way ... Be honest, courteous, and respectful to the Officers, and they will most likely return the sentiment. They have a job to do. They are trying to catch potential "bad guys" and can often find them on the most minor of offenses (speeding, equipment violations, etc). Don't get butt-hurt or take it personally... It's like fishing. Some fish you can't keep, some you can keep but aren't worth the effort, and some are trophy's you remove from the water.

In Michigan, you are required to advise an officer that you have a CPL permit and/or are carrying concealed in your vehicle. Chances are, the Officer will ask you where the weapon is and ask you to keep your hands off of it during the encounter. He'll probably appreciate that you are a law abiding citizen that qualifies for concealed carry, and may grant you a warning for the original offense based on that.

I know alot of Police Officers... A very common theme i hear is that someone's attitude or demeanor talks them into a ticket way more often than the actual violation.

Actually, in MI you are only required to inform IF you are carrying.
If your gun is home in the safe, you don't have to tell the officer you have a CPL.

 

[TSO]

Actually, in MI you are only required to inform IF you are carrying.
If your gun is home in the safe, you don't have to tell the officer you have a CPL.

Yeah that was a typo... Was using voice to text and didn't proof read well enough. Thanks for pointing it out

 

[PILOON]

I find that the LEO's initial greeting whenever stopped is what depicts the balance of the encounter.

If he arrogantly simply barks 'License and registration', that sets a bad scene. (here in Quebec it seems the norm)

In Ontario (and some States) it generally starts off with ,example, "pardon me sir but I hope you understand why I have pulled you over". Well I tell you it makes for a much better encounter and very often it ends up with a warning than a ticket.
In fact I leave the encounter and warning is actually welcomed.

Fact is driving long distances one often simply gets carried away due to the boredom and the speed just creeps up especially on some main highways that can handle much higher speeds than posted and with little or no traffic.

As a sales rep that traveled frequently between Montreal and Quebec City I learned that a Monday AM trick was to tail a speeding limo that had red lights behind the front grill as that was a member of parliament in his limo and they never got stopped!

Back then I generally put 30-40,000 miles on a car per year so a few stops was inevitable as was an occasional ticket.
Some well earned but others very frustrating as they suggested quotas being met.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Montreal, Quebec Speedtraps - Speedtrap.org

 

[houstonscott]

Are traffic laws that important? The whole police department is organized to stop people for traffic violations, and then use that stop as a sifting tool to look for other crimes.

 

[Bird]

I find that the LEO's initial greeting whenever stopped is what depicts the balance of the encounter.

If he arrogantly simply barks 'License and registration', that sets a bad scene. (here in Quebec it seems the norm)

In Ontario (and some States) it generally starts off with ,example, "pardon me sir but I hope you understand why I have pulled you over". Well I tell you it makes for a much better encounter and very often it ends up with a warning than a ticket.
In fact I leave the encounter and warning is actually welcomed.

Fact is driving long distances one often simply gets carried away due to the boredom and the speed just creeps up especially on some main highways that can handle much higher speeds than posted and with little or no traffic.

As a sales rep that traveled frequently between Montreal and Quebec City I learned that a Monday AM trick was to tail a speeding limo that had red lights behind the front grill as that was a member of parliament in his limo and they never got stopped!

Back then I generally put 30-40,000 miles on a car per year so a few stops was inevitable as was an occasional ticket.
Some well earned but others very frustrating as they suggested quotas being met.

The way I learned, and can't recall ever varying when I stopped a vehicle was "Good Morning (or Evening or "How do you do?"), I'm Officer (last name) and I stopped you for (violation), may I see your driver's license please?"

Incidentally, I love cruise control on my personal vehicles because, otherwise I, too, find it hard to avoid that speed creeping up on long trips.:laughing:

 

[check]

I find that the LEO's initial greeting whenever stopped is what depicts the balance of the encounter. If he arrogantly simply barks 'License and registration', that sets a bad scene. (here in Quebec it seems the norm) In Ontario (and some States) it generally starts off with ,example, "pardon me sir but I hope you understand why I have pulled you over". Well I tell you it makes for a much better encounter and very often it ends up with a warning than a ticket. In fact I leave the encounter and warning is actually welcomed. Fact is driving long distances one often simply gets carried away due to the boredom and the speed just creeps up especially on some main highways that can handle much higher speeds than posted and with little or no traffic. As a sales rep that traveled frequently between Montreal and Quebec City I learned that a Monday AM trick was to tail a speeding limo that had red lights behind the front grill as that was a member of parliament in his limo and they never got stopped! Back then I generally put 30-40,000 miles on a car per year so a few stops was inevitable as was an occasional ticket. Some well earned but others very frustrating as they suggested quotas being met.

Gee, Piloon, you must have a friendly face or something. I have NEVER had a cop here in Ontario say "pardon me, sir". "Good evening" is about the best I get. Nonetheless, my experiences have generally been positive, except of course that sometimes I end up with a speeding ticket! (Rarely)

 

[Bird]

Are traffic laws that important? The whole police department is organized to stop people for traffic violations, and then use that stop as a sifting tool to look for other crimes.

If you had to help pick up a few dead bodies at wrecks, as some of us have done, I think you'd decide that traffic laws ARE important. But no one is denying that it's been abused at times by some officers or departments.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

If you had to help pick up a few dead bodies at wrecks, as some of us have done, I think you'd decide that traffic laws ARE important. But no one is denying that it's been abused at times by some officers or departments.

I am an avid supporter of law enforcement; in fact someone near and dear to me is a member of the Police Department in another city and I have, and have had, friends in law enforcement. I have been helped more than hindered by law enforcement, so I can't complain, really. There were a couple of incidents that grind my gears a bit though. One was a speed trap that appeared deliberately set up; it was at night, on a through highway, topped a hill and there was a city limits sign and an immediate and substantial reduction in the speed limit. I saw it, and was slowing down when the lights came on. Cost me $90.00. Could have been more, but kept my mouth shut.

Another time, right after I had my little VW convertible fully restored; took it out for its first spin and cop stopped me for expired inspection sticker. Told him it was like a new car, etc. etc. Cost me $50 bucks...the inspectors commented "This is like a new car". But one thing I have learned in life, there are always a few bad apples in the barrel, and that even applies to lawyers.

Oh, one more thing. I wish they would crack down on some of the truckers in my area. They seem to ignore the speed limit, and I have been nearly driven off the road a couple of times recently when they crossed the center line...not to mention the texters and landscaping truck/trailers.

 

[Sigarms]

My expectations would be he would ask where gun was, then have me exit vehicle with my hands up. He would remove my weapon, clear it, secure it and then return it to me unloaded when traffic stop concluded.

My expectations are when I inform the officer that I have a gun, he asks me where it is, I tell him, and then we go on to why he pulled me over. The officer has no right to remove my gun from my person for a simple traffic stop.

I've gotten numerous seat belt violations. The above is how it always plays out.

 

[shaeff]

My expectations are when I inform the officer that I have a gun, he asks me where it is, I tell him, and then we go on to why he pulled me over. The officer has no right to remove my gun from my person for a simple traffic stop.

I've gotten numerous seat belt violations. The above is how it always plays out.

Yep. I never even want the firearm to come into play. That's why I don't even inform the officer unless I need to exit the vehicle.

The less handling of a firearm during a traffic stop, the better. That goes for all parties involved!

 

[PILOON]

Over the years I have had my share of tickets, some well deserved some not.
One that will burn me forever is when I pulled over (and had to cross a red light) which I did with great caution as an ambulance was hooting and bleeping for me to move over.
What I did not know was a LEO was nearby and that cost me a serious ticket (and points).
I will tell you that I now NEVER move for any siren or any emergency vehicle !

Nor does my wife as when she once did the emergency vehicle clipped her fender and guess who paid. (we have 'no fault here' which means you pay to fix yours and he pays for his. (Fire truck bumpers don't even get a scratch but a Nissan fenders can't take it)

An attorney confirmed that LEO's and other emergency vehicles are ruled by the same laws as other vehicles but are 'tolerated'.
I recently learned that postal vehicles also enjoy the special tolerances.
Shucks even an off duty volunteer fireman enjoys those privileges. (perhaps not in all jurisdictions but for sure in my neck of the woods)

Nope, whoop, holler, play siren all U want, I don't move any more!

 

[Bird]

The officer has no right to remove my gun from my person for a simple traffic stop.

I think you should check your state's statutes. I haven't kept up with any changes lately in Texas, but I do know that it used to be that the officer was within his rights to take the gun from you initially, and then return it when you're free to go; exactly the opposite of what you stated.

 

[Sigarms]

Over the years I have had my share of tickets, some well deserved some not.
One that will burn me forever is when I pulled over (and had to cross a red light) which I did with great caution as an ambulance was hooting and bleeping for me to move over.
What I did not know was a LEO was nearby and that cost me a serious ticket (and points).
I will tell you that I now NEVER move for any siren or any emergency vehicle !

Nor does my wife as when she once did the emergency vehicle clipped her fender and guess who paid. (we have 'no fault here' which means you pay to fix yours and he pays for his. (Fire truck bumpers don't even get a scratch but a Nissan fenders can't take it)

An attorney confirmed that LEO's and other emergency vehicles are ruled by the same laws as other vehicles but are 'tolerated'.
I recently learned that postal vehicles also enjoy the special tolerances.
Shucks even an off duty volunteer fireman enjoys those privileges. (perhaps not in all jurisdictions but for sure in my neck of the woods)

Nope, whoop, holler, play siren all U want, I don't move any more!

This is the same country where plain clothes cops would ask for handouts, and if someone took off their seatbelt to get their wallet, they'd write them up