TexasCHLforum.com

terryg wrote:

Superman wrote:

TLE2 wrote:The only thing I do differently is have my DL and CHL in my fingers as I hold the steering wheel. When officer sees CHL, they will ask if you are carrying. I know that you don't have to show CHL until asked but this saves me from having to say "I got a gun".

I wait to reach for ANYTHING (except turn on overhead light, even then I turn it on as I'm pulling over) until the officer is at my window and he can watch everything I do. It makes them nervous to see someone fussing around in their vehicle while they are walking up. Even if it's just to pull out your wallet to get your DL and CHL ready in hand... you could be pulling out something to kill them with just as easily. I guarantee the officer would rather spend the extra 60 seconds to have you get our ID's out while he is standing there.

It's a small thing, but I do whatever I can to minimize their anxiety of walking up to someone they just pulled over.

I don't think the answer is that clear cut. Two scenarios:

1. You fidget, including leaning over, to get your wallet and insurance out after you have stopped but before they have left their vehicle. So long before they even approach the vehicle, your cabin light is on and your hands are in plain view on top of the steering wheel. You have all required documentation on the dash ready to go.

or

2. Your hands are on the steering wheel when they arrive and you politely let them know you have a CHL and are armed. You must then, while they are standing there, lean forward and reach past your belt to retrieve your wallet and/or reach into the glove-box for the insurance card. Your belt and your glove box are the two most likely places for a weapon and you must now reach past one or both of them.

I can see positive and negative aspects of both tactics and I have heard both 'preached' many times. I lean toward the first myself. But I am not sure that there is a definitive answer.

Putting myself in the officers shoes, even in your #1, if I'm walking up to a vehicle and see someone fidgeting around, my brain could go the route that maybe you're trying to hide drugs or something else that's illegal before I get there.

Again, putting myself in the officers shoes for your #2, even if I pull over a CHL holder, I'd still rather be able to clearly watch everything as I'm standing by the window. At least then I can see everything happening as it happens and be "more prepared" rather than "be surprised". Better have him reach for the gun in the glove box while I'm standing there watching (and maybe see it as soon as it's opened) than see someone reach into their glove box and me not know what they pulled out until I get to the window...

Best thing to do is ask. I've yet to have an LEO tell me they'd prefer I have everything ready by the time they get to the window. The consensus I get is they prefer to be at the window before you do anything. Actually, I guess we could start a survey...I'll do that so this thread isn't hijacked

TLE2 wrote:The only thing I do differently is have my DL and CHL in my fingers as I hold the steering wheel. When officer sees CHL, they will ask if you are carrying. I know that you don't have to show CHL until asked but this saves me from having to say "I got a gun".

I wait to reach for ANYTHING (except turn on overhead light, even then I turn it on as I'm pulling over) until the officer is at my window and he can watch everything I do. It makes them nervous to see someone fussing around in their vehicle while they are walking up. Even if it's just to pull out your wallet to get your DL and CHL ready in hand... you could be pulling out something to kill them with just as easily. I guarantee the officer would rather spend the extra 60 seconds to have you get our ID's out while he is standing there.

It's a small thing, but I do whatever I can to minimize their anxiety of walking up to someone they just pulled over.