When stopped by a law enforcement officer

[handog]

1.Keep your hands in plain sight
2.Cooperate fully with the police officer
3.If you have a gun with you, tell the officer as soon as possible
4.Don't make any quick movements, especially toward the weapon
5.At night, turn on your vehicle's dome light

I was pulled over for an alleged illegal U turn at 1:00 AM in Memphis and let go with a warning, but not before getting a lecture on proper procedure. I handed the officer my TX. DL and CHL. He said where is your gun? I said it's tucked in my pants. He replied keep your hands where I can see them and walked back to his car. I failed #1, 3, and 5.

[G.A. Heath]

I agree with all but #3. Once you hand them your CHL you are effectively notifying them that you are armed, if they want details then they will ask. saying "I have a gun" is a good way to escalate the situation and possibly get shot. Imagine two officers working a traffic stop, one is dealing with the driver and the other is on the far side of the vehicle when he hears the word gun... If you must advise them that you have a weapon on you then you need to do so without using words like gun, weapon, or similar words that may trigger a response. Instead use a statement along the lines of "I do have a firearm on my person." or "I have a firearm located..."

[Purplehood]

I agree with all but #3. Once you hand them your CHL you are effectively notifying them that you are armed, if they want details then they will ask. saying "I have a gun" is a good way to escalate the situation and possibly get shot. Imagine two officers working a traffic stop, one is dealing with the driver and the other is on the far side of the vehicle when he hears the word gun... If you must advise them that you have a weapon on you then you need to do so without using words like gun, weapon, or similar words that may trigger a response. Instead use a statement along the lines of "I do have a firearm on my person." or "I have a firearm located..."

I would simply answer "Yes", if asked.

[wninja]

My vehicle's dome light doesn't turn on unless I open the door...that would be a very wrong move. Lowest end model vehicle with power nothing, no dome light switch or selector switch.

[74novaman]

any time I'm pulled over at night, I turn on the dome light and keep my hands on the steering wheel until .

A lot of people go immediately for their ID and insurance so they can present that promptly, but I don't. Seeing you flailing around looking for something often raises their blood pressure.
They don't know if you're digging in the glove box for your insurance card, or something to hurt them with. Once they're at the window, let them know you have to pull it out.

To avoid even having to do this, I keep my insurance card tucked into my visor, which I never flip down anyway. I drive with sunglasses on if its sunny at all.

Lower the officers stress level, and you might walk away with a warning. Its worth a shot anyway.

[Capt Roy]

I also roll down all my windows unless the weather is bad..

[gwashorn]

Unless it is raining, I lower all the windows for an easy view, dome lights on if dark and when he comes up and asks for my license I say yes sir and I am a CHL holder and I am carrying. Non alert words. If you asks where I tell him. Normally they just say just don't move toward it. I usually tell them where it is and where my wallet is and then I move my hands.

Gary

[Hoi Polloi]

I was told by police to not turn on the dome light because it says to them that you might have opened the door and might be getting out to confront them or dumping something out that you don't want them to find.

[terryg]

A lot of people go immediately for their ID and insurance so they can present that promptly, but I don't. Seeing you flailing around looking for something often raises their blood pressure.
They don't know if you're digging in the glove box for your insurance card, or something to hurt them with. Once they're at the window, let them know you have to pull it out.

I have often wondered about this myself. It seems rude to not be prepared when they come to the door. Sorta like "Ohh, you need to see my insurance? Ok, just a minute." So I usually pull mine but make sure I am done in time to have my hands on the wheel by the time they arrive. But I have often wondered if they would prefer me to wait until asked.

[terryg]

Reminds me of a joke I once heard:

Two cajuns were speeding over the state line into Texas and get lit up. The trooper walks up to the driver door and raps on the glass. When the driver rolls the window down, the officer whacks him on the back of the head with his night stick. "Whatdya do that for?" ask the driver. The trooper responds "Yer in Texas now son. In Texas, when a police officer pulls you over, you had better have your licence and insurance ready for 'em when he gets to your door."

The officer proceeds to write and issue the ticket, then he walks around to the passenger door and raps on the glass. The passenger rolls his window down and the officer whacks him on the back of the head with his night stick as well. "Dude, why are you hittin' me with that thing? I'm not driving!" The officer replies "I'm just giving you your wish. You know as well as I do that a few miles down the road - after I let you go - your gonna turn to your buddy all tough like and say 'Man, I sure wish that *#!*$ would have tried that with me!'"

[WildBill]

There are a lot of good suggestions in the thread, but you're not going to please every LEO who happens to pull you over. Keep your hands where they can see them and don't make any quick movements. I will roll the window down and wait for the LEO to tell me what to do.

[Cobra Medic]

There are a lot of good suggestions in the thread, but you're not going to please every LEO who happens to pull you over. Keep your hands where they can see them and don't make any quick movements.

A lot of the other suggestions are related to these two suggestions.

The reason to turn the dome light on is so the LEO can see you and your hands. Same with windows if they have gangsta tint.
Rolling down the driver window before he gets there means you don't have to put your hands somewhere he can't see them.

Telling the officer about the gun before he asks is required in some states, so know the local laws.

[WildBill]

There are a lot of good suggestions in the thread, but you're not going to please every LEO who happens to pull you over. Keep your hands where they can see them and don't make any quick movements.

A lot of the other suggestions are related to these two suggestions.

The reason to turn the dome light on is so the LEO can see you and your hands. Same with windows if they have gangsta tint. Rolling down the driver window before he gets there means you don't have to put your hands somewhere he can't see them.

I don't have a gangsta tint. I might turn on the dome light. The police cars have enough bright shiny lights and the officer has a big bright shiny flashlight which are plenty bright enough to blind the driver.

[wrinkles]

Last time I was pulled over by DPS I didn't say anything about a gun just have him my DL and CHL. Guy was cool just asked if I had a weapon, I said yes on my left hip, he said well just keep it there.

Reminds me of a joke I once heard:

Two cajuns were speeding over the state line into Texas and get lit up. The trooper walks up to the driver door and raps on the glass. When the driver rolls the window down, the officer whacks him on the back of the head with his night stick. "Whatdya do that for?" ask the driver. The trooper responds "Yer in Texas now son. In Texas, when a police officer pulls you over, you had better have your licence and insurance ready for 'em when he gets to your door."

The officer proceeds to write and issue the ticket, then he walks around to the passenger door and raps on the glass. The passenger rolls his window down and the officer whacks him on the back of the head with his night stick as well. "Dude, why are you hittin' me with that thing? I'm not driving!" The officer replies "I'm just giving you your wish. You know as well as I do that a few miles down the road - after I let you go - your gonna turn to your buddy all tough like and say 'Man, I sure wish that *#!*$ would have tried that with me!'"

Reminds me of another one.

LEO stops this guy says "Sir the reason I stopped you is because you ran that stop sign." The driver says "I slowed down, there was no car coming. What's the difference?" The LEO takes his flash light out and starts beating the guy about the head and shoulders with it. He then says "OK do you want me to slow down or stop?"

[handog]

The police cars have enough bright shiny lights and the officer has a big bright shiny flashlight which are plenty bright enough to blind the driver.

So true, when your blinded by a spotlight the last thing on your mind is turning more lights on. His biggest problem was not telling him I had a gun right away. I thought giving him my CHL was telling him. I also thought saying "I have a gun" might come across as threatening. OK- next times its hands on steering wheel and I have a concealed handgun license and I am carrying.