When stopped by a law enforcement officer

[Ol Zeke]

Most of these posts are right in line with most LEOs preference.

Since I work 6p-6a, most of my contact with people is at night. Here is a run down of where I'm at mentally at different stages:


-As I light you up I'm looking for indicators that you're going to bail out of the car.

-As you stop I'm looking to see that you aren't bailing out of the car, and I'm setting up my lights to flood your car with lights. I'm making sure my camera is capturing your vehicle and its curtiledge.

-As I approach I'm looking for ANY movement inside the vehicle - who's in it, what they're doing, etc.

-Depending on if I do a driver's side or passenger's side approach, I slowly approach the window taking in everything and assessing possible threats.


Without getting into specific tactics just realize that a good officer is taking in EVERYTHING you are doing and determining if you are trying to kill him or run from him. Everyone stopped at night is a potential threat and will be treated as such. It is, however, possible to be extremely polite and friendly, AND safe. I don't like LEOs that are jerks...

I know some CPAs allow citizens to role play through traffic stops to see what its like.

When I hand you my DL & CHL do you feel more or less at ease (threatened)?
Just curious. Seems most LEOs that I've come into contact with, are less 'stiff' upon finding that I'm a CHL.

[Seabear]

All good advise, what strikes me funny though is that so many people are getting pulled over. LOL The last time I got pulled over for something I did was at least 20 years ago. We did get pulled over 6 years ago because my wife was not wearing her seatbelt. They never asked for my ID or anything, went straight to her and peeled a form off a clip board already filled out for no seat belt. Can we say DPS was targeting seatbelts that day?

If you don't get pulled over you don't have to worry about it.

[cubbyjg]

Another tip in general, dont discuss/argue why you got pulled over, given a ticket, etc. Keep your mouth shut unless he asks you a question, keep it simple and brief. Save your arguements and defense for the court and a lawyer. I received my first ticket 2 years ago and got three violations on one ticket. I kept my mouth shut, was polite and kept it simple. The officer was professional and cool enough to tell me i should go to the court date because he MIGHT be on vacation during that time in December HINT HINT!

[VoiceofReason]

Hi handog. Check out Range Master if you're going to be in Memphis for a while.

By the way Handog, is this Memphis, TX in the Panhandle? Or Memphis, Tennessee? Makes a difference.

Memphis,Tennessee. I took a job that requires travel to all 50 states so I am learning about each states laws and airline travel with a firearm. I sometimes work late at night and in some high crime areas.

Some states (OH) require LEO notification immediately upon contacting an officer for any law enforcement purposes - I'd be sure of what state you're in and what they require.

Ohio does not honor Texas CHLs. http://www.nraila.org/recmap/usrecmap.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; click on Ohio.

[terryg]

1. I hit the "all the way down" setting on the power window.

You know, I have to roll my window down everyday to wave my card in front of the parking gate at work - and I still can't seem to get the auto all the way down thing to work right. I either hit it too long or too short or I hit the button for the back seat window. It's a classic ID10T error example.

[sar]

nothing to do with the above (well it might lower the officer's stress) but pull over AS FAR AS YOU CAN. I've taken care of more than one cop who's been clipped by passing motorists. This is especially true in bad weather. (and even more so in snow/hail/slush when I lived up north)

[handog]

If you don't get pulled over you don't have to worry about it.

If you drive a car sooner or later you will get pulled over.

I was let go with a “warning" because the u turn I made was legal. There were no lines on the street and certainly no signs that say no u turn. Warned about what?
Turning my car around? It was 1:00 AM and I was the only car on the road which raised suspicion; that's why I was pulled over. Have you heard the saying "There are only two kinds of people out at 1 AM, Cops and criminals." It's not true.

[gigag04]

When I hand you my DL & CHL do you feel more or less at ease (threatened)?
Just curious. Seems most LEOs that I've come into contact with, are less 'stiff' upon finding that I'm a CHL.

I'm not very stiff to begin with so I would say depends. I have had to arrest CHL holders before, but they are in the extreme minority. I was a CHL before becoming LE so I get along well and am not threatened.

With Texas law, I pretty much assume that everyone has a gun that I contact. Keeps me me on my toes.

[The Annoyed Man]

Hi handog. Check out Range Master if you're going to be in Memphis for a while.

By the way Handog, is this Memphis, TX in the Panhandle? Or Memphis, Tennessee? Makes a difference.

Memphis,Tennessee. I took a job that requires travel to all 50 states so I am learning about each states laws and airline travel with a firearm. I sometimes work late at night and in some high crime areas.

Some states (OH) require LEO notification immediately upon contacting an officer for any law enforcement purposes - I'd be sure of what state you're in and what they require.

Ohio does not honor Texas CHLs. http://www.nraila.org/recmap/usrecmap.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; click on Ohio.

Aaahhhh, but they will honor my Utah CFP.

[KFP]

Some states (OH) require LEO notification immediately upon contacting an officer for any law enforcement purposes - I'd be sure of what state you're in and what they require.

Ohio does not honor Texas CHLs. http://www.nraila.org/recmap/usrecmap.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; click on Ohio.

Aaahhhh, but they will honor my Utah CFP.

Regardless, the important thing to know is what the laws are for the state that you're traveling in, because they can differ significantly, and there may be other states with laws similar to Ohio.

For example (again with OH IIRC), if you're pulled over you need to interrupt the officer and say that you have a CHL - not just hand the officer your CHL when asked for ID as we do in Texas. Failing to do so may result in an unpleasant experience. "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."

[E.Marquez]

Proper Conduct During Traffic Stops
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administra ... l/stop.htm

Traveling on Texas Roadways with Concealed Handguns
Traffic stop policies vary among law enforcement agencies. Your local police department or sheriff's office can tell you what to expect if stopped while carrying a handgun within their jurisdictions.

Texas Department of Public Safety troopers will ask you:

Whether you are licensed to carry a concealed handgun
Whether you have the gun with you
Where the gun is located
A trooper may disarm a licensee anytime he or she feels that safety is at risk. The trooper will return the gun at the end of the traffic stop when the threat to safety has passed.

When stopped by a law enforcement officer, DPS recommends that you:

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

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[ninemm]

Not one person here has mentioned asking the person stopping you for proof that he/she is a legitimate LEO.

[WildBill]

Not one person here has mentioned asking the person stopping you for proof that he/she is a legitimate LEO.

I know it rarely happens, but I have only been stopped by police in full uniform [displaying a badge] and driving a vehicle clearly marked as a police vehicle. I have never asked to see their credentials. YMMV.

If you are truly concerned, put on your emergency blinkers, call 911 and drive to a well-lighted area with plenty of witnesses.

[boba]

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administra ... l/stop.htm

I was wondering when someone would post that.

[handog]

Aaahhhh, but they will honor my Utah CFP.

Which reminds me to take the class ASAP. This will be my third License to carry. Te first one (and should be all that is necessary) is the Second amendment of the Constitution.

For anyone else who may be interested, here is a list of instructors:

http://publicsafety.utah.gov/bci/docume ... te_084.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;