TexasCHLforum.com

I have carried off and on for 9 years, but this is the first time I have carried much at work. No one knows, it’s not “clear” in the handbook, and building is not posted, so I have never asked. I am legal but assume I’ll be let go if discovered.


Today I was followed by a cop, thought he was going to pull me over, so my mind was racing… Problem is a co-worker was in the auto with me. I was not stopped, so it’s was a non issue…BUT?

how should I handle the:

hear is my id,,, but I don’t want my passenger to know abut my gun?


Should I ask the officer to conduct the business at the back of the truck? Should I keep a note with my id’s saying “I am packing, but can’t let this joker next to me know”


And the thought got me thinking, there are lots of people (friends and family) that know I carry but don’t know the frequency, and probably don’t like it if they learned more….

Note is probably best, what do you think?

A note might work, maybe something like: Please don't "out me" dude!

Naw, just kidding. I don't know how to avoid it...short of exiting the vehicle where you can converse with the officer, (but some LEO don't like for you to exit the vehicle).

I have played this same scenario in my mind many times and can't really say what I would do. I agree with Flint that some LEO tend to get nervous when you exit the vehicle. But, if you have someone in the car who has an aversion to guns or concealed carry (I make a conscious effort to not let those types in my car, and I have never informed anyone in my vehicle of my carry status, friendly or not), exiting the vehicle might keep them from finding out and compromising your employment. A better option would be to let the coworker drive and risk being pulled over. Of course, the best option is to not get pulled over...

I've thought about this same type of situation at great length and have decided that I'll simply hand the officer DL and CHL and simply say "That's in the center console/my 4 o'clock/etc". That way (hopefully) they'll understand the situation, or at least it may prevent the word GUN from coming up in conversation.

Only ticket my wife ever got she was armed & 2 ladies were w/ her that have no clue what CHL stands for. She gave DL & Plastic, calmly said I am armed & the lady officer gave her the ticket & returned everything. Other 2 ladies never knew anything & the word gun was never used.

I am not a LEO or lawyer but I would suggest you do not exit your vehicle until instructed to. Most LEOs I have talked to, especially DPS, say to stay put and wait on them. The question is, are you required to verbally tell the officer or just hand them your CHL and DL. I have read where some people do not verbally say anything and that the CHL is notice enough. I would suggest you do a search on that and/or ask that question on this board. I do not think you are required to tell the officer you are carrying but I do. No matter what, the first question the officer will probably ask is if you are armed and where it is. That is my own experience . So, it doesn't really matter because the LEO will probably expose you. I don't think a note will do any good and may cause you problems with trying to explain to the officer that you are not being held hostage or something by the passenger. My wife spent 20 minutes explaining that to a DPS officer near Dallas a few months ago simply because the officer didn't trust my brother-in-law was telling the truth. Getting out or passing notes is not something I would suggest. The officer is on alert anyway and you don't want to up his/her level.

I have no answer as far as how to keep a passenger from knowing you carry. The only option I know of is to unload your weapon and separate the ammo, lock it up and put it in the trunk. Then, your not carrying but traveling under fed law and don't have to claim the weapon or show your CHL. That is not something I would want to do. I say, risk it and take the hit. Your company can fire you but you can also get killed because you are afraid of how someone might react. I would suggest, like others, that you limit those who ride with you to those who have the same beliefs as you. If you don't ask, you don't know. The person riding with you might be packing too. It isn't hard to find out how someone feels about something if you are smart about what you say and how you say it. "Brother wants me to go to the gun range some time." or "My buddy told me Obama is threatening the NRA because they are telling lies about him.". I have never gone "fishing" without gaining some info about someone. Small talk can reveal a lot for those who actually listen. Good luck.

I haven't tested this with a passenger yet, but I have been pulled over with it and haven't had an officer comment about it.

My insurance cards are printed out on my insurance companies website. I print one out and then photocopy a copy of my TDL, CHL and insurance card on an 8x11 sheet of paper that I have pre-printed a typed note in bold print that reads:

Officer,

If at all possible, I would appreciate you not mentioning my CHL status in front of my clients / passengers.

Thank you for your consideration.

I know that it sounds cheesy, but it is what it is. Like I said it's untested. I made the copies originally without the text and before the travelling law went in to effect. My thinking was if I was mistakenly lef tth ehosue without my license and had my usual console weapon, maybe the officere would see proof and have mercy on me.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

ScubaSigGuy wrote:I haven't tested this with a passenger yet, but I have been pulled over with it and haven't had an officer comment about it.

My insurance cards are printed out on my insurance companies website. I print one out and then photocopy a copy of my TDL, CHL and insurance card on an 8x11 sheet of paper that I have pre-printed a typed note in bold print that reads:

Officer,

If at all possible, I would appreciate you not mentioning my CHL status in front of my clients / passengers.

Thank you for your consideration.

I know that it sounds cheesy, but it is what it is. Like I said it's untested. I made the copies originally without the text and before the travelling law went in to effect. My thinking was if I was mistakenly left the house without my license and had my usual console weapon, maybe the officere would see proof and have mercy on me.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

I like this idea. After I got my passport, I was told to make a copy of the photo page and my TX DL, then whenever I travel, I can leave my passport locked in my hotel, and carry my plastic txdl and the paper in case i run into problems. They can always carry me back to the hotel and get hard proof of my travel status.

I was thinking that you could write the note on a business card, which i keep between my license and plastic, so that if i have to pull my dl at a store, my CHL does not show... but I would not want a LEO to think I'm trying to get my way out of a ticket because I think I work somewhere important, because I don't...

I've never heard of an officer asking to see the firearm or hold the firearm, even though they could. I would imagine that some officers would assume they should not make a stink if there are others in the car, but I could see them asking "where's it located now?" and if you in turn say "on my right hip", or "in my right pocket", your passengers may wonder what the code words where, because they are going to be listening and alert, nervous they may be in trouble as well. some people just get more nervous around cops than guns, and that a lone could be enough of a distraction.

The only part of this we have control over is clearly communicating the desire for discretion to the officer.

If the officer feels a need to disarm you then all the discretion in the world won't help you,he is more concerned about his safety than your situation

KFP wrote:I've thought about this same type of situation at great length and have decided that I'll simply hand the officer DL and CHL and simply say "That's in the center console/my 4 o'clock/etc". That way (hopefully) they'll understand the situation, or at least it may prevent the word GUN from coming up in conversation.

Then you get some jake leg like I got in Pearland that insisted on taking it, waving it around because he cant figure out how to unload a 1911, then hand you back an empty gun, then an empty mag, then a handful of bullets thru the passenger window.

rm9792 wrote:

KFP wrote:I've thought about this same type of situation at great length and have decided that I'll simply hand the officer DL and CHL and simply say "That's in the center console/my 4 o'clock/etc". That way (hopefully) they'll understand the situation, or at least it may prevent the word GUN from coming up in conversation.

Then you get some jake leg like I got in Pearland that insisted on taking it, waving it around because he cant figure out how to unload a 1911, then hand you back an empty gun, then an empty mag, then a handful of bullets thru the passenger window.

Ha, yeah that wouldn't be good for keeping things under wraps. Somehow it makes sense to me that an officer who doesn't really know how to operate a gun would be the most likely type to disarm someone during a traffic stop! In order to insure everyone's safety of course!

smyrna wrote:I agree with Flint that some LEO tend to get nervous when you exit the vehicle.

I don't have a good solution for keeping passengers from learning you're armed, but I can tell you for sure that it is a really bad ideato exit a vehicle during a traffic stop unless ordered to do so.

It rings major alarm bells with officers because good guys usually don't, and bad guys often do. Both sides know it places the driver in position to initiate an effective attack much more quickly than when seated in the car. Many officers will respond by taking a position of cover and will use the PA to order you back inside your car before they will approach, and some will unholster or call for backup at this point. The extra adrenaline you put in the officer's system this way won't be at all helpful, and for sure it won't reduce your chances of getting a citation.

On the plus side, many officers aren't really interested in if or where you're carrying once they know you're legal to do so. The question often doesn't come up at all once they see the CHL.

Excaliber wrote:

smyrna wrote:I agree with Flint that some LEO tend to get nervous when you exit the vehicle.

I don't have a good solution for keeping passengers from learning you're armed, but I can tell you for sure that it is a really bad ideato exit a vehicle during a traffic stop unless ordered to do so.

It rings major alarm bells with officers because good guys usually don't, and bad guys often do. Both sides know it places the driver in position to initiate an effective attack much more quickly than when seated in the car. Many officers will respond by taking a position of cover and will use the PA to order you back inside your car before they will approach, and some will unholster or call for backup at this point. The extra adrenaline you put in the officer's system this way won't be at all helpful, and for sure it won't reduce your chances of getting a citation.

On the plus side, many officers aren't really interested in if or where you're carrying once they know you're legal to do so. The question often doesn't come up at all once they see the CHL.

Funny how things change. I understand the reason officers prefer you to remain in the vehicle...but 30 yrs. ago it was common practice for citizens to exit the vehicle...and indeed considered a sign of respect.

On the one hand an officer can see exactly what you are doing, on the other...it does allow for a quicker attack (if a person was so inclined).

Times and tactics change I guess.

I've wondered about this as well.

I've only had one exchange with an officer since getting my CHL, and he barely gave it a glance. Mars, on the other hand, was questioned both times, the officer asking where his weapon was located.

Based on my own experiences and the stories people here have told, I'm guessing gender may play a small role in whether one is asked about the gun and possibly disarmed.

I really don't know what to tell you, and I'm intersted in hearing more from our LEOs on the forum on this matter as well.