I am new here, so I apologize if this has been discussed, but the thread about failure to display a CHL got me thinking about this.
I have heard some scuttle-butt that many times in traffic stops, CHL holders are dismissed by the officer with a warning for traffic violations, almost like a courtesy. In my own experience in 2 years of carry, this has not been the case. I was pulled over once for running a red light (it was one of those stop or speed up decisions that I chose wrong) and got the ticket. So I am 1 for 1 on getting ticketed since getting licensed to carry.
Actually, being my first time to be pulled over since getting the CHL, I forgot to give the LEO my CHL with my DL. When he walked back to his vehicle, I remembered and got out of the truck to take it to him. He was cool about the failure to notify, but I got the ticket for running the redlight.
If you do not want a ticket dont break the law. That is the easiest way to "get out" of one. However, it really just depends on the LEO and what you did. I got out of tickets prior to getting a CHL. Mainly 'cause the LEO knew that I just slipped up and it was a total accident. The CHL is not a get out of jail free card but some LEOs may see it as you being a GG and extend you a courtesy and others just may not care. Either way you cant be mad if you get a ticket and deserve it. I think that some people automatically assume that they will get out of a ticket due to their CHL status.
I got out of one ticket because I was driving a government car (I was a Marine Recruiter at the time and in Uniform). The State Trooper looked at me and said, "Sarge I know you don't give a darn (not exact words), but would you slow the darn (not exact words) down"?
Another ticket was when I was driving home from a long day of carrying mail in Clute (during the Summer) in my postal uniform. I think the cop simply took pity on my bedraggled appearance and simply asked me to slow down.
To me the decision to ticket is based almost entirely on who stops you and what the circumstances are. I doubt there are any hard and fast philosophies among LEO's regarding who does and who does not get tickets.
Life NRA
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redfish76 wrote:I have heard some scuttle-butt that many times in traffic stops, CHL holders are dismissed by the officer with a warning for traffic violations, almost like a courtesy.
It has never happened to me. The only warning in lieu of ticket I ever received at a traffic stop was in high school. I look at the ticket as an opportunity to take defensive driving and lower my insurance rates, so net-net traffic tickets save me money.
If you do not want a ticket dont break the law. That is the easiest way to "get out" of one. However, it really just depends on the LEO and what you did. I got out of tickets prior to getting a CHL. Mainly 'cause the LEO knew that I just slipped up and it was a total accident. The CHL is not a get out of jail free card but some LEOs may see it as you being a GG and extend you a courtesy and others just may not care. Either way you cant be mad if you get a ticket and deserve it. I think that some people automatically assume that they will get out of a ticket due to their CHL status.
Not offended, but I think my post may have been misunderstood a little. I didn't in any way get a CHL to avoid getting tickets. Also, I usually drive under the speed limit (to the point that my wife would rather drive if we are in a hurry, etc.).
I was just curious about others' experiences. Mainly to see if there is any pattern to LEO attitudes to CHL. The few LEOs I know appreciate CHL (as stated above) because they know (1) this guy has a clean record, and (2) he makes an effort to comply with the law.
That reminds me though. I got pulled over in Jan 2008 pulling the boat at about 4:30 in the morning. I was speeding, but it really wasn't my fault. My speedometer was broken (common Chevy problem) and I actually had an appointment the next morning to get it fixed. Pulling the boat and all, I honestly didn't know how fast I was going. I think that is what got me off more than the CHL.
When I got pulled over about a year ago, I showed the cop my DL and CHL. He said "you're not gonna shoot me, are you?" as he smiled and walked back to his car. He came back with my speeding ticket.
I got mine back in 01 maybe and I've probably been pulled over 6 times since then, maybe 7. Out of those I have received 1 ticket and it was for speeding from a local cop. Every other one was by a state trooper for speeding and one for not wearing a seatbelt and I was let go on all of those. Did the CHL have anything to do with it, who knows. The one ticket I got was from a cop who actually disarmed me on the side of the road thinking I might be some kinda threat to his safety, not that I care, thats his right.
mikeintexas wrote:When I got pulled over about a year ago, I showed the cop my DL and CHL. He said "you're not gonna shoot me, are you?" as he smiled and walked back to his car. He came back with my speeding ticket.
Get out of jail free? Nope, not for me, anyway!
You should have replied...as long as you dont shoot me
01/10/2009 - CHL class
06/16/2009 - Mailed application to DPS
06/18/2009 - Paperwork Received
06/25/2009 - Money Order Cashed
07/15/2009 - PIN Received
09/02/2009 - Application Completed
09/05/2009 - Plastic in Hand
Current Status: License in hand!
I'd suggest your chances of getting out a redlight ticket are a lot lower than a speeding ticket.
A light is either red or it's not. If you run it, it's not a judgement call, and it's one of the offenses most likely to result in a collision.
A speeding offense is more of a judgement call by the officer, unless it's real blatant. And there is less likelihood of an accident resulting.
Officers seem to be able to set their own threshold for citations, and it's a bit elastic for most of them. If you just fudged a bit, or were probably not intentionally speeding, you might get a break. A CHL may or may not help your case, but I doubt it will ever work against you.
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“Sometimes there is no alternative to uncertainty except to await the arrival of more and better data.” C. Wunsch
I wouldn't worry too much; the BradyBunch doesn't have very many real members. It is a prime example of an "astroturfing" organization. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astroturfing" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Well, I finally got stopped for the first time in over a decade the other day. I handed the cop my DL, CHL (I was carrying my Kahr and also I had the S&W in the glove box), and what turned out to be the wrong insurance card. Cop asked if I had my "weapon" with me, I said yes, on my right hip, and another one in the glove box. He went back, came up and informed me that I had given him an insurance card for my other car and I informed him that I was going to look in the glove box and he'd likely see my other gun in there. No prob. So I couldn't find the correct ins. card and he wrote me a ticket for speeding and also for the insurance card. So much for "get out of jail free" with a CHL! Then he said "hey, was that a Springfield I saw in your glove box?", and I said, "no, it's Smith & Wesson", then he replied "you should try an XD45. That's what I carry. Best gun I have ever shot". Then he walked back to his motorcycle and took off.
A week later (coincidence...) my wife is driving the same car with the same wrong insurance card in it, and the same gun in the glove box, she has no CHL. She got pulled over going 37mph in a 20mph SCHOOL ZONE! She gave the officer the same wrong insurance card and batted her eyelashes or whatever and then he came back, said she had the wrong insurance card, then without even telling him that there was a gun in the car she opens the glove box and starts rummaging through (I don't know if she removed the gun or not). She said "sorry, I don't have it", got a warning for the speeding and a ticket for the insurance card, which was dismissed when we sent the correct one.
So.
CHL does not get me out of a minor speeding ticket, but being a good-looking woman seems to have gotten my wife out of a worse offense.
C'est la vie. Guess I'm glad to not have TWO tickets to deal with.
mikeintexas wrote:When I got pulled over about a year ago, I showed the cop my DL and CHL. He said "you're not gonna shoot me, are you?" as he smiled and walked back to his car. He came back with my speeding ticket.
Get out of jail free? Nope, not for me, anyway!
You should have replied...as long as you dont shoot me
I'll remember that and try it if I get pulled over again. Do you think it will help??
He was cool about the failure to notify, but I got the ticket for running the redlight.
