Traffic Stops and Such

[namronba]

I am waiting for the next class to open up to get the process started for my CHL. I was talking to my boss, who is thinking about getting his as well.
He was told by a couple of Law Enforcement friends, one local police officer and one Border Patrol Officer, that he should think long and hard about
getting it because he was opening himself up to all sorts of problems during traffic stops and such. He was told that he would be removed from the vehicle and it
would be searched during any type of traffic stop just for having a CHL. Not that he would have anything to hide but he does not want to go throught that inconvenience.
I think it sounds like a bunch of bull to me, but wondering what input I could get from the rest of you.

[AEA]

Not true.

Sounds like a couple of Liberal Cops trying to scare/stop you/him from exercising your constitutional right to keep and bear arms.

[WildBill]

Not true.

Sounds like a couple of Liberal Cops trying to scare/stop you/him from exercising your constitutional right to keep and bear arms.

Very strange, indeed. Be very careful crossing the border. If you go to Mexico, DO NOT carry or even have ammunition or shell casings in your car. IANAL, but you will be in big trouble if you do.

[karder]

Not true.

Sounds like a couple of Liberal Cops trying to scare/stop you/him from exercising your constitutional right to keep and bear arms.

Very strange, indeed. Be very careful crossing the border. If you go to Mexico, DO NOT carry or even have ammunition or shell casings in your car. IANAL, but you will be in big trouble if you do.

Absolutely, positively do not carry any firearm or ammunition to Mexico. If you get caught you will be arrested and it will take you a long time to get out. The last fellow I remember making that mistake in my area was locked up for 4 months before U.S. authorities were able to get him some help. That country has some of the strictest gun control in the world, and one of the highest crime rates. I am sure the two are unrelated though.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

namronba:

There are many reports by CHL Forum members of being stopped
by LEO's and nothing rude like this has ever been reported.

Usually the LEO asks where your weapon is and asks you to keep
your hands on the wheel.

Many LEO's hardly glance at the CHL plastic and do not seem concerned
at all.

As long as you don't do anything strange that makes the LEO uncomfort-
able, you and your boss should be fine.

You didn't state your town, but if you are near the Mexican border, maybe
the LEO's down there are jumpier than the ones further away from the border.

SIA

[ELB]

What your boss was told is largely untrue. Read thru the LEO Blooper section. Some cops get their paranoia on with a CHL holder, but the vast majority handle it in stride without a lot of fuss.

Note that by law if you are carrying a gun under authority of your CHL and you are stopped and asked for ID you are required to tell a texas peace officer. However there is no penalty for not telling the peace officer. Make of that what you will.

What your boss was told is certainly not a reason to not get a CHL.

[CC Italian]

Totally untrue from what I have experienced when getting pulled over. I was pulled over by a Harris County Sheriffs deputy. I had a headlight out and it must have just happened on my way home. The officer pulled me over. I turned my light on in my truck with the window rolled up and waited for the officer to approach. He gave me the motion to role down my window and I did. He asked me how I was doing this evening and asked for my license and insurance. I know that you don't have to give them your CHL unless they ask anymore but I rather let the officer know just incase he somehow sees the gun on me or pulls me out of the car. I them told him that I am a CHL holder and am carrying my sidearm on my person. He asked where and I said my right hip. I told him my driver license, CHL and my insurance was in my back left jean pocket. He told me to get it. I then gave him my CHL, driver license and insurance to him. He then ran my license and told me that I had a front headlight out, which I didn't even notice until he told me. He told me to have a good night and told me to get the light fixed the next day. He did not bug me, harass me or pull me out of the car. He was professional and courteous and acting like it was no big deal.

[Dudley]

Absolutely, positively do not carry any firearm or ammunition to Mexico.

Even better don't go to Mexico.

[5thGenTexan]

But the beaches, all inclusives, and uncrowded golf courses are soooo bee-utiful and call me back to Playa every year or two. especially the uncrowded if overpriced golf courses.

[Pete92FS]

I am waiting for the next class to open up to get the process started for my CHL. I was talking to my boss, who is thinking about getting his as well.
He was told by a couple of Law Enforcement friends, one local police officer and one Border Patrol Officer, that he should think long and hard about
getting it because he was opening himself up to all sorts of problems during traffic stops and such. He was told that he would be removed from the vehicle and it
would be searched during any type of traffic stop just for having a CHL. Not that he would have anything to hide but he does not want to go throught that inconvenience.
I think it sounds like a bunch of bull to me, but wondering what input I could get from the rest of you.

I've been stopped one time by HPD because he thought my plates were expired and he wasn't even interested in looking at my CHL when I tried to hand it to him and didn't even ask if I was carrying.

[mgood]

I just wonder how traveling to Mexico became part of this discussion. Was it because of the mention of a Border Patrol officer in the original post?

[Kythas]

I was pulled over a month or so ago and nothing like this happened. The officer examined my CHL, asked if I had my weapon on me (the answer to that question is always "yes"), had me sign for my ticket, thanked me for my courtesy, and sent me on my way. No muss, no fuss.

[dicion]

Totally untrue from what I have experienced when getting pulled over. I was pulled over by a Harris County Sheriffs deputy. I had a headlight out and it must have just happened on my way home. The officer pulled me over. I turned my light on in my truck with the window rolled up and waited for the officer to approach. He gave me the motion to role down my window and I did. He asked me how I was doing this evening and asked for my license and insurance. I know that you don't have to give them your CHL unless they ask anymore but I rather let the officer know just incase he somehow sees the gun on me or pulls me out of the car. I them told him that I am a CHL holder and am carrying my sidearm on my person. He asked where and I said my right hip. I told him my driver license, CHL and my insurance was in my back left jean pocket. He told me to get it. I then gave him my CHL, driver license and insurance to him. He then ran my license and told me that I had a front headlight out, which I didn't even notice until he told me. He told me to have a good night and told me to get the light fixed the next day. He did not bug me, harass me or pull me out of the car. He was professional and courteous and acting like it was no big deal.

Incorrect, you are Still required, by law, to give them your CHL any time you are asked for ID.

... there just is no penalty for not doing so (although I'm sure a large number of LEOs are not aware of this fact, and will probably not be too happy if they find it out on the computer, and not from you)

[PBratton]

I've never been dis-armed or searched during a traffic stop, and I've had my share in the last 10 years or so since they started issuing CHL's in Texas.

My last stop, two weeks ago, leaving the deer lease, the Deputy started guessing where my pistol might be...

[txmatt]

I've been disarmed once during a traffic stop and that was with DPS. This is consistent with other reports on this board. The trooper was professional about it, asked me where the gun was, told me he would take it and did. He did not perform any other search of me or my belongings. I would much rather not be disarmed, but, the law says it's up to the officer and if that's all he does (i.e. no nasty commentary on why I'm carrying or using it as a pretext for other searches) I'm not going to get too upset. It did not add any significant additional inconvenience.

Other times I've been stopped the officer has just asked where it was and told me not to reach for it or something like that.

In short, it's just not really a problem.