Reaching for your ... wallet.

[jggatlin]

When I get pulled over these are my actions:

1) Car stopped with engine off
2) Interior light on if it's dark outside.
3) Window down.
4) Both hands on the steering wheel.
5) I don't reach for ANYTHING until instructed to by the officer.
6) When he asks for my ID, tell him "I'm a CHL holder and I'm in carry. The gun is located _____ and my wallet is _____. I'm going to get my wallet."

State your intentions in a clear voice there are no misunderstandings. Most of the time the cop will be cool. But if he decides to be a jerk, you're covered.

[Glockster]

1) Car stopped, engine off (so the officer knows that I'm not going anywhere).
2) Window down immediately (so the officer doesn't wonder what you're doing lowering it as he/she walks up to my vehicle).
3) Don't touch the dome light, that's an unnecessary movement and the dome light is unnecessary because if it is night, the "take down" lights will be light enough.
4) Don't reach for the wallet, that's an unnecessary movement that could be mistaken for something else and you don't yet know you need it.
5) Hands on the wheel at 10 & 2.
6) When the officer gets to the vehicle, say hello and then state that you have a CHL and a weapon in the vehicle, and ask the officer how he/she would like you to proceed.
7) Follow the directions that will follow.

I've been driving for more than 40 years and never been stopped much less a ticket. But the above is directly as it came from my CHL class here, and was the same in my CHP elsewhere, and the same that I was told in both a Citizen's Police Academy and the FBI Citizen's Academy. That advice was given after the class being told that most LEO are taught to trail their hand up the side of your vehicle upon approach - as that will leave DNA on the vehicle. And that's how nervous they are about traffic stops and that a significant percentage of the population will have a weapon in the vehicle. I would like to do my part to make them less nervous.

[Charlies.Contingency]

Since I've gotten my CHL for carry, I haven't changed anything as far as interacting with LEO's. My common practice anticipating interaction with a LEO is to take out my wallet ahead of time. In my truck, I tend to keep my wallet in a cup holder on my right side, so it's away from my gun anyway, but not always. Last week I had an encounter with local county behind my building at night, I took out my wallet before they exited their vehicles, and gave the first officer my CHL and DL together while saying that I'm the manager of the building. The officer looked at them, I could see his eyes shift between both ID's, he looked at me, handed them back and we continued on with our business. No questions, no concerns, but he knew and I knew, and I just kept my hands in the interview position.

Should he have asked where, I would have told him a .45 at my 6, a .40 on my 3, a .22 in the glove box, and a .308 between the passenger seat and center console, and probably another .40 and a few hundred rounds of combined ammo in the bag behind my seat. I doubt he would have been ambitious enough to try and disarm me after saying that. I would be a bit flustered had somebody come to my place of business for an alarm, and completely stripped me and my truck.

I avoid the whole, "I HAVE A GUN" thing, but then again, it's nothing new to me. Just a change from credentials to a CHL. Stay calm and cool, and that's the way it will go.

[jailbird]

Like some others I wait until the officer asks for ID. This is when I tell them where my ID is and ask them if I can retrieve it. I also usually do this because in jeans I sometimes need to remove my seatbelt to get to my wallet, so I say something like "may I take my seat belt off?" That way they have to acknowledge that I originally had the belt on so that I don't get ticketed for it. My sister in law had that happen to her.

[Charlies.Contingency]

Like some others I wait until the officer asks for ID. This is when I tell them where my ID is and ask them if I can retrieve it. I also usually do this because in jeans I sometimes need to remove my seatbelt to get to my wallet, so I say something like "may I take my seat belt off?" That way they have to acknowledge that I originally had the belt on so that I don't get ticketed for it. My sister in law had that happen to her.

Wow, that's really unfortunate! The main reason I don't carry my wallet in my pocket is that it hurts my back to be sitting on it on one side. The only time I have my wallet on me when driving is if I'm wearing cargo's of some sort with a thigh pocket.

[winters]

i never understood this desire to think up grandious ways of acting around police or rehearsing what your statement about carrying your gun is. just act normally and i don't see the big deal. i never kept my wallet in my back pocket nor do i even have my wallet in my pocket while im driving. it sits on the passenger seat. that's about as tactical as it gets with me.

i have been pulled over for speeding enough that i have my id and insurance out before the officer even gets out of the car. big deal.

Last time i was pulled over i gave the officer my id and i told him i was carrying my gun. he didnt even care about my chl or my gun he was in a big hurry to write me a ticket so he could get back to his speed trap.

police run there hand up the side of your car to leave dna? lol ok i hope they spit on there hand first otherwise the only thing your going to leave is finger marks in the dirt. who thinks up this stuff? obviously not anyone in the medical field.

[NotRPB]

What I did
I used to carry driver's license credit cards and CHL & insurance in a business card/credit card wallet in shirt pocket
money in a money clip, perhaps other stuff in a rear pocket wallet

Got my wallet put it on dashboard with keys I removed from ignition after turning off motor, roll down window if not already down (then if dark dome light on) and hands on steering wheel all before he reaches my rear bumper

Only got pulled over once, i did above, he didn't ask for ID or anything, just said niece needed to wear shoulder belt correctly and told us to go on

The money clip is near the gun if a criminal wants to see them both

[rdcrags]

To each his own, but I am reading much overkill, in my view and based on the few experiences I have had. There is more than ample time to retrieve the cards and place them in the shirt pocket before placing hands on the wheel. If no shirt pocket, I place them on the dash for plain sight retrieval.

[mloamiller]

The main reason I don't carry my wallet in my pocket is that it hurts my back to be sitting on it on one side.

Wow! I wish I had enough money in my wallet that it would cause that problem for me!

[Rrash]

I keep my DL and CHL in my wallet - right hip pocket, just past my gun at 3:00. I haven't been stopped since I've had my CHL, but in the past, my normal reaction was to reach for my wallet as soon as I pulled over, so I had my DL and insurance card ready for the officer when he came to my window. Now that I'm wearing a gun, I'm very conscious that it's in near proximity to my wallet.

What do others do in this situation:
1. Reach for the wallet anyway.
2. Don't reach for anything until the LEO asks, then tell them you have a CHL/gun before reaching.
3. Always keep DL and CHL immediately available, not in wallet.
4. Something else.

I carry my wallet and firearm the same way. I've been pulled over twice. Both times, I got my wallet out before the officer came to my window. I placed my CHL on top of my license, insurance on the bottom. I keep my hands visible, lights on, window down, etc. Just calmly explain that you are handing him your CHL, DL, and insurance. It was never an issue. In fact, one of the officers talked to me for about 5 mins about EDC guns, lights, knives, etc. It was kind of like we were shooting the bull...until he still gave me the ticket.

If I were to make contact before I could retrieve my wallet, I would keep my hands visible and away from the firearm. Explain to the officer that you have your CHL, its in your wallet, and ask him how he/she wants to proceed. I would also repeat back to the officer the commands to 1: show that you are in compliance, and 2: make sure you have heard them correctly. I doubt this will be much of an issue by this time next year.

[Charlies.Contingency]

The main reason I don't carry my wallet in my pocket is that it hurts my back to be sitting on it on one side.

Wow! I wish I had enough money in my wallet that it would cause that problem for me!

Nah, don't kid yourself. Mostly credentials and other cards. I always buy the wrong wallet when I shop for them, and get the triple fold instead of the bi-fold which makes it even worse, though it has been convenient due to the easy ID feature.

[WildBill]

Many years ago I stopped carrying my wallet in my hip pocket.

That was from some advice from a friend who lived in Central America who told me that pick pockets like wallets in back pockets.

Another piece of advice was from a chiropractor who told me that carrying a wallet in the back pocket was not good for my back.

[sooperdooper]

I was recently (few weeks ago) pulled over in Houston on my way home. I was just hauling ass and ready to get home. It went as follows:

1. Recognized lights, immediately signaled to get over to far right lane.
2. Roll my window down, as well as the rear window. (F350 sits up high and dark tint)
3. Once I'm stopped, I turn off truck and place keys on dash in front of me so office can see truck is off and I'm not going anywhere.
4. Retrieve license, CHL, and Insurance. ----- I keep my wallet in my cupholder next to me and my insurance stays on my visor. At no point am I reaching across the truck or leaning to get anything out of my pockets.
5. Keep my hands on the wheel with documents in hand until officer requests them.
6. Obligatory "Do you know why I pulled you over...blah blah blah...."
7. Officer:Where is the weapon?
Me: (Hands still on the wheel) In a holster on my right hip.
Officer: Would you mind stepping out of the vehicle?

Officer disarmed me, placed weapon on the seat of my truck and instructed me to stand at the back of my truck. Once he gave me the ticket, he made it a point to say "I am in full support of CHL holders, I have no objection to it. I only disarm for my own safety. You never know these days."

He was very courteous and even warned me of more officers up ahead. I had no problem with him disarming me. It's his right as much as it is mine to carry. Unfortunately, he wasn't courteous enough to not give me the ticket. Although, I was doing 88 in a 65.....

[ibenthrown]

Many years ago I stopped carrying my wallet in my hip pocket.

That was from some advice from a friend who lived in Central America who told me that pick pockets like wallets in back pockets.

Another piece of advice was from a chiropractor who told me that carrying a wallet in the back pocket was not good for my back.

I've received the same advice, we must'a had the same chiropractor.
I also used to spend a lot of time horseback, front pants pocket makes more sense.