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I've been told and have seen different. Maybe one of the cops on hear will weigh in on this again. This isn't the first go around on this.

See texanjoker's comment.
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People's insurance is tied to the tag though.

I try to give them same courtesy that I might want if I were a LEO walking up to a car with a person in it that I don't know.

1. Lic., Ins. and CHL out with both hands on the wheel and window rolled down because I have tinted windows all before the officer walks up to the car.
2. Tell them I have a concealed weapon on me if I do and tell them I do not have one on me if I don't.
3. Turn the light on in my car if it's dark.
4. Speak politely to the officer.

Doing the above has gotten me out of a ticket every time I've been pulled over since I've gotten my (CHL (3 times)

I know what the law requires and doesn't but I also know common courtesy.

texanjoker wrote:Seems to me it is common courtesy to let the leo know where the gun is when handing over a chl. It could also meant the difference in a courtesy warning or receiving a coupon for the original traffic stop violation

How widespread do you think your preference is? I've been stopped several times and each time I handed the CHL over with the DL. About half the time the officer looked at it and handed it back without saying anything. The other half of the time the officer asked if I was armed and handed it back. Only once did an officer ask where the gun was and after I told him that was it. Sometimes I got a written warning, sometimes just a verbal warning. The last time I wasn't in my vehicle and got a ticket for an expired inspection sticker.

Like others here, I'm a little hesitant to pop out with an announcement that I've got a gun, and spouting out that I've got a CHL feels a little like bragging, so I'm much more comfortable handing the officer the CHL and having him tell me how he'd like to proceed. I always have both hands on the wheel, window rolled down, radio/cd player off, engine off.

VMI77 wrote:

texanjoker wrote:Seems to me it is common courtesy to let the leo know where the gun is when handing over a chl. It could also meant the difference in a courtesy warning or receiving a coupon for the original traffic stop violation

How widespread do you think your preference is? I've been stopped several times and each time I handed the CHL over with the DL. About half the time the officer looked at it and handed it back without saying anything. The other half of the time the officer asked if I was armed and handed it back. Only once did an officer ask where the gun was and after I told him that was it. Sometimes I got a written warning, sometimes just a verbal warning. The last time I wasn't in my vehicle and got a ticket for an expired inspection sticker.

Like others here, I'm a little hesitant to pop out with an announcement that I've got a gun, and spouting out that I've got a CHL feels a little like bragging, so I'm much more comfortable handing the officer the CHL and having him tell me how he'd like to proceed. I always have both hands on the wheel, window rolled down, radio/cd player off, engine off.

Discretion is part of being an officer. Some are pure ticket writers while others are not. The 'newer' generation seems to produce more revenue generators then the olden days. Some agencies mandate a very large volume of daily tickets as well. After all, this is Texas where some agencies derive a large portion of their funding from ticket revenue We read a lot in here about our "rights" yet see many comments (not just in this thread) where people are only going to do the bare minimum when it comes to a LEO encounter and it appears often want to force an issue. Take it from the leo side. They can scratch you a coupon or give a warning. I don't know many humans that are going to give warnings to people that may treat them less then courteous or use common sense. Sure the CHL law says to present the ID only. The law also says doing 3 over is a speed violation. We can follow black and white which is a coupon or use common sense/discretion. The same applies to a CHL.

With that said, many leo's are not going to care that you are armed, and when they see the chl they know you are probably a law abiding citizen. To answer a different post a license place check DOES NOT provide driver's license info or CHL info. A leo should consider all cars stopped to be armed because you never know and use the same officer safety they would on any stop. Some may want to know where the weapon is and some may not. I personally would like to know where and would ask because if you reach for papers, and have the gun in the glove box, it probably would be a good idea for me to know that before your hand goes into the glove box.

If I were to be stopped, (haven't been stopped in 10 years or so) I would have my hands on the steering wheel, interior lights on if nighttime, and NOT be rummaging through my glove box looking for papers. That is always alarming when walking up on a car. Sure most are looking for registration papers but others are concealing their dope or hiding/arming themselves. When I present my ID's to the leo I would let them know I am armed and where. I would expect the same courtesy from them if the stop were reversed. To add, leo's are not required to ID themselves as being armed, but are taught to do so for officer safety and courtesy.


If all else fails flash the CHL badge out the window as the officer is approaching the car

Common courtesy and offering up information are two completely different things, especially when it may be a pretextual stop in the first place. Most cops aren't interested in being Eddy Haskelled. Most I know see through it just like June and Ward did. Some even take it as as reason to be even more suspicious of what "may" be going on. It's already been acknowledged cops can lie to spmeone , why should we be expected to offer up info in the hopes of just getting a warning.?

Treat cops professionally and with courtesy and expect the same.

If I was a LEO I would not care if someone is carrying. I'd assume they all are until proven otherwise.

DPS teaches instructors to NOT say/mention gun, let them ask.

If I was told to get out of the car, then, I'd let them know I had one on my hip (and in my pocket). I do not want to surprise him on the side of the road.

I don't think there is a perfect traffic stop. Too much variation on each side.
I've got a procedure that I follow and if I can (without being noticed) get a recorder on, I do that too.

I've had hands at 11/1 on the wheel, keys out of the ignition, window down, and ask permission for every single action usually yields one of two results:
1) Thank you and a bit of appreciation
2) Why are you nervous and what do you have to hide

I've found that as I get older, I get a bit more respect... Course, my view of my "rights" has become a bit more blended toward reality and less towards the constitution, so maybe it's my attitude. I think it's safer to intimidate young people too - they don't usually have any money, the tenacity require to follow up, and they don't make as good a witness as an older "professional".

switch wrote:If I was a LEO I would not care if someone is carrying. I'd assume they all are until proven otherwise.

DPS teaches instructors to NOT say/mention gun, let them ask.

If I was told to get out of the car, then, I'd let them know I had one on my hip (and in my pocket). I do not want to surprise him on the side of the road.

Good advice there.

MoJo wrote:

mojo84 wrote:

o b juan wrote:If he put your tag # in the computer before or at the stop, and you are driving your ca it should let him know you have a CHL,, of course some towns dont have the Inf yet

Not your tag. CHL is tied to your driver's license.

When the officer runs the license tag number they get "John Doe, 1234 Some Street, Wide Open Spaces, Texas 00000." Just another click or two of the mouse to get Mr. Doe's driver's license etc. They already know everything but your shirt size before approaching your vehicle.

Actually this isn't the case. They are separate queries. It should be as you describe but that is functionality that is only offered by a few third party systems.

gigag04 wrote:

MoJo wrote:

mojo84 wrote:

o b juan wrote:If he put your tag # in the computer before or at the stop, and you are driving your ca it should let him know you have a CHL,, of course some towns dont have the Inf yet

Not your tag. CHL is tied to your driver's license.

When the officer runs the license tag number they get "John Doe, 1234 Some Street, Wide Open Spaces, Texas 00000." Just another click or two of the mouse to get Mr. Doe's driver's license etc. They already know everything but your shirt size before approaching your vehicle.

Actually this isn't the case. They are separate queries. It should be as you describe but that is functionality that is only offered by a few third party systems.

But I saw it on CSI......

texanjoker wrote:

gigag04 wrote:

MoJo wrote:

mojo84 wrote:

o b juan wrote:If he put your tag # in the computer before or at the stop, and you are driving your ca it should let him know you have a CHL,, of course some towns dont have the Inf yet

Not your tag. CHL is tied to your driver's license.

When the officer runs the license tag number they get "John Doe, 1234 Some Street, Wide Open Spaces, Texas 00000." Just another click or two of the mouse to get Mr. Doe's driver's license etc. They already know everything but your shirt size before approaching your vehicle.

Actually this isn't the case. They are separate queries. It should be as you describe but that is functionality that is only offered by a few third party systems.

But I saw it on CSI......

texanjoker wrote:Seems to me it is common courtesy to let the leo know where the gun is when handing over a chl. It could also meant the difference in a courtesy warning or receiving a coupon for the original traffic stop violation

Based on several of the stories you posted, seems to me saying "I have a gun" could be bad for my health. I'll risk the time and expense of taking defensive driving class if it keeps me safer during a traffic stop. It would just about pay for itself with the insurance discount anyhow.

tbrown wrote:

texanjoker wrote:Seems to me it is common courtesy to let the leo know where the gun is when handing over a chl. It could also meant the difference in a courtesy warning or receiving a coupon for the original traffic stop violation

Based on several of the stories you posted, seems to me saying "I have a gun" could be bad for my health. I'll risk the time and expense of taking defensive driving class if it keeps me safer during a traffic stop. It would just about pay for itself with the insurance discount anyhow.

It's all about how you say it. If you scream at the LEO as they approach your car yelling why they heck are you stopping me and I have a gun you might have some issue (you would be surprised at the number of people that scream at you when you approach the car)....

Simply providing the DL and CHL, and saying I am armed would be all it takes.

texanjoker wrote:Simply providing the DL and CHL, and saying I am armed would be all it takes.

Simply providing the DL and CHL should be all it takes.

switch wrote:A co-worker (and student) was stopped last night. Of course, he gave the LEO his CHL. LEOs (2) were very nice/friendly. Asked if he had his gun and where. Later, LEO said next time, tell us you have a gun when you give us the license. (Not what I taught. :( ) LEO said I was wrong.

What say you?

I say, if he wants to know, he should ask. The LAST thing you want to say to a cop is "I HAVE A GUN!"

In fact, it may BE the last thing you say to a cop.