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When in my 4Runner for any extended time.. like an hour's drive or so, I've been keeping my pistol (either HK P2000 or Sig P239) in the door compartment like this


I'm always careful not to open the door if someone could possibly see the gun in there, but got to thinking if I had a traffic stop, would this be an issue as far as being concealed. I know I'd need to announce to the stopping officer that I have a CHL, and where the gun is.

It looks like you could see it looking in from the passenger side. If you can see it, it is not concealed.

Not concealed.

IMO, not even close

IMO... it is hidden from view from an officer who is on the driver side with the door closed, but with the door open, no. also, wouldn't your driver's seat block the view from the passenger side?

If the seat does block the view, I would say that 99% you'd be alright. the only time i could see you getting hung up is if for some strange reason you and your car match the description of a suspect who just committed a crime in the area, and you get felony stopped... as soon as you opened that door you'd have SERIOUS problems. the only reason i say that is that it happened to me. I was driving through Plano and there had been bank robbery, and i apparently was close enough to the description to get special attention. no fun. thankfully, i had my gun in the center console, and not on my hip. once they got out my ID and CHL they really calmed down, cause they knew that the chances of a CHL holder robbing a bank was pretty low.

I might also suggest that since you only do that while driving long distances, don't break any traffic laws, or maybe quickly move it to a more concealed position in that 10-15 second time it takes the cop to get up to speed and behind you... but that also gets fun for a cop who sees you digging around in your car while he is initiating a stop... so i'd recommend figuring out something else.

Is there anywhere else in the car you could stash it on long trips?

The OP asked if it was concealed and the answer is still no. It doesn't matter if it's a police officer who sees it or a friend or a stranger - it is still not concealed and illegal.

WildBill wrote:The OP asked if it was concealed and the answer is still no. It doesn't matter if it's a police officer who sees it or a friend or a stranger - it is still not concealed and illegal.

Nothing good can come from trying to split hairs on this issue. The OP should just properly conceal the gun so that no one can see it, whether the door is open, closed, or whatever.

And you definitely don't want a cop to see you rooting around trying to stash the gun while you are pulling over for a traffic stop. Trust me when I tell you that cops look for stuff like that, and that they have a VERY good eye for spotting people who are doing that. It's life and death for them, and they take it very seriously.

Just conceal the gun and you won't have any problems.

[quote="navyguy"]

PLUS....

Your door panel states it's for bottles only

No unauthorized use of Toyota door panels

It's below the glass, it's concealed.

Remember, the law says it must be concealed to a reasonable person not hidden to every prying eye. If an officer walks up to your vehicle during a stop, he is not considered a "reasonable" person.

People have no business to look into your vehicle below the windows.

put a paper towel over it. You can grab the gun right through it and any casual lookers will assume you have trash stuffed in the door pocket, which is common.

I carry the same way in my truck, I do not see any problem with it.

HighVelocity wrote:put a paper towel over it. You can grab the gun right through it and any casual lookers will assume you have trash stuffed in the door pocket, which is common.

I will have to agree with most everone else, It is not consealed. If you were to get pulled over for a traffic stop or something, and an officer sees the weapon, you will be getting out of your car at gun point. It would be better for you and the blood pressure of any officers that may pull you over, to just conseal it a little better. Just my .02 worth.

Emmett

flb_78 wrote: It's below the glass, it's concealed.

Can you cite any place in the statute or any instance of case law that supports this assertion?

flb_78 wrote: Remember, the law says it must be concealed to a reasonable person not hidden to every prying eye.

So if someone looks thorugh the passenger side window and sees the gun (which would be in plain sight from that angle), they are not a "reasonable person"?

Can you cite any place in the statute or any instance of case law that supports this assertion?

Are you aware that it is common in traffic stops for a cop to approach the subject vehicle from the passenger side and look through the window?

flb_78 wrote: If an officer walks up to your vehicle during a stop, he is not considered a "reasonable" person.

Can you cite any place in the statute or any instance of case law that supports this assertion?

flb_78 wrote: People have no business to look into your vehicle below the windows.

Can you cite any place in the statute or any instance of case law that supports this assertion?

If you can't, I would caution you or anyone else from acting on the basis of any of the statements above.

If nobody else sees it, it's concealed. If someone sees it and charges are filed, a jury can decide if it was in plain view. Those are the twelve opinions that matter.

§ 46.02.
(a-1) A person commits an offense if the person
intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carries on or about his or
her person a handgun in a motor vehicle that is owned by the person
or under the person's control at any time in which:
(1) the handgun is in plain view;