Posted: 5/15/2026 9:58:44 AM EDT
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Hypothetical question: Suppose my sleepy street in my sleepy small town is being carved up. The road is closed and there is a cop babysitting the digging. I’m walking my dog and the cop rolls down his window and starts chatting with me because he’s bored out of his wits. Do I have a duty to inform him if I am carrying a concealed weapon? |
"One day, your body will become your priority whether by choice or by consequence" - PK
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Originally Posted By Whamo: Hypothetical question: Suppose my sleepy street in my sleepy small town is being carved up. The road is closed and there is a cop babysitting the digging. I'm walking my dog and the cop rolls down his window and starts chatting with me because he's bored out of his wits. Do I have a duty to inform him if I am carrying a concealed weapon? If the cop is on a road job and simply wants to shoot the shit with me, I would not disclose that I'm armed. The only time I would disclose that I'm carrying is during a traffic stop or if I'm walking on the street and the cops stop me because I resemble someone they're searching for or they want to question me about some crime they're investigating. The key words in the law are "stopped" or "detained". If you're not stopped or detained then there's no duty to disclose. Here's what the the law says: PL.2022, c.131, s.5 5. (New section) Safe carry requirements for authorized holders of a permit to carry a handgun. a. The holder of a permit to carry a handgun issued pursuant to N.J.S.2C:58-4 shall not: (1) use or consume alcohol, a cannabis item, or a controlled substance while carrying a handgun; (2) be under the influence of alcohol, cannabis, or a controlled substance while carrying a handgun; (3) carry a handgun in public outside of a holster or carry a handgun in public in a holster that does not meet the requirements of subsection h. of N.J.S.2C:58-4; (4) carry more than two firearms under the permittee's control at one time; or (5) engage in an unjustified display of a handgun. A violation of this subsection shall be a crime of the fourth degree, and any such violation shall constitute full and sufficient grounds for revocation of a permit to carry a handgun issued pursuant to N.J.S.2C:58-4. b. The holder of a permit to carry a handgun issued pursuant to N.J.S.2C:58-4, if stopped or detained by a law enforcement officer while carrying a handgun in public or traveling with a handgun in a motor vehicle, shall: (1) immediately disclose to the law enforcement officer that they are carrying a handgun or that a handgun is stored in the vehicle; and (2) display the permit to carry a handgun issued pursuant to N.J.S.2C:58-4. A violation of paragraph (1) of this section shall be a crime of the fourth degree. A person who violates paragraph (2) of this subsection shall be guilty of a disorderly persons offense for a first offense and subject to a $100 fine and a crime of the fourth degree for a second or subsequent offense. c. A holder of a permit to carry a handgun issued pursuant to N.J.S.2C:58-4 who is carrying a handgun in public and is detained by a law enforcement officer as part of a criminal investigation shall provide the handgun to the law enforcement officer upon request for purposes of inspecting the handgun. The provisions of this subsection shall not be construed to affect or otherwise limit the authority of a law enforcement officer to conduct a lawful search or seizure. A violation of this subsection shall be a crime of the fourth degree. https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2022/AL22/131_.HTM I hope the above info helped. |
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Question? You are stopped, do you immediately go to produce your PTC and then inform? Or inform then produce PTC? My common sense tells me get it (PTC DL, registration and insurance card) already then inform. I could be wrong which is why I ask. |
"All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain... Time to die." - Roy Batty/Rutger Hauer
"Never scratch your ass with a broken bottle." - Anon.
"Never scratch your ass with a broken bottle." - Anon.
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Originally Posted By NZT: Question? You are stopped, do you immediately go to produce your PTC and then inform? Or inform then produce PTC? My common sense tells me get it (PTC DL, registration and insurance card) already then inform. I could be wrong which is why I ask. I got pulled over and had license, registration and insurance ready but handed my carry permit first. Mine was the first the cop had ever seen, he let me off with a warning. |
"One day, your body will become your priority whether by choice or by consequence" - PK
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Originally Posted By Whamo: I got pulled over and had license, registration and insurance ready but handed my carry permit first. Mine was the first the cop had ever seen, he let me off with a warning. Originally Posted By Whamo: Originally Posted By NZT: Question? You are stopped, do you immediately go to produce your PTC and then inform? Or inform then produce PTC? My common sense tells me get it (PTC DL, registration and insurance card) already then inform. I could be wrong which is why I ask. I got pulled over and had license, registration and insurance ready but handed my carry permit first. Mine was the first the cop had ever seen, he let me off with a warning. I wrote the following to address NZT's question before I saw your post. I hope this makes all of us with a carry permit a bit more at ease when interacting with the police. I would recommend advising the officer first before showing your permit to carry. If I got pulled over for a traffic stop, I'd lower all my windows and turn off my ignition. Advise the officer immediately that I have a PTC and I'm carrying aiwb, 3 o'clock, etc. or transporting and ask him how he / she would like to proceed and then follow the officer's directions. If I'm walking and a cop pulls up to me and detains me for some odd reason, I'd advise him that I have a PTC and I'm carrying. If the cop asks to see the permit then I'd show it to him. I'm aware of several instances in New Jersey at traffic stops and car accidents, where the officers were advised they were carrying and the cops didn't even bother asking to see the permits but thanked the persons for letting them know. There were other instances where some drivers got pulled over for a traffic violation, the cops were informed by the driver that they had PTCs, showed their permits and were sent on their way without getting a ticket. Other's weren't so lucky and got cited for the traffic violation. I believe it's best to advise the police first that you have a permit and that your carrying, Then wait for and follow the officers instructions. I have no proof but I'd like to think that advising the police you have a PTC will put the cop at ease because now he knows you've been vetted by the state as being one of the good guys. Then again, IANAL and YMMV. |
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Originally Posted By NZT: Question? You are stopped, do you immediately go to produce your PTC and then inform? Or inform then produce PTC? My common sense tells me get it (PTC DL, registration and insurance card) already then inform. I could be wrong which is why I ask. |