I will be in Michigan in mid March to visit some family and will be bringing my handgun. I have a VA CHP and based on packing.org Michigan honors the VA permit.

Are there any quirks or weird things I should know about carrying up there?

Do ya'll have a restaraunt ban like we do(can't have a concealed weapon in a restaraunt that serves alcohol)

Quoted from the states CCW site (www.michigan.gov/msp/0,1607,7-123-1591_3503_4654---,00.html)

Pistol Free Areas

Beginning July 1, 2001, individuals licensed to carry a concealed pistol by Michigan or another state will be prohibited from carrying a concealed pistol in the following areas:

-Schools or school property but may carry while in a vehicle on school property while dropping off or picking up if a parent or legal guardian
 
-Public or private day care center, public or private child caring agency, or public or private child placing agency.
 
-Sports arena or stadium
 
-A tavern where the primary source of income is the sale of alcoholic liquor by the glass consumed on the premises
 
-Any property or facility owned or operated by a church, synagogue, mosque, temple, or other place of worship, unless the presiding official allows concealed weapons
 
-An entertainment facility that the individual knows or should know has a seating capacity of 2,500 or more
 
-A hospital
 
-A dormitory or classroom of a community college, college, or university
 
-A  Casino


Premises does not include parking areas of the above places  

Also, if you are pulled over you have to declare to the LEO that you have a CCW and are carrying.

Also, if you are pulled over you have to declare to the LEO that you have a CCW and are carrying.

That means you jump out of your car like a madman screaming "I'VE GOT A GUN!"
Then let us know how that worked out for you.  

I got stopped at a scale one time (truck driver) and  the deisel bear behind the counter was dealing with another driver so I just stood there waiting my turn.  When my turn came, I put my paperwork on the counter and said "no guns, but I have a permit."  
I thought for a second he was going to jump right over the counter.

He stuck his finger in my face and gave me a good a$$ chewing about how I should have announced that as soon as I walk in the door and how he could take my permit away from me right now.
Yah, okay.  Whatever.   When I get stopped now I'm holding my permit out the window before the cop gets out of his car.

I think the rule on resturants is if they make 51% of their money on food, you can carry.  I'm not a drinker so I could be wrong on that.

He stuck his finger in my face and gave me a good a$$ chewing about how I should have announced that as soon as I walk in the door and how he could take my permit away from me right now.

Actually he is the asshole here. If you're not packing, there is no obligation to inform them of your ccw status.

chickrepelent, did that happen to you at  the IONIA chicken house?With the ionia hard a$$ watts?
he did that to me one night pulled me around took all my paperwork in ran my dl then put me in cuffs because i didnt tell him i had a cpl  went rounds with him for about an hour. if you know him he thinks he is always right.  An NO i wasnt carry it at that time.

It was Ionia, but I don't know the guys name.  I'd say he was in his fifty's, short, with gray hair and glasses.  It was the first time I'd ever seen him.

Well, someone oughtta sue the bastard and his agency so they'll learn the law!

Got pulled over by MSP one night a few years back. Wasn't carrying. He comes back after running my license and asks if I had a CPL. After I responded affirmative, he got really pissed, going on about how I was supposed to inform him IMMEDIATELY of the fact I had a CPL. I politely informed him that I didn't think so, I thought it was just if I was carrying (I didn't think so at all, I knew so. I was just being diplomatic). With my demeanor, he calmed a bit. Went back to his car. When he returned and handed me my ticket, he informed me I'd been right all along, that I didn't have to inform him unless I was carrying. Said he'd looked it up. Sure glad I got to contribute 10 minutes of my life so the bozo could learn the law!

Kitobear, he cuffed you? Threatened to take away your licenese? Can he say false arrest, wrongful imprisonment?? That guy needs to be fired. At least!

fiend the above on the 51% rule is correct. If the establishment makes 51% or more of their revenue from food and non alcoholic beverage sales, you can carry there. Can't wait until someone forces some owner to bring out his business records and accountant for defense of someone's CPL.... Like, we're supposed to be able to tell?

I just figure if it seems more "restraurty" than "barish", I'm legal. I don't drink alcohol (illegal to carry on person if you've had ANY alcohol btw, but it's legal in the trunk at that point).

First offense carrying in a prohibited place (bar at least) is I THINK a civil infraction. They'll write a ticket like a traffic ticket. They'll confiscate the weapon though.

i think they did get rid of him.evrybody has had alot of problems with him