Posted: 3/5/2009 11:13:06 AM EDT
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I have been pulled over by NYS Troopers three times in two years for speeding. Its never been for more than twenty over, and I have always declared that I am licensed to carry (unrestricted permit) and am carrying a pistol on my person. I follow the troopers orders to the letter for obvious reasons, and have yet to receive a ticket or a lecture. All but one time they have gotten me out of the car to talk to me and were downright friendly, unlike when stopped without a pistol. A month ago I was stopped for an expired inspection (totally justifiable), and a ticket was written but I was not carrying.....
My question is for those that carry and declare to the officer or trooper that they are carrying. When stopped for speeding or other violations how has carrying effected how the LEO handled you and was a ticket written? |
| Try to put yourself in their shoes. If you were the cop would YOU want to know if the person you just pulled over has a concealed firearm on their person? I understand NY is not a "disclose unless asked state", but for everyone involved I thinks it is a good idea to mention it. Maybe just for selfish reasons too. Imagine he asks to see your license and as you reach for your wallet he sees the butt of your concealed weapon. The first thing he's going to do is unholster HIS weapon and point it at your head. I have way better things to do than look down the muzzle of a gun - point blank no less. |
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FOCUS
Of course you would tell the cop you are carrying for everyones safety. NOT THE QUESTION If you have a restricted permit, its a gut decision but thats not the question here. I have an unrestricted and am speaking to those with unrestricted that are pulled over and declare the weapon. HAVE YOU BEEN ISSUED A TICKET AND HOW DID THE STOP GO??? |
| It depends on the COP, a whole number of things can get you in and out of trouble so it is best to just STFU...in other states, where unrestricted carry is the way of the world most people generally don't say a word unless in the course of the stop you have to exit the vehicle or the firearm might be otherwise exposed. A common question I have run into is "What Fire Department are you with?" If you answer the right town you get no ticket, if you answer somewhere he has never heard of you get a break on the ticket, and if you mention some department he has had a problem with, you are fucked, and you get written for the full ammount. That is to say there is no general answer with this, it all depends on the COPs past experiances and attitude that day. If I had an unrestricted in my home county and was stopped, where I know the COPs are affraid of thier own guns I would STFU to avoid being proned out, eating gravel, and getting my own section in the next hometown newspaper...I have never been stopped while armed but I know some of these guys really well, and I can say, it just depends on the COP. Even with guys I know I might not say a word, while some of the older more collected officers I BS with... |
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I feel no obligation to tell them anything and won't unless asked. On the other hand I follow the traffic laws and don't get stopped.  Until you're driving home one night and your brake light burns out... Thanks for the heads up officer. I'll change the bulb right away.
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The ???? is Has Anyone Been Pulled Over Carry A Gun Legally In NY State???
If so were you issed a ticket or let go? Police officers would you be more prone to let someone go on a ticket if they informed you they were carrying legally? In my personal experience ive been let off of tickets, and the troopers were much friendlier after telling them I had the permit and was carrying which I thought was very decent of them. I have heard horror stories of other states. Anyone gotten out of a ticket due to carrying? |
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my dads been a cop for over 20 years (not a city cop either) and he's always told me.. its agreed apon across most, if not LEO's that in a situation like that its ALWAYS best to be upfront... even tho the state doesnt mandate it.. like they said above.. id rather have the cop know that i have a weapon, loaded or not, in my truck or on my person.
i was hunting a while back.. had my rifle in the truck.. the ammo locked up in an ammo can in the bed... and was pulled over for a BRAKE LIGHT being out.. as soon as a came to a stop ,, i rolled my window down and showed both hands out of the widow open (to prove i had nothing) .. when the officer came to my window i instructed him that i have a weapon in the vehicle... he said ok,, just step out of the vehicle.. witch i did.. and had no problem doing it.. cop just said that i was pulled over for equipment malfuction and i was on my way witha warning. no harm no foul.. and everyone is happy and going that night isnt that what we ALL want?? when in doubt.. let him know!!!! that reminds me i need to get my permit paperwork started |
| As a police officer myself I would suggest being up front about it if you suspect that your interaction with the police is going to lead to us finding it anyway. The absolute worst scenario is for you not to tell us about it and we find it ourselves. In our eyes that's both dangerous and disrespectful, and you're bound to get similar treatment. Courtesy will get your courtesy in return, etc. Simply turn on your interior lights, roll down all your windows, turn off the ignition, put your hands on the steering wheel, be polite, and inform the officer that you have a legally owned firearm in the vehicle or on your person. This is the way most off-duty LEO do it when they are stopped. As long as you follow those guidelines there should be no problems. |
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Leaving the long story out... The trooper said "Next time tell the officer." To which I replied "I was going to say something, but I didn't want to make you worry for no reason." At which point the expression on his face changed, like he finally got it and the "Good Guy" light went off.
He said "I understand... but say something anyway." (I didn't get a ticket because the stop was a BS fishing trip. Stopped for a tail light out that wasn't) |
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Very informative Tarrif thanks. Good to hear that your respect to the officer was returned caz.
Without breaking from the initial topic it seems few people in here have unrestricted permits, or else I would assume more people would have experiences with the legal system. If you do not tell the officer or trooper that you are carrying you are a moron. I don't understand why anyone would withold that info. No one seems to recognize the purpose of this post is to try to figure out if LEO are more lenient when you are respectful to them and inform them??? Doesnt anyone else ever get pulled over while legally carrying a gun??? |
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I do a lot of traffic stops. I don't care if you don't tell me, but if you think I might find out, (plain view) then it is probably wise to tell me. I'm much more concerned with your demeanor and actions.
In the county I work, my dispatcher is able to notify me if you hold a pistol permit from this county. 99% of the time when this happens, I don't even bring the subject up. What's the point? If I am being told you are within your right to carry, it's not a problem, unless you are drunk, or acting strange or aggressive. To me, having a NYS pistol permit is not a "caution indicator", it's more like a character reference. I have let people go with a warning, kind of like an act of solidarity for our rights. Sometimes a pistol permit holder will get a ticket, but it has nothing to do with their possession of a permit or firearm. And as far as the restricted permits go, I personally do not recognize those restrictions. A carry permit is a carry permit. Screw those judges who think they can intimidate you into not carrying for your own safety. The 2A is not about hunting or target shooting! Just my $.02, not all cops are pro-gun. |
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Quoted: I have been told on multiple occassions by troopers that I know personally that they would rather NOT know if you are legally carrying and stopped. +1 Unless you're asked to step out the vehicle. In that case you should inform the officer while your hands are on the steering wheel palms up, engine off, interior lights on, radio/stereo off, four way flashers on etc. and of course follow his/her instructions at that point. |
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In the county I work, my dispatcher is able to notify me if you hold a pistol permit from this county. . I had a feeling this was the case. With technology now-adays this seems like this shoiuld be a no brainer. Nice post 41magluva, we need more officers with your type of attitude
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