Concealed Carry Question

[Nate1224hoops]

Hey guys. I am new to the borad and new to concealed carry (actually filing out my form right now). Once I start carrying, what are the laws about your CC Permit. Must it be on you at all times? If you are stopped do you have to produce it on the spot? How exatcly does that work? Thanks ahead

[VBshooter]

http://www.vsp.state.va.us/Firearms.shtm Go to this link and you'll find what you need to know...If you carry concealed you need that permit on you ...If you carry openly . you do not... If you are stopped as far as I know by Virginia State law you do not have to tell the officer that you are carrying unless he asks... A word of caution here though ,, I personally would inform the cop I was carrying by giving him my permit with my license and keeping my hands in very clear site ,,Tell the cop that you are letting him know out of respect for him and your not some gun crazy just an honest citizen excerising your rights,,,, No need to add any stress to the stop

[Nate1224hoops]

Excellent information. Thanks

[allingeneral]

Must it be on you at all times? If you are stopped do you have to produce it on the spot? How exatcly does that work? Thanks ahead

You should carry your permit any time you're carrying.

If you're stopped, one of the first things that a cop will find out, whether you tell him or not, is that you have a Concealed Handgun Permit. It comes up in the info when he runs your license. So, I agree with VB on the point of just hand him your permit along with your license. I keep my permit right behind my license in my wallet just for that occasion.

Any other questions, feel free to ask!

[Nate1224hoops]

Must it be on you at all times? If you are stopped do you have to produce it on the spot? How exatcly does that work? Thanks ahead

You should carry your permit any time you're carrying.

If you're stopped, one of the first things that a cop will find out, whether you tell him or not, is that you have a Concealed Handgun Permit. It comes up in the info when he runs your license. So, I agree with VB on the point of just hand him your permit along with your license. I keep my permit right behind my license in my wallet just for that occasion.

Any other questions, feel free to ask!

Great information. Very helpful.

[Nate1224hoops]

If you are pulled over is it a good idea to leave the weapon concealed or remove it? I guess what I am saying is, would an officer be more spooked by it being concealed or open after you have been stopped? Should you lay it in the set and when he gets to your window inform him that you are licenced to conceal? I'd just like to know in case it ever happens. Thanks

[herohog]

At the next local gun show, drop by the VCDL booth and pick up their handy pocket card that lists the main things one needs to know when carrying in VA.

[cwats04]

once you are being pulled over i would not touch your weapon in any manner. if it is open leave it open if it is concealed just leave it be. the officer will let you know what he wants you to do (wether or not it violates your rights) i would just comply to not get yourself shot.

that being said i do not believe virgina police have immediate access to you being a CHP holder in their computer system. or if you are like me (when it show up) you could have a liscence from another state (UTAH) that would not show up in the system.

[Nate1224hoops]

once you are being pulled over i would not touch your weapon in any manner. if it is open leave it open if it is concealed just leave it be. the officer will let you know what he wants you to do (wether or not it violates your rights) i would just comply to not get yourself shot.

that being said i do not believe virgina police have immediate access to you being a CHP holder in their computer system. or if you are like me (when it show up) you could have a liscence from another state (UTAH) that would not show up in the system.

I thought that would be the correct thing to do, but just wanted to be sure. Thanks for you help! Not getting shot would be a plus...

[Chipmunk6]

Hi guys-n-gals ,
What i've done over the years is...
Laminate the permit
Tape it to your VDL
Clear tape works best.

Chipmunk6

[gregj]

I got stopped just last night for speeding, coming back from picking my son up from college. It was late, I was very tired, and not paying attention. I wasnt carrying, but did present my laminated permit along with my DL to the Deputy, explaining I wasnt carrying at the time. He didnt really seem to care one way or the other about the permit and told me he didnt need it. Of course, it didnt help, I got a ticket anyway (but he did cut me some slack, which I thanked him for).

If you get your permit in Fauquier county, you also get a form letter from the Sheriff's department instructing the holder to disclose they have a permit to the deputy if pulled over. It isnt a law, but it's strongly recommended here. I think it tends to help put the officer at ease, which is a good thing.

Also, depending on where you take your class, you should have already gotten a good overview of the laws, what you should do, and should not do. At least I did when I took mine.

[bossgvr4]

I had a similar experience in my early carry days. I was driving late one night and was overtaken by 2-3 cars street racing. I pulled over and one FFx Co. cop continued the chase and another pulled me over.

I stopped, rolled my window down, put my keys on the dash turned ON my interior light and got my VADL and CHP ready for the officer and put my hands on top of the steering wheel.

I gave my IDs to teh officer when asked and he asked if I was carrying I replied "Yes officer it is in the small of my back". The officer asked if it would be OK to temporarily remove my weapon. and said it it would be OK to temporarily remove my FIREARM if it would make him feel better.

He did so, he ran my license and came back saying that he knew I wasn't part of the race and thanked me for complying with his requests and sent me on my way.

[CajunBass]

Spotsylvania County laminated ours for us (my wife and I).

I also simply hand my CHP over along with my drivers license. I have had two occasions to do so since I started carrying. Once I was pulled for an expired inspection sticker, the other was at the scene of a motorcycle crash (I wasn't injured). Both times the officers, (Town of Ashland and County of Spotsylvania) simply glanced at the permit, and handed it back without comment. Nothing was ever said about the gun. In the Ashland case, the gun, an XD-9 was clearly visable on the seat of the car, and in the Spotsylvania one it was on my hip and may or may not have been concealed at different points. (The rescue squad personel who responded to check me over didn't comment on it either.)

A couple of other times, at routine license checks, I didn't even bother to hand the permit over. The information wasn't needed.

[alby]

Just like the American Express Commerical, "Never Leave Home Without It".
The Permit must be on you when you have a Concealed Weapon. If you don't have
the permit, its as if you don't even have one. Next stop, jail.

[POORBOY]

once you are being pulled over i would not touch your weapon in any manner. if it is open leave it open if it is concealed just leave it be. the officer will let you know what he wants you to do (wether or not it violates your rights) i would just comply to not get yourself shot.

that being said i do not believe virgina police have immediate access to you being a CHP holder in their computer system. or if you are like me (when it show up) you could have a liscence from another state (UTAH) that would not show up in the system.

Just a FYI it is in the computer system i listen to a scanner while at home or in my pick up and just yesterday Stauton pd stoppoed a guy the officer just ran the plate at the initial light up, and dispatch came back vehicle registered to a ------- ----------- registration current concealed handgun permit on file. Dont know if that applies to a utah or not but it is in the system for va residents

[wylde007]

There is no obligation to inform, therefor I do not. It is not a matter of "respect" it is a matter of law.

Also, unless asked for it there is no reasonable impetus to "hand over" one's CHP with their license.

Every time you show a sign of subservience (ie: offering information not requested) you make it that much harder for those of us who know the law to act to it.

[cwats04]

once you are being pulled over i would not touch your weapon in any manner. if it is open leave it open if it is concealed just leave it be. the officer will let you know what he wants you to do (wether or not it violates your rights) i would just comply to not get yourself shot.

that being said i do not believe virgina police have immediate access to you being a CHP holder in their computer system. or if you are like me (when it show up) you could have a liscence from another state (UTAH) that would not show up in the system.

Just a FYI it is in the computer system i listen to a scanner while at home or in my pick up and just yesterday Stauton pd stoppoed a guy the officer just ran the plate at the initial light up, and dispatch came back vehicle registered to a ------- ----------- registration current concealed handgun permit on file. Dont know if that applies to a utah or not but it is in the system for va residents

that is interesting to know

i am almost positive that in GA, my home state, this is not the case and from what i had heard i thought VA was the same. i guess i have a few friends that i need to go inform about this

[CCFan]

Ditto a lot of the other posts - I carry mine behind my drivers license, but I made a photocopy of it for those Murphy's Law days if you forget your wallet... VA CHP permit holders are tied into the vehicle registration, so if you're in your car when you get pulled over, that info is passed along... In talking with a state trooper at our carry class, he just reminded us to put ourselves in their shoes - if you pulled someone over, you knew they have a carry permit, and you see them leaning across the car when you pull them over, are they going for their registration or their firearm? I'd rather walk up and see empty hands on the wheel, myself... as one officer put it, if he wants to see your firearm, he'll ask you... he's got one himself, and chances are, you don't want to see it - don't give him any reason to show it to you.

[CajunBass]

if you pulled someone over, you knew they have a carry permit, and you see them leaning across the car when you pull them over, are they going for their registration or their firearm?

BS. He's going to react EXACTLY the same way rather he knows you have a permit or not. If he doesn't he's as dumb as a stick.

[Nathan]

I've been pulled over several times (five or six, for various reasons) since I've had my permit. The first time I was pulled over after getting my permit, I informed the LEO, a VA State Trooper. I was pulled over on I-81 around Christiansburg for dead tags.

I informed the trooper I was a CHP holder and was currently armed. He asked me to pop my trunk and slowly hand him the weapon, which was holstered in my center console. He took my Glock and put it in the trunk and then proceeded to write my ticket. After issuing my summons, he asked me why I thought I needed a carry permit, "was somebody after me?". I responded that I was exercising my right to protect myself and my family. I didn't like his tone and it was pretty clear he didn't support a citizens right to be legally armed. He then asked me to wait and retrieve my weapon until after he was gone.

Several things I didn't like about the situation. First, he unnecessarily handled my sidearm, second, he apparently had an anti-CCW bias, and lastly, I had to get out of my vehicle on the shoulder of a very busy interstate to retrieve my weapon.

I no longer inform. As noted, the officer gets that data when he pulls your information. I've not had any problems since then.

I will say that if you are travelling out of state and are armed, be sure to know beforehand the laws of the states you are travelling through. A lot of states do have a duty to inform. I suggest going to http://handgunlaw.us and printing out the laws of the states you plan on driving through.

edit: when being pulled over, make sure you roll the window down, turn the car off and place your hands on the wheel in plain view. Like previously stated, don't start messing with your weapon. Be polite and don't give the LEO a reason to be nervous.