Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

So I've beenwondering something lately. Let's say you get pulled over for a routine trafficnstop. When do you, if at all, do you tell the officer you're carrying? Also, how do you do it? I've heard its best to give them your CCW permit with your license. What's your guys input?

You are not required to inform an LEO that you are carrying regardless of permit status here in VA. Other states are different and require that you immediately inform upon contact.

I dont tell unless asked.

zephyp wrote:You are not required to inform an LEO that you are carrying regardless of permit status here in VA. Other states are different and require that you immediately inform upon contact.

If you travel make sure you know the other states laws as some do require you notify the officer. Regardless of where your permit is from, you must abide by the laws of the state you are in.

I don't tell unless I'm asked and even then, depending on my mood, I may refuse to answer any question which is not germane.

I've been pulled over twice since I've had my permit. Both times, I've been unarmed, and have offered my permit along with my DL. Both times the officers didnt seem interested in the permit, and both times I was cut a lot of slack. Maybe Ive just been lucky, or maybe they appreciated the courtesy.

I was pulled over twice in November, a fairly interesting endeavor considering I spent half the month out of town. Both times I was carrying concealed and did not inform the police officer nor did I show him my permits. In fact, it barely crossed my mind but I also considered the context of the stops.

In the first instance, it was an Arlington County officer at one of the traffic light controlled I-66 on ramps. He was signaling cars over to the side of the road as fast as he could write tickets. The second incident was similar. But this time my 5 year-old daughter was in the car and as the officer approached he waved at her and smiled.

In either instance had the officers asked me to get out of the vehicle, that's when I would have informed them of my permits and the location of my firearm, put my hands on the steering wheel, and asked them how they wanted to proceed. But it never came to that.

It is a tossup. I don't tell anyone that I am armed nor do I produce my permit. I still carry my big shiney gold badge on my I.D. wallet and that seems to work if and when I should get stoped. As far as most people on this board are concerned I would show my CCW permit as this may help the officer to decide that" hey this guy or girl went through a background check and passed" and he or she must be ok and I will cut them a break. Yes you might get hit by that one Butthole LEO out there that don't give a damn and would write his own Mother a summons but that is the chance you have to take.
Bill

I was under the impression that as soon as they looked up your license plate they knew you have a CHP?

KaosDad wrote:I was under the impression that as soon as they looked up your license plate they knew you have a CHP?

CHP is linked to you. A car is linked to the owner/registrant. They are not necessarily the same person. If I drive a rental and the run the plates, all they will find out is that it is a rental car.

Drewsifer wrote:So I've beenwondering something lately. Let's say you get pulled over for a routine trafficnstop. When do you, if at all, do you tell the officer you're carrying? Also, how do you do it? I've heard its best to give them your CCW permit with your license. What's your guys input?

You don't say a word until and ONLY when and IF he/she asks about your weapon.

KaosDad wrote:I was under the impression that as soon as they looked up your license plate they knew you have a CHP?

They are. They are told by the dispatch verbally and also notified by a distinct electronic response/tone to idicate the operator has a permit to carry concealed. In every case that I have been asked if I was carrying, it was by a younger inexperienced deputy or officer.One time I was involved in a small crash in Arlington and the State Trooper (senior member)after having been notified by the tone alarm, looked at me and I asked him what that tone was, he explained it to me and said "no big deal".....

KaosDad wrote:I was under the impression that as soon as they looked up your license plate they knew you have a CHP?

Your operators liscense is what tells them, not your vehicle registration.

OK, thanks for the clear up.

I personally tell the officers, I know I am not required to and most of the officers in my area know that I carry anyway but I still tell them. I carry open just as much if not more then I carry concealed so I will tell the officer if I am open carrying or carrying concealed and where the weapon is.

When a vehicle registration is ran through dispatch the registered onwners operators license also comes up so if the registered owner has a carry permit that also comes up, the officer is informed over the radio of that.

GS78 wrote:

KaosDad wrote:I was under the impression that as soon as they looked up your license plate they knew you have a CHP?

Your operators liscense is what tells them, not your vehicle registration.

Drivers license has nothing to do with it. They find out when they run your name through the system for wants and warrents.

Vahunter wrote: Drivers license has nothing to do with it. They find out when they run your name through the system for wants and warrents.

-1 incorrect

This information is only good about the issuance of a CCW in this state by this states LEO people either Dispatchers or otherwise. If you tell a New Jersey State Trooper that you have a CCW on your hip you will be yanked out of the vehicle and stuffed and cuffed quicker then you can sing Swaney River even if you do have a permit in the state of Va. It ain't no good in New Jersey the Arm Pit of the world.
Bill

GS78 wrote:

KaosDad wrote:I was under the impression that as soon as they looked up your license plate they knew you have a CHP?

They are. They are told by the dispatch verbally and also notified by a distinct electronic response/tone to idicate the operator has a permit to carry concealed. In every case that I have been asked if I was carrying, it was by a younger inexperienced deputy or officer.One time I was involved in a small crash in Arlington and the State Trooper (senior member)after having been notified by the tone alarm, looked at me and I asked him what that tone was, he explained it to me and said "no big deal".....

I have read this from quite a few states....I don't understand why this comes up...

Time to post this one again...

http://vagunforum.net/general-discussio ... t3096.html

If not carrying I only give the license, if carrying I give the license and CCW, but do not say anything in either case unless asked.

I don't make a habit of getting pulled over and I've been pulled over twice since I got my permits. Once in Arizona and once in Colorado, I have permits for both states. In AZ I was not carrying (coming from school) and the permit is not linked to the DL so I did not notify. In Colorado I was carrying and I handed my permit on top of my DL to the officer when he approached the window. The way I figure it, it's just a courtesy, if I was an officer I would want to know. The second time I was stopped (in CO) and I notified the officer he was very appreciative. It was said above that it proves that you're a stand up guy and have been through serious background checks. I made an illegal lane change (crossed three lanes of traffic) without signaling. I was speeding and I didn't have proof of insurance in the car. As the officer handed my firearm back to me (yes I was disarmed for the stop) he said "slow down and have a nice evening". The way I look at it, the fact that I notified the officer is what got me out of a pretty serious ticket.