Surviving a traffic stop

[ronlarimer]

I started a blog about 3 weeks ago that covers many of the topics you would see on the best defense and shooting gallery.  My focus is the 1st 72 hours after an incident and not TEOTWAWKI situations.  It is also not strictly firearms, although that has been the beginning to build traffic.

Today's post is about surviving the a traffic stop as an armed citizen and looks at the stop from both sides.  I took the position that your job during the stop is to not get shot, but I know a number of people don't believe a cop has the right to disarm you.  It should be a good topic for debate and discussion and I would appreciate any comments or viewpoints I may have not fully considered.

Let me know what you think...

http://balloongoesup.blogspot.com/2011/10/surviving-traffic-stop.html

[Dakotaranger]

Looks good so far.

[Solus]

Liked all your advice.

You did mention one point that concerned me very much and also offered a workable solution which did not occur to me.

I would be very reluctant to handle my loaded weapon in that situation and I'd always thought I'd ask the officer if to remove it.

Your suggestion of asking to remove it in it's  holster is very good and is a suggestion I will follow.....as I follow the rest already.

I have had three instances where I needed to inform a police officer I was licensed and carrying.

One where I was rear ended in a very slow speed accident and before we could even agree to go our own way with no damage done, a patrol car happened on us and the officer approached us.  I informed me, he said thanks, and every thing proceeded normally.

Another time, I was in the process of purchasing a home for rehab and was meeting my contractor at the house.  The house had been empty for over 3 years.  I arrived early, parked my car towards the back of the drive way and sat on the porch steps to wait.
I saw a car leave the house across the street and then return from the other direction, as iff they just drove around the block.
Within a few minutes a police car arrived and the officer asked what I was doing there.  Told him I was licensed and carrying and my situation with the  house.  He asked to see my permit but not the gun and things proceeded normally after that.  Seems they had received a call that a 'homeless' person was hanging around the house....I guess I need to get a hair cut and trim my beard, but I take a perverse pride in having the police called on me within the first 15 minutes of visiting my new home 

Last time was a speeding stop for 50 in a 35 zone.  Officer approached and I informed him I was licensed and carrying.  He said thanks, then noted I had an NRA sticker on my bumper and told me to slow down in the future and have a nice day.  Got lucky with the right cop on that one.  One thing I noticed is that, when I told  him I was carrying is backed off a few steps and spoke to me from there with his hand near his gun.  Obviously he gave me the benefit of the doubt about being an upstanding gun owner, but wasn't about to risk is life on that evaluation.   

[JLawson]

Good blog post... you provide some very reasonable advice.

I would also like to mention that even if the officer disarms the driver, the driver should not become careless with his movements in the vehicle.  That police officer, if he's following his training, is going to be considering the possibility of a second weapon.  Neither participant in this encounter should relax until both are on their merry way.

[Ichiban]

You have some good advice there.  In Colorado we are not required to notify and the concealed handgun permit is not tied to our drivers license.  When I have been stopped I tell the office I have a license to carry and am exercising that right.  So far those few I've dealt with have been very professional about it and didn't even ask anything about it.  I do make sure I tell them any move that I am going to make - get my wallet, open the arm rest for registration, etc.  Since I usually have a gun in the glove box as well, I make sure my registration and insurance info is kept elsewhere.

[Sponsor]

[bigdrumdaddy]

While it's correct that, in CO you're not required to notify the officer when stopped - you ARE REQUIRED to do so when stopped in Denver. In fact, most times the dispatcher will inform the officer of your CCW when he calls in your plate. So, should you ever get stopped in Denver, please remember to notify the officer IMMEDIATELY, or you will most certainly be disarmed, handcuffed, and charged with not informing the officer (an actual ordinance in Denver). Doesn't apply anywhere else in the state, but it DOES in Denver. 'Course, Denver dispatchers don't have access to statewide CCW records - especially oultying areas/smaller counties - but why take the chance? 

[mkm]

Good job and good advice.  The only thing I don't think would be the best idea is to suggest to the officer that (s)he isn't good with a gun.  Whether or not that's a true statement doesn't matter if you want to keep them calm.  I don't see any problem politely asking him to unload it elsewhere.

I, unfortunately, have had the experience of telling an officer that I have a gun in the truck.  I wasn't wearing it either time, and it's not required in my state.  However, the first time it was very visible, and the second time I thought it was in my best interest to tell him and make sure I "survived the stop."

The first time was the most exciting for lack of a better word.  I had recently graduated from undergrad and moved back to my hometown about 40mins up the road.  Most of my friends were still in the college town; so, I went to hang out there often.  It was about 1:45 AM on a Sunday morning, and I got pulled over for not dimming my headlights on a 4 lane highway with almost no traffic.  My holsterd glock was stuck between my seat and the console where  I keep it when I want easy access.  I turned on the dome light, rolled down the window, placed my hands in a visible position, and let him know about the gun when he got there.  I was patted down "for my safety and his," and he unloaded the gun but left it in it's position.  I don't guess he saw or either didn't mind leaving the other two mags in the door.  It was the first time I had been pulled over in that truck and couldn't find my insurance papers without digging through everything.  His backup arrived sometime after I had gotten out of the truck.  He was excited when he saw the gun, but the first officer quickly informed him that I was legal.  Both officers were fairly young guys and were very polite to me.  The first one was especially forgiving.

When we had finally finished up, I told him that was my first time getting pulled over with a gun and asked if there was anything I should have done better.  He said what I did was good.  My written warning ticket was hilarious when I finally got up the nerve to look at it.  Nothing on it was correct except a general description of me and my truck.

The second time I got stopped was for speeding on the interstate.  The gun was in my door that time, but I felt it would be best to let him know anyway.  He made somekind of smartmouthed comment about bad neighborhoods or something and told me just to leave it there.  I got a ticket that time.

[Ichiban]

While it's correct that, in CO you're not required to notify the officer when stopped - you ARE REQUIRED to do so when stopped in Denver. In fact, most times the dispatcher will inform the officer of your CCW when he calls in your plate. So, should you ever get stopped in Denver, please remember to notify the officer IMMEDIATELY, or you will most certainly be disarmed, handcuffed, and beaten severely, then charged with not informing the officer (an actual ordinance in Denver). Doesn't apply anywhere else in the state, but it DOES in Denver. 'Course, Denver dispatchers don't have access to statewide CCW records - especially oultying areas/smaller counties - but why take the chance? 

FIFY.  After all, they do have a reputation to maintain.   

[sdsorrentino]

Michael you are WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!

I will never inform unless I have to by law. Never burden a police officer with more information than he needs to do his job. I have to inform by law here in NC, but anywhere else, I will not inform.

http://ncguns.blogspot.com/2011/11/michael-you-are-wrong-wrong-wrong.html

[fightingquaker13]

Michael you are WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!

I will never inform unless I have to by law. Never burden a police officer with more information than he needs to do his job. I have to inform by law here in NC, but anywhere else, I will not inform.

http://ncguns.blogspot.com/2011/11/michael-you-are-wrong-wrong-wrong.html

I don't know about that one. Cops get nervous in traffic stops, and seeing a gun they didn't know about would seem to turn the volume up a few notches when that didn't need to be the case. If you KNOW you're legal, I don't see the harm in informing them. If there is the possibilty you are in violation of some oddball ordinance like the one in Denver and there is no statewide requirement to inform, then maybe keep your mouth shut. Its your call, but generally  I'd rather be the one to tell the cop I had a gun rather than having him find it on his own.
FQ13