Police stop behavior

[Scott in Houston]

Believe it or not, I've only been pulled over three times in my life

I think you're the guy I'm always driving behind!

[texanron]

I am sure this has been covered, but I could not find it in search. When pulled over for a traffic stop. Do you (1) Do nothing and wait for police to request your DL and give your CHL at that time (2) Have them ready and waiting when the LEO comes to your window. Or some other option? I am running into a differing of opinion. I went to the TXDPS website, and it said consult your local law enforcement for their requirements in your area.

In my opinion the safest thing for all concerned is to wait with your window down and hands high on the steering wheel. When the officer approaches and asks for your ID, without moving your hands, tell him you have a CHL and a lawfully carried firearm. Then tell him where the gun, the CHL and the DL are and ask him how he would like you to proceed. He'll then tell you what he wants you to do, so you don't have to try to figure out what all the local customs might be.

I haven't come across any place where this doesn't work very well.

Hands on the wheel, window down & waiting for the officer to make contact. Inform officer about CHL and where firearm(s) is located.

[texanron]

Believe it or not, I've only been pulled over three times in my life

I think you're the guy I'm always driving behind!

Could be me....almost 40 years old and never been pulled over. (knock on wood)

[USA1]

Believe it or not, I've only been pulled over three times in my life

I think you're the guy I'm always driving behind!

Could be me....almost 40 years old and never been pulled over. (knock on wood)

Do you mean "caught"?

[texanron]

Believe it or not, I've only been pulled over three times in my life

I think you're the guy I'm always driving behind!

Could be me....almost 40 years old and never been pulled over. (knock on wood)

Do you mean "caught"?

Yes, that would be a better description. I have bent/broken a few traffic laws over the years.

[USA1]

Believe it or not, I've only been pulled over three times in my life

I think you're the guy I'm always driving behind!

Could be me....almost 40 years old and never been pulled over. (knock on wood)

Do you mean "caught"?

Yes, that would be a better description. I have bent/broken a few traffic laws over the years.

Back on topic. I have yet to be stopped since getting my CHL but have pondered what to do in the event that it ever happens. I have decided long ago to do just what Excaliber described in his post. My feeling is that honesty and respect go a long way.

[Medic624]

I have my paperwork in a plastic deal in my visor and when I get in the car I put my wallet either on the dash or the center console so I'm never reaching toward my weapon.

Also I have only been pulled over 2 times in the last 12 years and they've been just recently but I have taken to using the video camera option only phone and set it down pointing toward me so if anything happens I have a record. I figure if they can have a dash camera so can I... Ha ha ha

[MadMonkey]

Depends on the circumstances for me. I don't have an interior light in one of my cars, so at night I drop the top (Miata, literally takes 5 seconds) and keep one hand on top of the windshield and one arm resting on the windowsill so both are clearly visible from their vehicle. During the day, if my top isn't down, I'll put one hand out the window and on the roof (as if I'm chillin' ) and one on the sill... again, both easily visible.

If the officer has a long way to go before he gets to me, I'll quickly grab my wallet before he pulls up, and sit it in my lap (my back window is crap in the Miata, and my other vehicle is a minivan... hard to see in until you're right up on me). That way I don't have to reach into my pockets while he's standing there. Before I make ANY moves I let him know I'm carrying and where it is, then keep my hands clearly visible while pulling out my paperwork.

Everything I do when I'm stopped is calculated to make life easier for both of us. And if they see you making that effort to keep them feeling unthreatened, it can't help but help your chances of getting less than a ticket

IMHO anyway.

At this point I don't feel like I'm "bowing to the Man" or whatever... they're just doing their job, and I'm helping make it easier. If I get pulled over, there's a good chance I deserved it

[zero4o3]

I plan to act the same way I would before my chl, in a car engine off window down hands on wheel nothing more until I am asked to do anythign else, on a motorcycle engine off kickstand down and when approached I inform them I am going to take off my helmet / gloves.

when they ask for ID I will hand them my CHL also and if they ask about a weapon I will answer the question, but I would hate to be feeling nervous or jittery and tell a police officer "I have a gun"

[wgoforth]

Believe it or not, I've only been pulled over three times in my life

I think you're the guy I'm always driving behind!

Funny! Kids tell me I drive like an old lady.

Once I had a rental car that the dealer did not have properly licensed. Pulled over. Another time I was going through a small town at night, and he said I was speeding (I wasn't, but I didn't argue) and he was checking out why we were coming through so late I'm sure. I wasn't ticketed. Once I pulled out to close in front of a cop, and got a warning ticket.

[Jumping Frog]

but I have taken to using the video camera option only phone and set it down pointing toward me so if anything happens I have a record. I figure if they can have a dash camera so can I... Ha ha ha

I'd suggest testing your phone to see how long it will record video.

I was going to record video as well, until I tested and found my phone will record 60 seconds and then stop.

Then, I went to freeconferencecalling.com and registered for a free account. My phone contact list is setup so that I press and hold 9, it autodials my free conference call and then automatically records the call. I can download the recording from the website afterwards, if I want.

I've tested it and it works just fine. Now, if I get pulled over, I will press and hold "9", then switch to speakerphone and place the telephone in my shirt pocket.

Better safe than sorry.

[Medic624]

but I have taken to using the video camera option only phone and set it down pointing toward me so if anything happens I have a record. I figure if they can have a dash camera so can I... Ha ha ha

I'd suggest testing your phone to see how long it will record video.

I was going to record video as well, until I tested and found my phone will record 60 seconds and then stop.

Then, I went to freeconferencecalling.com and registered for a free account. My phone contact list is setup so that I press and hold 9, it autodials my free conference call and then automatically records the call. I can download the recording from the website afterwards, if I want.

I've tested it and it works just fine. Now, if I get pulled over, I will press and hold "9", then switch to speakerphone and place the telephone in my shirt pocket.

Better safe than sorry.

I know it records for at least 5 minutes...Maybe I should check that out...Thanks

[FiveOh]

As a police officer, here's what I *recommend,* which is also similar to what I do on the occcasions I've been stopped;

Interior lights ON
Window DOWN
Hands on WHEEL

wait for LEO to make contact, listen to their spiel;

say something along the lines of...Before I reach for anything, I'd like you to know I am a CHL holder and I am armed

Follow instructions from there.

Some I've talked to feel this is "bending over for the man" or a needless statement which somehow violates a right to privacy or even the Constitution .

I've heard a lot of paranoid "i don't *have* to say anything" rants. If you feel that way, do what you want. This is what I prefer, and this is what I do for other LEOs. YMMV.

[wgoforth]

As a police officer, here's what I *recommend,* which is also similar to what I do on the occcasions I've been stopped;

Interior lights ON
Window DOWN
Hands on WHEEL

wait for LEO to make contact, listen to their spiel;

say something along the lines of...Before I reach for anything, I'd like you to know I am a CHL holder and I am armed

Follow instructions from there.

Some I've talked to feel this is "bending over for the man" or a needless statement which somehow violates a right to privacy or even the Constitution .

I've heard a lot of paranoid "i don't *have* to say anything" rants. If you feel that way, do what you want. This is what I prefer, and this is what I do for other LEOs. YMMV.

Exactly the kind of info we need! Thank you. In past I have done all of those, except I have usually had my DL and CHL in my hands on the wheen before he gets to me. Sounds like better to wait until told. Thanks!

[zero4o3]

As a police officer, here's what I *recommend,* which is also similar to what I do on the occcasions I've been stopped;

Interior lights ON
Window DOWN
Hands on WHEEL

wait for LEO to make contact, listen to their spiel;

say something along the lines of...Before I reach for anything, I'd like you to know I am a CHL holder and I am armed

Follow instructions from there.

Some I've talked to feel this is "bending over for the man" or a needless statement which somehow violates a right to privacy or even the Constitution .

I've heard a lot of paranoid "i don't *have* to say anything" rants. If you feel that way, do what you want. This is what I prefer, and this is what I do for other LEOs. YMMV. :txflag:

while I dont really have a problem with someones choice to make it known (right before you make it known by handing them the chl) it seems kind of redundant, why do I need to tell you im about to hand you a piece of plastic that tells you I am a hand gun holder

Granted if the location of my gun was such that the movement to remove my wallet and access my licesnes would expose my weapon, thats a different story, you could be in a world of hurt fairly quickly. and thats probably the only situation I would make a point to inform him of my chl, before I in form him that I am a CHL holder (by handing him my CHL)

and again, this is not because I feel like im "bending over for the man" its because in our interaction, your going to say "licenses and insurance" and im going to say "here you go sir" no point in adding steps, if you ask "are you a chl holder" I will say yes, want to know where the gun is located what it is, not a problem. but im going to do what im ASKED and not more unless I find it immediately necassary for my safety or the safety of the officer