Mandatory Notification at traffic stop??

[Kirk Freeman]

Are you guys talking to cops again? What have I told you?

Do I have to tell the story about the engineer and the M66 . . . yet again.

Don't tell unless they ask. Tell them, don't show them like the engineer did. Eddie Haskell up, and yes, if they want you out of the car, then get out of the car.

6 pages and no one has mentioned Kirk's First Law of the Internet. *hands in pockets, kicks rocks*

 

[Helrazr1]

i respect your opinion rhino, however, the answers you will provide the officer will more than likely land you in a more timely stop than simply cooperating. with answers like that the officer will be more tempted to dig deeper with a citizen who is unwilling to cooperate or answer questions straightforward.

i will present the carry permit, my liscense, my registration and proof of insurance at the time of the stop, and if asked if i currently have one, it will be "yes at my 4 o'clock" or "yes between the seat and center console" my goal is to be as cooperative and honest so they can get about their business and i can get about to mine.

Exactly right! If you're evasive and being uncooperative, it just gives them reason to believe that you might be up to no good. If you're a law abiding citizen, and the only thing you're doing is posessing a firearm.....legally, then why not let them know for your safety and theirs, so you can be on your way.

 

[Scutter01]

Exactly right! If you're evasive and being uncooperative, it just gives them reason to believe that you might be up to no good. If you're a law abiding citizen, and the only thing you're doing is posessing a firearm.....legally, then why not let them know for your safety and theirs, so you can be on your way.

I don't know about you, but when I hear LEOs, lawyers, and some extremely experienced gun people tell me to keep my mouth shut, I'm inclined to listen to them.

 

[rhino]

Exactly right! If you're evasive and being uncooperative, it just gives them reason to believe that you might be up to no good. If you're a law abiding citizen, and the only thing you're doing is posessing a firearm.....legally, then why not let them know for your safety and theirs, so you can be on your way.

If you're talking about what I originally added to this topic, there is nothing uncoooperative or evasive about it. If you see it that way, you miss the point completely.

The "it's okay because I don't have anything to hide" attitude is naive, dangerous, and has resulted cumulatively in significant erosion of our ability to exercise our rights.

And for Kirk's benefit . . .

Kirk's First Law of the Internet:

"If it's the law in Texas, it must be the law everywhere."

 

[rhino]

I don't know about you, but when I hear LEOs, lawyers, and some extremely experienced gun people tell me to keep my mouth shut, I'm inclined to listen to them.

Amen!

The stuff I have contributed to this topic is a result from being educated by our favorite British Barrister, the man who coined each and every one of Kirk's Laws of the Internet! He might as well be working the string in my back when you see my mouth move to talk.

 

[Bill of Rights]

Exactly right! If you're evasive and being uncooperative, it just gives them reason to believe that you might be up to no good. If you're a law abiding citizen, and the only thing you're doing is posessing a firearm.....legally, then why not let them know for your safety and theirs, so you can be on your way.

Do you also tell them you have a wallet in your right back pocket, $15.27 in your left front, and dark blue boxer shorts on under your jeans? I mean... if you're a law-abiding citizen, and the only thing you're doing is being there.....legally, then why not let them know, so you can be on your way?

If you are a law-abiding citizen, you carrying a firearm is as much their business as what color underwear you have on, how much money you have on you, and where you keep your wallet. LEOs should have absolutely zero jurisdiction over those of us who stay within the law. Note that this is not "cop-bashing". If an officer sees my gun and wants to separate me from it, I will reluctantly and under polite protest do so, locking it in my vehicle, stepping out of the car, and remaining a non-worrisome distance from the officer. If I am ordered to allow him/her to disarm me, I will politely request to do that myself as noted above, "for my safety" (it's almost impossible to remove a pistol from a seated person's holster without covering them with the barrel, and it IS impossible to do so without exposing the officer to risk, as I noted in another thread.)

"Why not tell them, if you have nothing to hide?" is the question often asked to this issue. To the contrary, I would ask, "If I've done nothing wrong (other than perhaps a traffic infraction), why are you asking?" The original question is designed to put the subject on the defensive and to convince him/her to comply to "prove" that s/he has nothing to hide-in short, to prove his/her innocence, despite the presumption of innocence that is a cornerstone of our justice system.

If asked, I will comply with the law and hand an officer my LTCH to be verified, but I have yet to have anyone show any way that my pistol being anywhere but in the holster where I keep it promotes officer safety or mine.

Blessings,
B

 

[hoosiertriangle]

BOR puts its well. I'm gonna give a shot at putting it another way. Next time your pulled over and the officer asks you if there is anything they should know about, where you were going, why your out so late, who is driving with you, will you wear this audio/video/location transmitting device forever, you will certainly answer yes because you have and will not do anything wrong and therefore have nothing to hide.

In short, my personal sovereignty is more important to me than a traffic ticket, 10 minutes longer at a traffic stop, officers convenience, etc. This is the genius of our country, I am free to maintain my sovereignty over myself by exercising my rights to their full extent and others are free to give them up upon request.

Good luck and stay safe.

 

[Steeler]

I will keep my concealed weapon just that. Concealed. Unless it is in view of the LEO or asked to step out of the vehicle, what he or she doesn`t know won`t hurt them.

 

[obijohn]

Oh, man. Now I can't delete it!

once again, rhino didn't read what he typed before clicking send.

being patient and cooperative doesn't mean being overly so. i don't believe rhino is suggesting belligerence, but if there is no legal, moral or ethical reason to disclose, then don't. of course, 95% of the leo's i come in contact with are friends, friends of friends or students, so most of the "i've got a gun" information is understood.

 

[EliteCageFighting]

I've been reading this forum for the better part of the day, and I must say, this is one of the most informative threads so far!

 

[spartan933]

I have to get in on this.

I see it this way regarding notification, it's up to you. If Indiana does not have a law regarding notification of a Peace Officer (That sounds cooler) than you don't have to. Whether you let him know or not, you are okay, as long as you don't have some warrant or other issue that would preclude you from carrying, don't worry about it.

As far as the Constable on Patrol asking for and temporarily confiscating your firearm, I really wouldn't have a problem with it. Let him, or her. I have nothing to hide and the PoPo would probably be inspecting my Kimber 1911 for coolness.

Now, if T.J. Hooker is going to be a dick about it, then, yeah, let him be a dick. He still has to give you your gun back.

 

[TRWXXA]

I will keep my concealed weapon just that. Concealed. Unless it is in view of the LEO or asked to step out of the vehicle, what he or she doesn`t know won`t hurt them.

+1

If asked to step out of the vehicle, there is a better than even chance that you may get patted-down just for officer safety. It'd be best for you, and a show of good faith not to surprise the officer with the heavy bulge on your hip.

 

[PX4 Storm]

I've often surprised people with my heavy bulge...

+1
If asked to step out of the vehicle, there is a better than even chance that you may get patted-down just for officer safety. It'd be best for you, and a show of good faith not to surprise the officer with the heavy bulge on your hip.

 

[TRWXXA]

I've often surprised people with my heavy bulge...

Switching to light beer and 50 sit-ups a day should help get rid of that bulge.

 

[agentl074]

I just hand over my LTCH with my DL.

 

[TomN]

Don't ask don't tell for me.

 

[rhino]

Don't ask don't tell for me.

You are wise and sensible, my future roommate!