Pulled over by the CHP while carrying

**CalCCW03** · #1 (**permalink**) 04-03-2007, 05:58 PM

Thaves asked me to post this as he is not able to at the moment. Kudos to him for handling himself with the utmost decorum. Good job sir!!! Discuss.

Quote:

I am traveling north on the Freeway in San Diego county about two miles south of the Check point. I have my Kimber CDP II on my right hip IWB

I am not really paying any attention to my speed, when suddenly flashing lights from CHP fill my mirror. I immediately look at my Speedo it says 80 mph I know I would have been doing more than that as I had taken my foot off the accelerator, I am in trouble.

For some unknown reason I wave at the officer as I am pulling over as if to say “Yep you got me”

I remember recalling all the recent discussions we had on the forum about encounters with LEO while armed, for the first time in my life I was not nervous about a traffic stop my tummy was not churning, I expect a ticket I was interested to find out how the officer would react when I told him I was carrying a gun.

I turned off the car and put both hands on the steering wheel, he came along my passenger side window and gestured for me to wind the window down, I did as he asked and the put both hands back on the wheel.

I was in luck he was a sergeant, he leaned through the window of my SL 500 and asked for my CDL, I replied “ Before I give you my license I need to inform you that I have a California CCW and I am carrying on my right hip. He was very cool and asked me where my weapon was again, I told him again it was on my right hip. He wondered why I had a CCW and asked if it was because I carried a lot of cash, I dodged the question by saying it was issued by the Orange County Sheriff. He then asked to see a copy of the CCW. All the while he was still leaning through the window. He did not react to the fact I was armed, he did not move from his position both of us remained very calm.

I told him my CCW was in my left rear pocket and I reached around slowly and pulled out my wallet, inside are all my permits I handed him the CCW he unfolded it read it re folded it and handed it back to me, he then asked for my CDL, again I told him where it was before I reached for it, it was actually in my ash tray in plain sight.

At this point I was thinking it was ticket time, he asked me why I was racing him and that he had been following me for quite a while , I laughed I told him I had no idea and that I was sorry, he wondered where I was going I told him and then he said “I am going to let you off this one, I just saved you $400, drive more carefully.

I thanked him and the encounter was over.

Lets sets aside the reason for the stop, yes I was speeding and I fully expected a ticket, I did wonder if he noticed my OCSD Advisory Council card that was in full view when I opened my wallet but the fact of the matter was that this was a text book CCW stop that we can learn from

We were both civil, I kept my hands in plain sight, I told him where my hands were going each time I reached for anything. He did not ask to see my gun, he remained calm and controlled and did not move from his position leaning inside my window.

I would have loved to have spoken to him further about what he thought of my approach of revealing I was packing as we are all learning in this CCW community and I hope my experiences help others. However I felt the time was not right at the end of a traffic stop and I was very happy to see him on his way.

Any way thanks to the CHP Sergeant with the Mustache for a very professional encounter with a LEO.

**CCWInstructor** · #2 (**permalink**) 04-03-2007, 11:51 PM

NEVER tell a cop you are armed and have a CCW!. LEO's only believe what they read, they do not believe what they hear. Hand them your CDL and CCW.

Your lucky it was a CHP, any other agencey would have turned it into a felony car stop.

**THaves** · #3 (**permalink**) 04-04-2007, 12:35 AM

I think its a tough call not to tell the officer. In my situation I have my gun on my right hip and my CCW in my left rear pocket. I am sat in a tight bucket seat, it is not easy to reach around with out moving your whole body, Said officer has his head through my window, I was worried he would see my gun as I reach for the CCW, at which point I am in even more trouble.

So we are clear are you saying next time say nothing just hand them the CDL and CCW. I admit I keep them seperate, my CCW never leaves my pocket my wallet however that has my CDL is out all the time.

I am interested to understand why any other LEO other than CHP would have made it a felony car stop. Do CHP have different policies on CCW stops.

I thought it was a text book stop but now I am having doubts.

**Sigman** · #4 (**permalink**) 04-04-2007, 09:29 AM

I would say your chances of a text book stop are better listening to Greg. You were lucky to have a CHP officer that was calm and obviously believed you.

**BonoVox** · #5 (**permalink**) 04-04-2007, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THaves

I think its a tough call not to tell the officer. In my situation I have my gun on my right hip and my CCW in my left rear pocket. I am sat in a tight bucket seat, it is not easy to reach around with out moving your whole body, Said officer has his head through my window, I was worried he would see my gun as I reach for the CCW, at which point I am in even more trouble.

So we are clear are you saying next time say nothing just hand them the CDL and CCW. I admit I keep them seperate, my CCW never leaves my pocket my wallet however that has my CDL is out all the time.

I am interested to understand why any other LEO other than CHP would have made it a felony car stop. Do CHP have different policies on CCW stops.

I thought it was a text book stop but now I am having doubts.

Better to keep your CCW with your license and keep both out of your pockets while in your car.

But being you did have it in your left pocket with IWB CCW on your right "the side of the officer" you pretty much did the best with the circumstances you put yourself into.

**ChrisG** · #6 (**permalink**) 04-04-2007, 10:45 AM

I have tried to make a habit of keeping my wallet in my center console when driving (CCW License and DL are always together). In the event I get pulled over I can have my DL and rice paper in my hands while keeping them on the steering wheel as the LEO approaches my window.

roger92653 · #7 (**permalink**) 04-04-2007, 10:50 AM

I have gone over it a hundred times in my head, for when I am in the same situation and I have made it a habit to remove my wallet from my pocket and place it in my center console.

As my hands rest on the wheel, my wallet is on the dash, both windows down waiting for the officer to approach.

I will hand him/her my CDL and CCW as I say good morning/afternoon/evening officer.

Not that you did it "wrong" but I key in on the fact that every instructor I've had in every state I've ever had has always told me to NEVER say GUN.

**True Brit** · #8 (**permalink**) 04-04-2007, 01:49 PM

CCW and situational awareness…enough said.

Maybe it's time to join the 11-99 Foundation.

GuyW · #9 (**permalink**) 04-04-2007, 05:06 PM

I've been told that Chippies tend to deal with a better class of customer, might affect the mindset...

**OCRancher** · #10 (**permalink**) 04-04-2007, 06:25 PM

I was going to say, this was covered in other posts from the past sites. CCW and CDL together, no need to mention gun unless asked. And note the CHP officer asked for your CDL first, yet you avoided that request and handed him your CCW.

All n all, though, I do not think you miss handled it, but as Greg says, the idea here is to avoid any unpleasantness.

**spc** · #11 (**permalink**) 04-04-2007, 06:36 PM

I was pulled over in NV. about a year ago . The NHP asked me what I thought the speed limit was and I replied 55? He said 50 and asked for my DL and REG. I was going to give him my Nv. CCW but was caught so off guard I didn't. He got to the back of my truck, turned around and asked if I would "Keep it down" and I replied Yes Sir. He handed me back my papers and told me to be on my way.

I was not properly prepared for the stop and lucked out anyway. You do not always need to hand over your permit to get out of a ticket. Proper attitude and hands on the steering wheel with the window down as he approached must have helped. I was doing 70 mph and he had me on radar.

I agree you should hand your permit with your paperwork, and not say that you have a gun.

spc

canuck · #12 (**permalink**) 04-04-2007, 06:55 PM

I carry my docs like this, keeps it in the open from the get go; http://www.ccwsupply.biz/CCWKeyPocketWalletPAGE.htm

**BonoVox** · #13 (**permalink**) 04-04-2007, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spc

I was pulled over in NV. about a year ago . The NHP asked me what I thought the speed limit was and I replied 55? He said 50 and asked for my DL and REG. I was going to give him my Nv. CCW but was caught so off guard I didn't. He got to the back of my truck, turned around and asked if I would "Keep it down" and I replied Yes Sir. He handed me back my papers and told me to be on my way.

I was not properly prepared for the stop and lucked out anyway. You do not always need to hand over your permit to get out of a ticket. Proper attitude and hands on the steering wheel with the window down as he approached must have helped. I was doing 70 mph and he had me on radar.

I agree you should hand your permit with your paperwork, and not say that you have a gun.

spc

My guess is the reason he notified the officer "or in other people's cases handed over their permit" was not because he was trying to get out of a ticket. But because he was required to.

In Orange County at least....you are required to notify any LEO that you have a CCW...when you make official contact with them.