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Embalmo wrote:

Keith B wrote:

Embalmo wrote:It's a coin toss, and I'm about to scrap the whole idea of declaring. If I don't declare, I sit in my car while the stop goes quickly and smoothly. If I do declare, I might be pulled out of my car, pushed against my car, frisked, and detained for an hour while the moron grapples procedure. And then your gun might be placed in your trunk to bounce around with your jack and spare while you drive home. The only time in my entire life that I've ever been removed from my car, frisked and detained for an hour was when I was foolish enough to declare.

Embalmo

The law still states you must declare if you are carrying. Period.

Did the "L" word appear anywhere in this post? Funny thing about CHL laws is that CHLs seem to be the only ones who understand/know current CHL laws. After the incident with the women in the hospital and the treatment that I received, I don't trust LEOs to know what the current laws are concerning CHL. Certainly, I wouldn't take a chance as the cop would know ahead of time, but it was a lot simpler when I carried in my vehicle before I had a CHL. I believed, like we were all told in CHL class, that declaring would put the LEO at ease, but it often has the opposite effect.

Embalmo

I think you will find much more the opposite; that many LEO's have the understanding that you must present your CHL at ALL times. There are several stories of LEO's who have chastised the CHL, even when not carrying, for not presenting his ID when he the drivers license to them. Now, even though the penalties for not presenting changed, you still run the risk of being reprimanded or even arrested for not presenting while carrying because the LEO is not current on the statutes.

And, while you apparently got a bad taste from your one poor encounter, do not paste all LEO's into that mold. Many DO know the law, and many are pro-CHL. Besides, it is against forum rules to LEO bash.

Embalmo wrote:It's a coin toss, and I'm about to scrap the whole idea of declaring. If I don't declare, I sit in my car while the stop goes quickly and smoothly. If I do declare, I might be pulled out of my car, pushed against my car, frisked, and detained for an hour while the moron grapples procedure. And then your gun might be placed in your trunk to bounce around with your jack and spare while you drive home. The only time in my entire life that I've ever been removed from my car, frisked and detained for an hour was when I was foolish enough to declare.

Embalmo

The law still states you must declare if you are carrying. Period.

MadMonkey wrote:
I had an officer ask me if I was carrying when I forgot to tell him AND forgot to hand him my CHL. He knew somehow...

I apologized profusely.

Had you already given him you drivers license and he gone back to run it? Even if not, as mentioned above some officers will go ahead and run the name of the registered owner that comes back to the plate through the system before they approach the car. Then when the officer gets your DL and it matches the name that came up and he ran, he would know you have a CHL. Otherwise, they don't know off of just the plate info alone. Also, if you are leasing a car I believe it shows as the leasing company and not the person leasing it. Maybe one of the LEO's or others that have access to Texas system on here can confirm that.

Abraham wrote:Yes, if I'm asked for an I.D. by an LEO I'll show both, but if he or she already knows this information by dint of their on-board computer, why IS it necessary to confirm what they presumably already know?

Is their information often faulty or ...?

Unless they run your name from the license plate registration, then they will not already know. The CHL does not show up on the plate info. When they will find out is if they go back and run your driver's license and it pops up you have a CHL. At that point they probably are going to come back and ask you if you are carrying. And, some LEO's have the misunderstanding that you have to present your CHL period, even if not carrying, and may rake you over the coals for not showing it. If you ARE carrying, then you are still required to present your CHL, period.