TexasCHLforum.com

Valhalla1 wrote:so I was headed home from the gf's house, I admit I was eager to get home and was likely speeding a little bit, but nothing drastic and there was no traffic about. Look up in my rearview and see the red and blue lights barreling down on me with sirens blaring. Get the spotlight on me as I roll the windows down and rest my hands on the wheel. Meanwhile two more police cars have pulled up and I'm surrounded. Give him my chl and dl and tell him I have a gun in my left pocket. He has me exit the vehicle with my hands on the door, and he reached into my pockets and took my pistol. Has me stand behind my truck as he unloads it onto his car hood, and pats me down for further weapons.
At this point he says, "keltec? ruger?" I say yep, Ruger LCP. He explains I was racing or driving recklessly and he had to "go 80 just to catch me". I remain calm and explain I wasn't sure how fast I was going but that I'm normally a safe driver. (while knowing I probably was doing 5-10 over). He says if you are driving recklessly and carrying, they can charge me with illegally carrying. Another officer who had flanked me to my right speaks up and says "Basically what he means is, if you're out here driving recklessly, your CHL doesn't mean $***" (quote). I just say 'I understand'.

I never acknowledged that I was speeding or doing anything illegal, I said I wasn't watching my speedometer but I was pretty sure I was going the speed limit, and I ask if there is a radar. He then realizes I'm not going to incriminate myself by admitting to speeding verbally, and says "You're lucky, I'm going to cut you a huge break. I don't have a radar in my car so I'm not going to charge you with reckless driving" and gives me a speech about how if you are doing anything illegal (worse than class b misdemeanor) while carrying, then they charge you with carrying illegally despite the CHL. I explained that I understood, and I said that I respected the job they do. He appreciated that I was calm and followed all the procedures, etc. Then he gets to checking out my Ruger LCP, asking me about the laser. We start talking guns a bit and the tension lightens significantly and finally he sends me on my way with a warning. He re-loads my pistol and puts it under my passenger seat, and says I can get it after I pull away and pull off the road. He says if I am going to be out racing, to leave the gun at home. Hand shakes all around, and I'm on my way.

so in summary, keep your cool, play by the rules, but don't ever verbally admit to speeding or any other traffic violation, they are trained to get you to verbally admit something they can use against you. And drive safely, seems at least in these parts the police are quick to jump to the 'reckless driving' conclusion on just about any traffic stop, which apparently is enough to lose your CHL.