Trends on Encounters when pulled over. - Poll

[tallmike]

My last encounter (only encounter while armed) was after a minor traffic accident while I was still living in Las Vegas. It was with a North Las Vegas police officer and NLVPD is pretty anti gun (they hold gun turn ins where they give people wal-mart gift cards for the guns they turn in).

I gave my license, permit, etc... and she actually told me "just put your gun back in your van so I dont have to worry about it"

I didnt want to argue with her so I disarmed, but it struck me that me actually pulling my gun (I got in the van and closed the door of course) should be the last thing she asked me to do.

In the end she gave me a ticket for driving on the shoulder and said I was at fault for the accident. The accident was caused when I passed 4 cars that were stopped in a long line at a stoplight by going onto the right shoulder to pull into the shoping center on the right. The other guy made a left between the waiting cars to pull into the same shopping center and we met at the entrance with my van crushing the front passenger side of the car. I felt that the other guy was at fault and think perhaps she didnt like me because I was armed, but I did my traffic school and paid my fine anyway. Even the traffic school instructor said the other guy should have been cited for making an "unsafe left" and even if I was cited too he should have been at fault.

OK thats my rant, yes it still bothers me a bit. =)

[MAFWG]

I've been stopped once since I received my CHL and got my first moving violation in 15 years. DPS trooper saw the CHL, asked where the gun was (center console) and didn't say anything else about it.

I had been stopped about half a dozen times before that and received warnings. But I was guilty, so I'm not complaining!

Hunter

[Humanphibian]

My most recent contact (non-traffic though) was yesterday. I requested a "Civil Standby"officer from Plano while retrieving property from and individual at an apartment complex. This is the first time I have had dealings with Plano, and it was very pleasant.

During our initial meeting I identified myself and was asked for ID to verify I was actually "me". I gave DL and CHL and was asked if I was armed. I responded in the affirmative that was, on my person along w/ back-up and long gun in my truck. He asked if I minded leaving my handgun in my vehicle, then told me I didn't "have" to, but he would be more comfortable. I responded that it was no problem whatsoever, and disarmed.

We made contact with the resident, retrieved the property, and went our way. We stopped in the parking lot around the corner and debriefed. He thanked me for my understanding, as did I for his help. All in all a very POSITIVE response (IMO) in that situation.

[Will938]

So I finally got pulled over, crusing along on the rural highway near my house in Anderson/Carlos. It was a quick affair, I wasn't really paying attention to my speed, but I guess it was about 80 in a 65/70. I knew I was boned right when I saw him, just pulled over. Got my info out and gave it to him off the bat, I said "I have a CHL and I am armed." He didn't say one word about it. Just asked what the hurry was and where I was coming from. Of course the guy turns out to live a few houses down from me.

So that was it, he let me go without so much as a written warning. Just "Can you slow it down for me Mr. Clark?" Yes sir

I've never, ever received a warning before, take that for what you can.

[Venus Pax]

I didn't respond to the poll since I have not been pulled over since receiving my CHL.
I've only had one LEO contact since getting my CHL:
I was in a vehicle accident just over a week ago. When asked for ID, I handed the DPS officer my DL & CHL. He handed the CHL right back to me, saying he had never been shot at while working an accident scene in his 30 years in law enforcement. I later rode in the DPS truck wearing a .380 in a belly band and a .38 special in my purse. He did not appear the least bit concerned.

[stevie_d_64]

I always thought it would be neat to see more Law Enforcement (in general) see what it is that, in this community, what we discuss and are concerned about when we have our "encounters" and other issues...

For the most part I figure most are very supportive, and understand our positions, but if they saw what the nuts and bolts of what we discuss in this forum...

Some may cringe at what they might think about what we say...Ehhh, I'd blow most of that off...

Just imagining a little this evening...

[SigM4]

I've been pulled over my fair share of times, especially in my undergrad years traveling between Dallas and San Antonio, probaby a dozen or so times. Half of these after I'd recieved my CHL. Out of all of these the only ticket I ever got was the very first stop for "running" a red light, which I still dispute but thats beyond this conversation.

Having a CHL or not hasn't really seemed to affect the situation, but my attitude has. The first stop I was incredibly nervous and very short with the officer. After that I've tried to be as accomodating as possible (pulling over quickly and in a safe place, rolling down all windows, having all info ready, initiating the conversation, etc.) and its always worked out well.

I honestly think the more genuine and less of a horse's rear end you can be is the biggest contributing factor to the whole stop.

[Zim]

I was caught in a newly posted construction zone. When I saw him turning around, I pulled over and waited. I had the pistol in the car. After handing DL & CHL, I was asked to step to the rear of the vehicle while he unloaded and ran the pistol. I told him where to find the SN.

Received a ticket and asked not to load it until after he left.

Very standoffish. Did not leave a good feeling on my part especially when he checked the "workers present" box and doubled my fine when there weren't any workers present. He even handed the ticket from arm's length. OWG in business caasual.

Saw several DPS stops along that stretch of road over the next few months. Things are back to normal and construction is SLOWLY progressing.

[frankie_the_yankee]

I've been ticketed 2 times, and received a warning once. So I put that I made a declaration before handing over both licenses. The cops were always polite and calm. No hassles.

[KBCraig]

After handing DL & CHL, I was asked to step to the rear of the vehicle while he unloaded and ran the pistol.

I know I sound like a broken record on this, but it really irks me that so many police seem to make it their personal SOP to disarm all CHLs, and doubly so when they run the SN to check for stolen.

I told him where to find the SN.

Heh. I wouldn't. And unless he was familiar with poly-framed Rugers, he wouldn't find it under the Hogue slip-on grip.

Kevin

[Xander]

Heh. I wouldn't. And unless he was familiar with poly-framed Rugers, he wouldn't find it under the Hogue slip-on grip.

Kevin

Wouldn't until he decided to haul you in, because you must have filed it off for him to not be able to find it.

[dustyb]

I was stopped in a speed trap on the Lake Houston bridge between Kingwood and Atascocita. The officer was really cool about the CHL and didn't even ask if I was carrying. I got a ticket though. 55 in a 40 if memory serves me.

[stroo]

I was stopped Monday in Coppell. I drive this everyday and there is a school zone on MacArthur that I always slow down for. On Monday, I was thinking about something else, forgot about the school zone when I entered it, remember a few seconds later and slowed down, then I saw the police car, wondered if he would come after, at which point the lights came on. I stopped immediately, told him I had a CHL and was carrying. He asked where the gun was and I told him. No problems. He gave me a verbal warning to slow done in school zones. Very professional officer and stop.

[dustyb]

I have a good friend who is a police officer in Coppell. I'll be sure and pass the story on to him.

[ZARASTER]

I have been stoped by the DPS officer 2 times the first being some 16 years ago on 287 near Corsicana. I was not armed and did not have a chl. I was 10 miles over the posted speed The nice officer gave me a warning.
The second time was last 4th of July 10 pm or so My doughter and i were returning from the lake In Jewett after a nice day of shooting and fire works and i was pulled over at Ennis as I was exiting the Hwy . Being it was dark I turned the interior light on had my hands on the wheel with my plastic cards in my hand when the officer got to the window i handed him the cards he looked at the chl and gave it back and did not ask anything about weapons . I recieved a warning ticket for failure to signal lane change. The officer was very nice and it was a good encounter