TexasCHLforum.com

casp625 wrote: There has to be reasonable suspicion of a crime AND they believe you are armed and dangerous. Speeding by itself wouldn't justify a pat down but there is nothing stopping the officer from doing so. Your only recourse would be to complain later of a violation of your rights.

Of course, handing over your CHL let's the officer know your armed so a pat down would seem redundant since they could easily ask you where your firearm is located

If you are stopped for a traffic violation, you have indeed commited a crime. They don't have to articulate a reason that you are armed and dangerous. They could just be the nervous type or part of their SOP and pat you down. What a Terry stop isn't, is a search of your vehicle, cell phone or wallet.

I'm not a cop or a lawyer, but this is what they have both told me.

I think for the most part the article is full of calico bass, intended to collect links and sell books. A law abiding CHL/LTC owner is not going to be subject to a Terry search at a routine traffic stop as a result of informing a cop you are armed. The claim that presenting an LTC and informing an officer you are armed if asked can result in a Terry search which will allow an officer to search a locked box? I've never heard of such a thing, at least in the last 10 years.

I looked a little further though and found that there are several states that have a required duty to inform. In other states I would present my CHL if stopped, and let the officer ask the questions, just as I would in Texas. I am not sure if that is good enough. If presenting an out of state CHL is proper notification. Do I have to say, "I gotta big ole shooter on me officer"?