My first contact (aka how I found out my CHL was approved)
Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2010 11:44 am
Warning - Long.
A little background. I took my CHL class in May 2009, but didn't get around to finalizing and sending in all my paperwork until early September. When I took my class, the instructor said that they were running way behind in processing applications and that it could take up to 6 months to get my actual CHL. Doing the math, and with my luck, this meant February or March 2010. Also (since it is somewhat relevant), I am a 40 year old professional, and when the below happened, I was driving a Chrysler sedan while wearing a suit (minus the jacket and tie).
In late November 2009, I drove from Houston to Dallas to attend a conference. I took my weapon with me as this is legal even without a CHL. Drive up was uneventful. Stayed in Dallas for 3 days. On the drive back to Houston, I locked the cruise control at exactly 2 MPH over the posted speed limit since I had caught myself losing focus on my speed as I drove through the same scenery over and over again. As I passed a small town, I noticed a police car sitting in a gas station parking lot off the freeway, right next to the access road. I thought to mysely that he was probably manning a speed trap and patted myself on the back for deciding to use the cruise control and for my patience.
Right as I passed the cop, he turned on his lights and rapidly pulled onto the access road. I thought this was odd since I was traveling in a pack of 5-6 vehicles and none were obviously speeding. I could only think that he must be going to a call. Since he was probably getting on the freeway, I slowed down and moved to the right lane between two cars that I had been in the process of passing (and which were going at least 5 MPH under the limit). I went over a small rise and expected to see the cop go flying by me on his way to fight crime.
I was very surprised when the cop slowed down and moved into position right behind me. I have been pulled over a fair amount (mostly when I was younger), and this is the first time that I was ever pulled over without knowing why. The possibilities in this situation are potentially scary (my car matched that of a triple murder suspect perhaps?). At any rate, I was feeling pretty good about the fact that I was in fact innocent.
I pulled over to the shoulder and rolled down my drivers side window as I gathered my registration and proof of insurance from the glove compartment. When I looked up, the officer was standing on the passengers side, so I unrolled that window as well. He seemed to be very interested in my back seat where I had an assortment of clothes, bags, and assorted stuff thrown about. The exchange went something like this:
Officer: "Whats that smell"
Me (absolutely clueless): "I think its the cows" - I honestly thought he was talking about the smell from the pasture to our right. It took me a minute to realize that he was implying I might have drugs in the car.
Officer: "License and registration please" - I hand them over.
Officer: "Where are you coming from?", then "What were you doing in Dallas?"
Me: "I had a work conference. I was there for a couple days. Just going home. Sir, I honestly don't think I was speeding. I had my cruise control set at exactly 65 (white lie)"
Officer: "Wait here"
He comes back in a bit, walked around to the front of my car, and appeared to be studying my license plate. At this point, I have no clue what is going on. He comes back to my passenger window, hands me my license and registration, and tells me that he has decided to cut me a break on the speeding, but that I need to slow down. I politely thank him and he starts to walk away, when......
He turns back and says, "hey, I noticed that you have your CHL, do you happen to have your..." - I interjected that I have APPLIED for my CHL, but I have not received it, and allowed for the possibility that it might be sitting in my mailbox at home since I have been gone for a few days. He seems a bit flustered by this response. Thinks for a minute and says, "so you have not received it?". I reiterate that I have not physically received it, but if it came in the last couple days, it could be sitting in my mailbox at home. Officer says "OK". I then ask him if his system shows that my CHL has been granted, since this would be good news. He doesn't respond, and just tells me to watch my speed.
The funny thing is that my CHL instructor (who is a full time deputy sheriff) warned us about this exact encounter, down to the part about handing everything back and then casually inquiring about whether you have your weapon on you. It seems that some of his LEO buddies are anti-concealed carry, and they will purposely try to trip up CHL holders and get them on failing to show their CHL license.
So in short, I was profiled, detained, and ultimately allowed to go on my way. Normally this kind of thing would really irritate me, but I just found it funny. Maybe it was my happiness at learning that my CHL had arrived 2-3 months ahead of expectation.
A little background. I took my CHL class in May 2009, but didn't get around to finalizing and sending in all my paperwork until early September. When I took my class, the instructor said that they were running way behind in processing applications and that it could take up to 6 months to get my actual CHL. Doing the math, and with my luck, this meant February or March 2010. Also (since it is somewhat relevant), I am a 40 year old professional, and when the below happened, I was driving a Chrysler sedan while wearing a suit (minus the jacket and tie).
In late November 2009, I drove from Houston to Dallas to attend a conference. I took my weapon with me as this is legal even without a CHL. Drive up was uneventful. Stayed in Dallas for 3 days. On the drive back to Houston, I locked the cruise control at exactly 2 MPH over the posted speed limit since I had caught myself losing focus on my speed as I drove through the same scenery over and over again. As I passed a small town, I noticed a police car sitting in a gas station parking lot off the freeway, right next to the access road. I thought to mysely that he was probably manning a speed trap and patted myself on the back for deciding to use the cruise control and for my patience.
Right as I passed the cop, he turned on his lights and rapidly pulled onto the access road. I thought this was odd since I was traveling in a pack of 5-6 vehicles and none were obviously speeding. I could only think that he must be going to a call. Since he was probably getting on the freeway, I slowed down and moved to the right lane between two cars that I had been in the process of passing (and which were going at least 5 MPH under the limit). I went over a small rise and expected to see the cop go flying by me on his way to fight crime.
I was very surprised when the cop slowed down and moved into position right behind me. I have been pulled over a fair amount (mostly when I was younger), and this is the first time that I was ever pulled over without knowing why. The possibilities in this situation are potentially scary (my car matched that of a triple murder suspect perhaps?). At any rate, I was feeling pretty good about the fact that I was in fact innocent.
I pulled over to the shoulder and rolled down my drivers side window as I gathered my registration and proof of insurance from the glove compartment. When I looked up, the officer was standing on the passengers side, so I unrolled that window as well. He seemed to be very interested in my back seat where I had an assortment of clothes, bags, and assorted stuff thrown about. The exchange went something like this:
Officer: "Whats that smell"
Me (absolutely clueless): "I think its the cows" - I honestly thought he was talking about the smell from the pasture to our right. It took me a minute to realize that he was implying I might have drugs in the car.
Officer: "License and registration please" - I hand them over.
Officer: "Where are you coming from?", then "What were you doing in Dallas?"
Me: "I had a work conference. I was there for a couple days. Just going home. Sir, I honestly don't think I was speeding. I had my cruise control set at exactly 65 (white lie)"
Officer: "Wait here"
He comes back in a bit, walked around to the front of my car, and appeared to be studying my license plate. At this point, I have no clue what is going on. He comes back to my passenger window, hands me my license and registration, and tells me that he has decided to cut me a break on the speeding, but that I need to slow down. I politely thank him and he starts to walk away, when......
He turns back and says, "hey, I noticed that you have your CHL, do you happen to have your..." - I interjected that I have APPLIED for my CHL, but I have not received it, and allowed for the possibility that it might be sitting in my mailbox at home since I have been gone for a few days. He seems a bit flustered by this response. Thinks for a minute and says, "so you have not received it?". I reiterate that I have not physically received it, but if it came in the last couple days, it could be sitting in my mailbox at home. Officer says "OK". I then ask him if his system shows that my CHL has been granted, since this would be good news. He doesn't respond, and just tells me to watch my speed.
The funny thing is that my CHL instructor (who is a full time deputy sheriff) warned us about this exact encounter, down to the part about handing everything back and then casually inquiring about whether you have your weapon on you. It seems that some of his LEO buddies are anti-concealed carry, and they will purposely try to trip up CHL holders and get them on failing to show their CHL license.
So in short, I was profiled, detained, and ultimately allowed to go on my way. Normally this kind of thing would really irritate me, but I just found it funny. Maybe it was my happiness at learning that my CHL had arrived 2-3 months ahead of expectation.
