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Around lunch time, I decided at the last second to get my car washed. Apparently, everyone else had that idea too & the "hop out & let them do their thing" kinda car wash was pretty packed. As I'm sitting there for 5mins in line & someone already behind me, I read the sign "take all valuables". So, I start thinking about what's in the car.

Work laptop
shoes
jacket
NIB radar detector (Bel Qi45 w/Shifter pack)
S&W 4513TSW (almost under front seat, in a pistol case)

While I'll reiterate, I do not yet have my CHL, I will soon enough. About 90% of time have the pistol in the car (unless I'm forgetful). I decided I did not want to leave it in the trunk if they decide to peak in there (no point in cleaning it, its a real mess back there). At the last minute, I decide that I'll just carry it in the case inside.

The very second I step out of my car to let them start vacuuming, I look back and 1 car back & over in the other lane is a DPS trooper. I go inside and about 5mins later, he's inside. I just keep to myself, but thinking how do I explain it all. It's not necessarily a family heirloom, but it is a 1st Gen 4513TSW that's highly sought after that was bequeathed to me from my Father. It's important. I would just explain that I intended to hit the range after work, but did not trust to leave it in my car at the wash.

He never gave me a second look, much less a first look.

While I was standing outside, I noticed a guy look at me, look at my case, and sort of chuckle to himself probably knowing what it is I'm carrying. I'm dressed sorta business professional, slacks, long sleeve button up. If I was wearing my khaki shorts and white tshirt, it might've gone completely different.

The pistol was in a case. Why should it draw the trooper's attention?

The Annoyed Man wrote:The pistol was in a case. Why should it draw the trooper's attention?

Well, I figured he would know what was in the case & it might draw attention.

The pistol had a round chambered with a full mag (6+1) + 3 spare loaded mags.

You made the right decision. I've worked at a carwash and half the employees were high and/or felons.

SmoothFox wrote:

LAYGO wrote: NIB radar detector (Bel Qi45 w/Shifter pack)

NICE!

Just finished installing it last night, but I still need to find a good source of the switched +12v under my dash. Then it will power on/off with the ignition.

Then I went for a test drive & got 300 feet from my driveway when it started going off. Cop in the neighborhood! Turned around, parked, called it a night! :)

LAYGO wrote:

The Annoyed Man wrote:The pistol was in a case. Why should it draw the trooper's attention?

Well, I figured he would know what was in the case & it might draw attention.

The pistol had a round chambered with a full mag (6+1) + 3 spare loaded mags.

My point was that any trooper worth his salt would see the gun was properly cased, smile, and give you a friendly nod.... ....and that would conclude the transaction. And even if he had inquired, the answer that you didn't want to leave the gun unsecured in your car during a carwash would have likely been answered with a "good boy."

I'm chuckling because I had almost exactly the same kind of experience when I first moved here from California. I had a 1911 that I kept under the front seat of my SUV. I also had a small "quick-opening" type of bedside table gun lock-box in the back of the car (I was living out of a hotel room down in Dallas at the time). I went to a carwash here in Grapevine (the one on 26 across from the Walmart) while I was house-hunting one day, and I remembered at the last second that I had a gun in the car right when the guy stepped up to start vacuuming out the front seats. "Wait just a second" says I, and I step around the back of the car, get the gun lock box, and while he's looking over my shoulder, retrieve the .45, put it in the lock box, and walk inside with it under my arm. His eyes got big.

Lo and behold, there is a guy in the lobby wearing some kind of "LEO" type uniform. For all I know, he might have been a uniformed security guard. I wasn't familiar with Texas police uniforms at the time, so I have no idea what he was. But I knew that any reasonable cop would agree with my decision not to leave the gun in the car. And even though I drew some stares from guys who obviously knew what I was carrying in that box, I figured that the gun was locked up, out of sight, and for all they knew, it could have been a bag of diamonds in there, and not a gun at all. I didn't worry about it too much.

If I had still been in California, I would have been a whole lot worried.