showing your chl to an officer in another state

[karder]

Ok guys, here is a question that never occurred to me until this weekend.
My brother and I took a road trip to Kansas City this weekend. On our way back, while passing through Wichita, we go pulled over by a Kansas State Trooper. My brother was driving, and I had my license and my Colt Commander was in a backpack in the back seat. We were doing a 15 hour non-stop drive back to El Paso and I did not want to wear it for comfort reasons, though I would have snagged it if we had left the vehicle.

The Trooper approach us very carefully, but we rolled down the windows and when he looked in and saw us, he got very relaxed. He told us that when he saw our truck, an old Ford Bronco with tinted windows and Texas plates, he thought we might be some illegals so he pulled us over. He took a quick look at my brother's license and my insurance, wished us a nice day, and left.

While this seemed like a completely unconstitutional stop, my question is on displaying my CHL. If I am in Texas, obviously, I give it to the Trooper when I hand him my license. But if I am in Kansas, should I just give the Trooper my driver's license, and not worry about the CHL, because I did not have the weapon on my person? I presume that when he runs my name, nothing about a CHL would come up since it is out of state. Would I just be opening a can of worms by showing the license? I figure that this is a pretty lame stop, and he seemed to be just going through the motions after he saw we were not "illegals". Obviously, he never asked to see my license as I was not the driver, so in this case, it was not an issue. If I had been wearing the gun, I would have just acted liked I was in Texas and show him the license. Should I just show my CHL anytime I am asked for ID by an LEO regardless of what state I am in?

Thanks

[AEA]

When traveling, you should check the requirements/laws of each State that you will be passing through as they could be a bit different from each other and you home State.

Some States require you to show your CHL anytime you are asked for ID from a LEO, while others (Texas) only require you to show it IF YOU ARE CARRYING and asked for ID by a LEO. New Mexico does not allow you to carry a BUG. There are many States with "crazy" laws........

Most of us in Texas will show our CHL to any LEO that asks for ID even if we are not carrying at the time as a courtesy. This may or may not be the same in other States. it is best to do as the citizens of the other States do when in their State.

Not only should you find out this requirement in every State you plan to travel through, but you should also look into all the State laws concerning carrying a concealed weapon in that State. Even States that have reciprocity with Texas may have entirely different laws concerning concealed weapons. It is your responsibility to know them and abide by them while traveling through those States.

[Keith B]

Quickest reference out there is http://www.handgunlaw.us" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and it is pretty well up-to-date.

[karder]

Thanks Keith B, that is extremely helpful. I don't know why it did not occur to me to specifically check the laws for each state I was going through, but it makes perfect sense and I will be more properly prepared next time. Given the nature of our trip, the gun was more of a car carry than personal carry and the "what if I get stopped" never occurred to me until it happened. I will educate myself better.

[chabouk]

He told us that when he saw our truck, an old Ford Bronco with tinted windows and Texas plates, he thought we might be some illegals so he pulled us over.

Wow.

I can't believe he would admit that. You're right, the stop was unconstitutional unless he had some other valid reason. He made a pretty risky assumption that you would be okay with it. If you'd been running a digital voice recorder, that trooper could get in a world of trouble over that.

[karder]

Yeah, I have never seen anything quite like that. He approached very cautiously, but when he looked in and saw two white guys with military style haircuts he got very friendly. He even chatted with us or a couple of minutes before he took off. My brother made the comment, "if we had been hispanic, I bet we would have been stuck here for a long time".

I am wondering if maybe they were on the lookout for a similar type of truck that may have been involved in some kind of a crime. The Trooper really had no reason to pull us over and when he saw that we were not whoever he was looking for, I'm guessing he just made that comment thinking we were pretty aryan looking and would be okay with it. He was way aryan looking himself. That is just what we speculated on our ride home. The whole thing seemed very unusual so we didn't question anything, we just wanted to get back on the road get the heck back to Texas!

[marksiwel]

Some cops are just racist, or they racial profile pretty heavily, but heck, that just might be the thing that saves his life

[Keith]

Looking at website what does it mean when state says may issue the states in orange have this. Like Alabama? May take a road trip to South Carolina but I see Alabama state is in orange. Thanks for any help.

[hheremtp]

Looking at website what does it mean when state says may issue the states in orange have this. Like Alabama? May take a road trip to South Carolina but I see Alabama state is in orange. Thanks for any help.

Keith, "May Issue" states do not have to give an applicant of that state a CHL, even if they qualify. Unlike "shall issue" where if you meet the qualifications they have to give you your chl. It has nothing to do with weather or not the state will recognize another states CHL.

[Keith]

Thanks!

[PappaGun]

If you'd been running a digital voice recorder...

Or even a 1/4 inch reel to reel, magnetic tape would do it!

[dac1842]

I show it whenever stopped, whereever stopped. it just makes life easier and I am not concerned about being in compliance. Before I left for SC at Thanksgivi ng I looked at each state to ensure reciprocity and then looked at where not to carry. Had I been stopped, I would have produced the CHL with the standard line I use everytime " I am an CHL holder, I have a weapon, I am not a threat as I am also an ex officer, if you want to take my weapon for your personal safety I fully understand"/
I have yet to be disarmed, and I have yet to get a ticket.

[03Lightningrocks]

He told us that when he saw our truck, an old Ford Bronco with tinted windows and Texas plates, he thought we might be some illegals so he pulled us over.

Wow.

I can't believe he would admit that. You're right, the stop was unconstitutional unless he had some other valid reason. He made a pretty risky assumption that you would be okay with it. If you'd been running a digital voice recorder, that trooper could get in a world of trouble over that.

I find it gut busting funny that this trooper would assume a pick up truck with tinted windows would have to be a truck load of illegal Mexicans. I bet 90% of the pickup trucks around the area I live in have tinted windows... This is just a hoot. I also am amazed that he confessed to profiling you like that. I have heard of profiling on some interstates between areas the law knows to have high drug trafficking. I believe some states even use dope dogs on these stops.

[Shorts]

Probably thought it was OJ


As for the cop and reason for the stop, well...shoulda told him they're hidden in the back!

BTW, Shorts <-- Hispanic


Oh to the OP, definitely check the laws of the state you're visiting and abide by them while you're there and you should be ok.

[flb_78]

Ive been reviewing Kansas's laws since I'll be there next week for some training.

Kansas has no car carry, so only CHL holders can transport a loaded handgun.

CHL holders are also obligated to show their CHL when asked for ID in Kansas.

http://www.ksag.org/files/shared/conceal.carry.FAQ.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;