First Stop EVER by State Trooper

[McKnife]

From Austin, I took 290 to go all the way to Houston. I left at 9:30 PM. Very dark, hard to see. Big Mistake.

I ended up getting tagged (for the first time ever) by Trooper Tompkins for going over 65mph in Waller County 2 miles before Lawerance Marshall Dealership. I was confused at first because I was going 70-71mph (true mistake).

Asked to get out of vehicle and move to side of highway. Presented ID and CHL when asked for and he asks where the gun is. I told him it was concealed under stuff on the passanger seat. (Long trips hurt my back with it strapped on). He shines his Maglite in the window... can't see it so it's okay. 3 minutes later I get a warning and told to stay safe. No questions. Very smooth.

Total stop time = 8 minutes.

I'm happy. THought I'd share.

PS> makes me wonder what he would have done if I had it on my hip rather than in the car. hmmmm.

[maximus2161]

sounds like you conducted yourself well.

[Doug.38PR]

The only time I've ever been stopped by a trooper is just outside of Alto, TX. The guy pulled me over for doing 70 in a 60 on hwy 21 going west. (you'd think it was 70 as it is a rural area and most of the stretch is 70 and I think he understood that). I pulled over after he flashed his lights. He walked up to my window. I showed him my DL, Texas and Florida CHLs and Insurance. He just took my DL and said "here I don't need to see all that other stuff." Said he was just going to get some info from the DL and write up a warning and sent me on my way. Never said a word about the gun or even the CHL (I kinda wondered if he even noticed it.) Dad was pulled over by a trooper a while back and had the gun in his console or in the pocket behind the passenger seat. Trooper ask where it was, he told him. The trooper didn't say anything more about it and let dad go on his way with a warning I think.

All my other stops post dating my CHL licenses have been with rural police or sheriff deputies. ALL have been either neutral or actually positive conversation grabbers.

[frankie_the_yankee]

PS> makes me wonder what he would have done if I had it on my hip rather than in the car. hmmmm.

From your overall description of the stop, I'd say that it would have gone pretty much the same.

If you told him it was on your hip, he would probably just say to "leave it there" or something like that.

I once told a trooper that my gun was on my right hip, and so was my wallet with my CHL, DL and insurance card. He just told me to get the wallet and show the paperwork.

(I made the declaration right up front because I didn't want to chance "flashing" accidently when I got my wallet.)

The trooper was calm, polite, and after getting a verbal warning about keeping my speed down, I was on my way.

[McKnife]

Just realized the speed limit WAS 70, but 65 at night.

What a crock.... oh well...nothing happened.

[Tote 9]

Most of the times I have read about or heard about have
been positive. I haven't been stopped since I've had a CHL.
I hope my experience is as good as yours.

Now that I think about it, I haven't gotten a ticket in 42 yrs.
Just had 3 warnings in 42 yrs.

[Seburiel]

(Oops never mind)

[frankie_the_yankee]

... verbal warning about keeping my seed down, I was on my way.

Trust me on this one: I just spent several minutes trying to piece this one together... wow was I stumped - this isn't a criticism of you, it's a criticism of me, and the lack of lucidity on my part

Ahhh......... I meant, "... keeping my speed down.", of course.

I've since edited the post.

[RHZig]

Nice to see the good guys catch a break!!

[Mike1951]

Just realized the speed limit WAS 70, but 65 at night.

That depends on which side of the Brazos River you were. Two miles from Lawrence Marshall sounds like you were east of the Brazos and the daytime speed limit is 65.

West of the Brazos, it increases to 70.

[BShook]

It seems that LEOs wouldn't worry as much about the guys who say "I have a gun on my right hip" as soon as possible... if you're telling the officer you have a gun, what's the odds that you're actually a BG intending to do damage?

The guys who would try to start trouble wouldn't tell the officer there is a gun in the vehicle.

It seems like it would actually ease an officers' mind a little bit knowing that you have declared that you do have a gun and are behaving in an orderly and polite manner.

[CHL/LEO]

Never said a word about the gun or even the CHL (I kinda wondered if he even noticed it.)

Trust me - he noticed what it was...

[too-tall]

I know it sounds like I get stopped alot from my two other post on getting stopped by an LEO but I have been driving for about 45 years and only stopped about 6 times. Three times in the last year and a half. A couple of weeks ago between Centerville and Crockett on hwy 7, a state trooper stopped me for doing 70 in a constuction zone(should be 60mph) He ask if I was packing and I said yes. We joked about me not pulling mine and him not pulling his. Got a warning to slow down and he was very polite and professional. I see him in town sometimes and he is alays friendly. A very positive encounter.
Too Tall

[McKnife]

PS> makes me wonder what he would have done if I had it on my hip rather than in the car. hmmmm.

The reason why I said this is because I bet he would have asked me to surrender it for the duration of the stop.

To me, that is soo wrong. I believe it's safest in my holster, but he can abuse it if he claims safety. Argh!

[A peace officer who is acting in the lawful discharge of the officer's official duties may disarm a license holder at any time the officer reasonably believes it is necessary for the protection of the license holder,
officer, or another individual.]

[AmnChode]

Now that I think about it, I haven't gotten a ticket in 42 yrs.
Just had 3 warnings in 42 yrs.

If I were you...I'd find some wood and get to knockin'