My first contact (aka how I found out my CHL was approved)

[The Annoyed Man]

Officer: "Where are you coming from?", then "What were you doing in Dallas?"

Me: "That would be none of your business, officer. Can you please tell me why I was pulled over?"

Your probably right. I was trying to be cooperative and polite, as that has helped me avoid tickets in the past. This time, I was really caught off guard and was also a bit concerned because I wasn't sure why he pulled me over. Plus it was the first time I had ever been pulled over when I had a loaded gun in the car.
Also, to answer the other question, he looked young to me, but I'm a terrible estimator of age. My best guess would be 25-27.

My reaction would have been different:

Officer: "Where are you coming from?", then "What were you doing in Dallas?"

Me: "Dallas, on business. Can you please tell me why I was pulled over?"

I'm perfectly willing to give short answers as long as I don't feel like I'm being grilled. The cop is just trying to do his job. But if it is obvious that I am being grilled, then my answer is:

Officer: "Where are you coming from?", then "What were you doing in Dallas?"

Me: "Do I need an attorney now?"

Most speedometers are fractionally optimistic. 65 mph on the speedo might only be 62 mph on radar. I happen to know from comparing the displayed speed on my speedo to the displayed speed on my GPS that 65 mph on the speedo is exactly that on the GPS. But that is because I have slightly oversized tires on my car compared to the original equipment tires. The OEM tires caused an optimistic speedo reading.

But the difference between me and the OP is that, even if I knew my speedo was 2 or 3 mph optimistic, I would still set the cruise control to 65 - not 67.

[WildBill]

I think that Katygunnut handled the situation fine. His answers to the questions resulted in no citation, and he got to go on his merry way home.

My real question is why he was pulled over in the first place. Was there radar for 2 MPH over the limit? Or was it a stop just because he could?

[jimlongley]

I've told my similar story here before.

2am, returning from a telecomm support job downtown, I am just coming up on my exit and I see a bunch of cars on each side of the highway with their lights off, and then way up the road, flashing lights.

So I take my exit, and one of the cars in the median pulls off behind me, follows me for a while, and then lights me up.

Young officer sticks almost his whole body in the window of the car trying to sniff my breath, which might be raunchy from being up since 7am the day before, but has no alcohol or pot on it. Someone needed to tell him that's a good way to get hurt.

So he asks for my license and insurance, and off he goes.

Then he comes back and asks if I am "packing" and my first thought is to wonder how he knows I am traveling that morning, and then he asks if I am strapped up, and then finally asks if I have a gun. I told him that I did not, that I did not have a CHL, and he said that according to their records I did.

Turned me loose with a warning for a license plate light out.

[Beiruty]

Jim, now you have your CHL, no?

BTW, how do you like Allen, TX?

[LarryH]

Most speedometers are fractionally optimistic. 65 mph on the speedo might only be 62 mph on radar. I happen to know from comparing the displayed speed on my speedo to the displayed speed on my GPS that 65 mph on the speedo is exactly that on the GPS. But that is because I have slightly oversized tires on my car compared to the original equipment tires. The OEM tires caused an optimistic speedo reading.

But the difference between me and the OP is that, even if I knew my speedo was 2 or 3 mph optimistic, I would still set the cruise control to 65 - not 67.

Our recent cars have mostly been about 3 mph optimistic. The new Civic is within 1 mph of the GPS readout. I, too, am now setting the cruise to the speed limit.

[Katygunnut]

Most speedometers are fractionally optimistic. 65 mph on the speedo might only be 62 mph on radar. I happen to know from comparing the displayed speed on my speedo to the displayed speed on my GPS that 65 mph on the speedo is exactly that on the GPS. But that is because I have slightly oversized tires on my car compared to the original equipment tires. The OEM tires caused an optimistic speedo reading.

But the difference between me and the OP is that, even if I knew my speedo was 2 or 3 mph optimistic, I would still set the cruise control to 65 - not 67.

Our recent cars have mostly been about 3 mph optimistic. The new Civic is within 1 mph of the GPS readout. I, too, am now setting the cruise to the speed limit.

Actually, from that point on, I have consistently set the cruise at the speed limit. My daily commute is 20 miles each way, so its the difference of a few minutes each way, but is also the difference between giving them a reason to pull you over versus not giving them a reason to pull you over.

On another note, my LEO CHL instructor actually told me that their system will show a CHL alert if the car is registered to a CHL holder. He specifically said that some of his buddies who are anti-CHL make it a practice to sit by the side of the road and run tags. Then, when they see a CHL holder, they will follow until they have a reason to stop the person, hoping to fluster them into not showing their CHL. Maybe the guy was just trying to scare us into always making sure we give our CHL to the officer.

[jimlongley]

Jim, now you have your CHL, no?

BTW, how do you like Allen, TX?

Yup, that was years ago.

I enjoy Allen just fine.

[flintknapper]

Katygunnut wrote:

On another note, my LEO CHL instructor actually told me that their system will show a CHL alert if the car is registered to a CHL holder. He specifically said that some of his buddies who are anti-CHL make it a practice to sit by the side of the road and run tags. Then, when they see a CHL holder, they will follow until they have a reason to stop the person, hoping to fluster them into not showing their CHL

.


They must be really bored, not to mention LUCKY.... since way less than 2% of the population (statewide) have a CHL.

I suppose in certain areas...the number would be higher...but still quite the "crap-shoot".

[flechero]

On another note, my LEO CHL instructor actually told me that their system will show a CHL alert if the car is registered to a CHL holder.

That's interesting, I'll have to remember that as my son gets older. The funny thing to me is that by total accident, my wife's car is in my name and my truck in hers... maybe that's why she's been pulled over more than me.

[SlickTX]

Most speedometers are fractionally optimistic. 65 mph on the speedo might only be 62 mph on radar. I happen to know from comparing the displayed speed on my speedo to the displayed speed on my GPS that 65 mph on the speedo is exactly that on the GPS. But that is because I have slightly oversized tires on my car compared to the original equipment tires. The OEM tires caused an optimistic speedo reading.

But the difference between me and the OP is that, even if I knew my speedo was 2 or 3 mph optimistic, I would still set the cruise control to 65 - not 67.

Our recent cars have mostly been about 3 mph optimistic. The new Civic is within 1 mph of the GPS readout. I, too, am now setting the cruise to the speed limit.

Actually, from that point on, I have consistently set the cruise at the speed limit. My daily commute is 20 miles each way, so its the difference of a few minutes each way, but is also the difference between giving them a reason to pull you over versus not giving them a reason to pull you over.

On another note, my LEO CHL instructor actually told me that their system will show a CHL alert if the car is registered to a CHL holder. He specifically said that some of his buddies who are anti-CHL make it a practice to sit by the side of the road and run tags. Then, when they see a CHL holder, they will follow until they have a reason to stop the person, hoping to fluster them into not showing their CHL. Maybe the guy was just trying to scare us into always making sure we give our CHL to the officer.

That won't really work any longer. The law now says that, though you have an obligation to turn over both your DL and CHL:

GC §411.205. REQUIREMENT TO DISPLAY LICENSE. (a) If a license
holder is carrying a handgun on or about the license holder's
person when a magistrate or a peace officer demands that the license
holder display identification, the license holder shall display both the license
holder's driver's license or identification certificate issued by the
department and the license holder's handgun license.

The penalty for not producing the CHL has been removed (this from the DPS website's analysis of the most recent changes to the CHL law):

HB 410 Failure to Display
Repeals (in part) the provisions relating to the requirement of license
holders to display the license upon demand for identification by a peace
officer (§§411.187(a),(c), and 411.205). Failure to display the license
upon demand for identification by peace officer will no longer be
grounds for suspension of license (currently 90 day suspension).
The offense itself remains, albeit without penalty. HB 2730 Article 12A

So if you fail to hand over your CHL the officer can try to find something to charge you with, and will probably ruin your day, but you can no longer have your license suspended (the only penalty that ever existed for failure to show the CHL) any longer.

I still think its a good idea to hand over the CHL, it should put the officer at ease in that he will know he is not dealing with a felon or other ne'r-do-well. The good thing is that there is no penalty if you are flustered, forgetful or for any other reason don't produce your CHL.

[TxA]

So if you fail to hand over your CHL the officer can try to find something to charge you with, and will probably ruin your day, but you can no longer have your license suspended (the only penalty that ever existed for failure to show the CHL) any longer.

So does this apply if you forgot your wallet/license while leaving the house for the convenience store or on a walk in the neighborhood?

[Katygunnut]

This is really good news (just in case I ever do forget for some reason). Of course, I keep my CHL right behind my DL in my wallet, so its pretty easy to remember. I have actually caught myself almost handing my CHL with my DL when a store clerk or someone else asks me for ID.

[KC5AV]

So if you fail to hand over your CHL the officer can try to find something to charge you with, and will probably ruin your day, but you can no longer have your license suspended (the only penalty that ever existed for failure to show the CHL) any longer.

So does this apply if you forgot your wallet/license while leaving the house for the convenience store or on a walk in the neighborhood?

Not really. You are still required to have them on you.

[SlickTX]

So if you fail to hand over your CHL the officer can try to find something to charge you with, and will probably ruin your day, but you can no longer have your license suspended (the only penalty that ever existed for failure to show the CHL) any longer.

So does this apply if you forgot your wallet/license while leaving the house for the convenience store or on a walk in the neighborhood?

Not really. You are still required to have them on you.

But there is no penalty if you don't.

I know, it doesn't make any sense. The requirement should either be there or not, but that is how the "big brains" at the Capitol have written it up.

[boba]

So does this apply if you forgot your wallet/license while leaving the house for the convenience store or on a walk in the neighborhood?

Not really. You are still required to have them on you.

But there is no penalty if you don't.

I know, it doesn't make any sense. The requirement should either be there or not, but that is how the "big brains" at the Capitol have written it up.

That's not exactly right. The penalty was removed for not displaying it to a peace officer when he asks for ID. However, your CHL must be on your person to get the CHL exemption from 46.02 UCW. If you're walking in the neighborhood, you could be arrested and prosecuted for UCW if you leave your license at home, the way the law is now.