First LEO encounter while carrying

[SA-TX]

This weekend I had my first traffic stop while carrying. Although I've had my CHL for almost ten years and my lead foot earns me a defensive driving class every couple of years or so, my tickets were always going to or from work where I can't carry without risking getting fired.

This time my wife and I were house hunting in Rockwall County. We were done for the day and heading home. I had set the cruise control and we were sharing our thoughts about the properties that we had toured. Honestly, I must not have been paying as much attention as I should have been. I never saw the speed limit reduction signs nor the trooper. I have no idea where he was until he was on the road several car lengths behind me with the lights on.

When it was clear that it was me he wanted, I pulled over, released my seat belt, got my wallet out and waited for the trooper to approach. He chose the passenger side, which is out of traffic. He said the stop was due to my speed. I apologized and told him I had the cruise set. He said I was going 67 in a 55. I apologized again and said I wasn't familiar with the area and I had no idea I was speeding like that. My wife mentioned that we were house hunting. He said, "yeah, it drops from 65 a ways back". In response to her he asked, "where y'all from"? I told him where we currently live. He mentioned that there are many LEOs in the area and they are quite active to which I said "That's good to know" or something similar.

At this point he still had not asked for my DL or anything. I said, "Officer, let me give you my information." I passed him my DL, insurance, and CHL. He looked at the insurance card and CHL and passed them back to me without saying anything. He took my DL back to his car where another trooper seemed to make the computer queries. After a couple of minutes he came back with a warning and cautioned me to watch the speed limit signs more carefully and have a nice evening. I assured him that I would.

To me, this is a fantastic encounter. At that much over the limit, I clearly deserved a ticket. The fact that I didn't realize I was speeding that much is beside the point. I should have been paying more attention. More importantly, the fact that I was carrying was a non-issue. IMHO, this is exactly how it should be unless the LEO has some specific reason to be concerned.

Kudos to the Texas Department of Public Safety. I believe that this trooper was a fine example of following not only the letter but the intent of the law. Even if he had given me a speeding ticket I would be writing the same note of praise for how the traffic stop was handled.

SA-TX

[flintknapper]

Yes, a great encounter (regardless the status of a ticket), thanks for sharing and my hat is off to the trooper for his proper and professional handling of your CHL (not alarmed).

[WildBill]

This weekend I had my first traffic stop while carrying. Although I've had my CHL for almost ten years and my lead foot earns me a defensive driving class every couple of years or so, my tickets were always going to or from work where I can't carry without risking getting fired.

Kudos to the Texas Department of Public Safety. I believe that this trooper was a fine example of following not only the letter but the intent of the law. Even if he had given me a speeding ticket I would be writing the same note of praise for how the traffic stop was handled. SA-TX

Thanks for the post.

[Fangs]

I pulled over, released my seat belt, got my wallet out and waited for the trooper to approach. He chose the passenger side, which is out of traffic. He said the stop was due to my speed. I apologized and told him I had the cruise set.

Glad you had a good encounter. I'm just curious about the seat belt part though. Seems to me that you could inadvertently be setting yourself up for a no seat belt ticket.

[johnson0317]

From what I have read here, and other places, it seems that the DPS guys are generally pretty good about the whole CHL thing, and they don't usually feel the need to scold you about things.

Thanks for the good story.

[Scott in Houston]

I pulled over, released my seat belt, got my wallet out and waited for the trooper to approach. He chose the passenger side, which is out of traffic. He said the stop was due to my speed. I apologized and told him I had the cruise set.

Glad you had a good encounter. I'm just curious about the seat belt part though. Seems to me that you could inadvertently be setting yourself up for a no seat belt ticket.

You can only be ticketed for a belt violation if it's seen off while you're actually driving.
If he walks up and its off, there's no violation.

[40khammer]

I got pulled over by Huntsville Police Department the other day for doing 42 in a 30 I thought for sure I was going to get a ticket, especially since he had a trainee with him.

So I handed him my CHL, DL, and Insurance card and he walked back to his car and I assume ran my DL#. Then he came back and talked to his trainee for a minute. He then returned to my window and asked me where my gun was. I told him on my right hip. He said, "OK, here's your IDs back. I'm going to let you off with a verbal warning. Try to slow down and have a nice day."

I was shocked! Verbal warning? I don't think I've ever gotten a verbal warning before. I've gotten plenty of written warnings though. But I have to say the cop was very polite and professional.

I was kinda surprised he didn't ask me where the gun was before he walked back to run my DL#, but whatever.

[johnson0317]

He may have just wanted to make sure you were carrying. Some of the LEOs I know would scold you for having a CHL and not carrying anytime legal. Maybe you would have gotten that ticket if you had not been carrying!