Sorry, if I am instructed to exit my vehicle, it will be locked as I exit. And no LEO is going to enter my vehicle without my permission.
I believe that entering the vehicle constitutes a search and that requires more faith in the LEO than I am going to have based on what I can percieve of the LEO's knowledge of the Constitution.
Well I’ve been pulled over in two states where I have held or do hold a CCW, namely NY and PA. I know in NY, having a CCW means you get a NYSPIN associated with your driver’s license, or at least it did in the 80’s/90’s when I had a CCW there. NYSPIN is NY State Police Identification Number. This number was assigned to convicted criminals and CCW holders, so that a LEO making a traffic stop knew either you were a bad hombre or a good hombre who might be CCW. I learned this from my brother, who was a LEO in NY at the time. I’m sure the dispatcher would tell the LEO which you were, upon running your license.
I was pulled over several times in that period (my younger days) and was never once asked if I was CCW, nor did I volunteer that info, nor pre-emptively show my CCW. I never had a hassle. Friends of mine with NY CCW’s have been disarmed at roadside, one who got his loaded/holstered weapon handed back at the end of the stop and the other who was given the “unload pistol and take the bullets out of the mag” treatment.
In summary, your mileage may vary. Since moving to PA, I’ve never been asked about CCW and never volunteered it, but I’ve only been stopped once. The key is to keep your CCW card right with your driver’s license. After producing the DL, I leave my wallet right on the dash, so if the cop wants the CCW card, I dont have to dig for it and make him nervous. He can see my hands and see the wallet because it’s all up in his line of sight.
My brother told me to roll the window down about 1/3 rd the way and then put both hands on the wheel. The partial roll-down is enough for the cop to see into the car but not enough for a perp to be able to get the gun out the window and engage the cop as they approach the car. A wide-open window allows a perp to lean out and get the gun out the window/clear of the door frame, to engage the cop. Cop asks for license, I say “it’s in my back pocket, may i remove my seatbelt to get it?”. Cop asks for reg/insurance, i say “it’s in the glovebox, may i reach over and get it?”
As my brother (the cop) instructed me, this procedure doesn’t make you an oppressed slave of the police state, but does tell the cop that he is in control of the situation and you are following orders. A cop who feels in control is a happy cop, since it lowers the stress level of the situation for him and now you can work on explaining why you don’t deserve a citation and the cop will be relaxed enough to maybe actually stand there long enough for you to have your say.......
Unfortunately, I have found through research and personal experience that there is no set policy across the state of MO or probably any state for that matter. I have asjked departments for their CCW policy and have had no clear consensus.
Bottomlin- know your state’s laws ( and the laws of the state you are in!). In MO, there is no requirement to volunteer such info, but it is required to answer if asked. Of course, LEOs run your plates and will know (if you are driving your own vehicle) that you are a CCW endorsee.
As far as the good deputies directions about rolling down both windows etc, BS. Crack the driver’s side window down far enough to communicate, nothing more. Pull over where safe and do indeed keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the LEO in the RV mirrors so you are not surprised. Don’t be bothered getting youu DL, Ins etc until asked. Then be able to obtain them w/o a lot of fuss (all in one place is a good idea).
If the LEO asks and you are armed, he/she may indeed demand your weapon. I have heard of only one such policy, and that was explained as a result of your indiscretion for getting pulled over in the first place (not due process mind you, but hey, they are cops, they have QI).
The best advice is to not be driving/acting in such a manner to draw attention to yourself-even though local MO LEOs state they will usually let you proceed w/o citation, but a warning. Don’t give the CCW an bad name.
One SD stated that if they seized your arm for the stop, they cannot by other policy give it back until the next day-you have to come to the SD to pick it up, so they must sign it in, secure it etc-too much a pain the butt, so they will not bother unless they are keeping you too.
Once again, avoid getting pulled over in the first place. If you are stopped for any reason, be polite, professional and courteous. Don’t let a traffic stop cause more problems than need be.
I once was stopped on my way to a High Power competition in MO. The officer was polite, mentioned that my plate light was out and that he wanted me to know. He asked about CCW, I told him yes, i was armed. He said “cool, just leave it be wherever it is”. He saw my shooting equipment(scope stand, stool, gun case etc) in the truck and we talked a few minutes. He was coming off shift in an hour, so I invited him to the range a few miles ahead and he showed up during the match. He now is a fairly decent rifle shot.... Not all are problem children.
Best;
I live in Colorado, have a CCW and routinely carry...I’m an NRA Instructor and teach CCW Prep...What follows is me practicing what I preach to my students...
The one time in the last ten years I’ve been traffic-stopped was by a Colorado Highway Patrolmam driving a marked cruiser, for making an illegal left turn...
Since it was after midnight, very dark, and I did not know the area well, I pulled well off the road in a safe location, shut off the engine, locked both doors and cracked my driver’s window about 3-4 inches, and turned on my emergency flashers and the dome light...
When the officer came up to my driver’s side window, I had both of my hands on the wheel, and my CO Driver’s License, Proof of Insurance and CCW Permit in hand...After he had identified himself, and I’d verified he was a LEO, I rolled down the window all the way, and handed all three docs to the Trooper when he asked for them...
He looked at my CCW Permit, asked if I was armed, and I replied affirmative...He replied “OK”, returned my CCW Permit and instructed me to remain in my vehicle...I replied “Yes, Sir!”...The Trooper went back to his cruiser with my license and POI...No further discussion of my weapon...I was not disarmed...
He returned moments later and asked me if I had seen the hanging No Left Turn sign...I replied truthfully I was unfamiliar with the area, and had not seen the sign because of the high tractor trailer rig directly in front of me at the light...
He told me he’d noticed the same thing, thought that might be what happened, and let me go without a ticket, for which I thanked him...
Whole thing took less than 5 minutes, and I was free to go...The Trooper was very professional, polite and no hassle...In return, I was polite and respectful, no attitude, and answered his specific questions directly...
I think my method of response to the Trooper during this stop may have helped save me from a ticket...
Or, he was just tired or in a kindly mood...My personal experience with LEOs is you get back what you put out...Your mileage may vary, however...
Wow. This just isn’t right. And I imagine he means “perspective” rather than “prospective”.