Lots of bad ideas in this one.
First of all, lock your doors and only roll down your driver’s window four or five inches, enough to communicate.
Do put your hands on the top of the steering wheel.
You do not want the officer to be able to snatch your door open, or to send two Taser probes into you through your open window.
Be advised that the DEA and FBI now regularly put out warnings to police departments all over the US about the abuse of steroids by police officers. Such drugs may make otherwise good officers unpredictable, so look for the telltale “weight lifter body”, and be extra polite and relaxed.
You must learn your state’s law about weapons in vehicles. If it is not in open display, and you are not required to mention it, don’t. The one exception is if your gun is in the same place as your registration and proof of insurance.
Lots more ins and outs to all of this.
Agreed. There is no reason to advise an officer that you are packing unless required by law. All that does is ensure that you are going to have a worse experience than a ticket. I was a passenger and the driver advised the officer, and it wound up being a MAJOR hassle that took almost an hour to write a ticket.
By the time the officer leaves, we were sitting in the car, ticket in hand, pissed off and retrieving the gun from the trunk (which was searched by the officer before locking it there) and asking ourselves how that was helpful.
Never volunteer this information to Law Enforcement unless required.