Posted on 08/24/2013 6:54:53 PM PDT by onceone
I have not actually posted in some time, other then the occasional reply to a post, and now I post a vanity. I encountered the California Highway Patrol while carrying concealed and wanted to share the experience.
I was returning from Sacramento to my home near Angels Camp, in the Motherlode region of the state, when I crested a rise in the road . My radar detector, I have one for entertainment not circumvention of the law, went off and I saw a CHP on the shoulder to my right, a CHP approaching in the opposite lane, and behind the approaching CHP a CAL Fire truck with emergency lights flashing. I braked and moved to the shoulder and the CHP on the shoulder turned on their lights and moved in behind me. Crap.
Now I have been concealed carrying in CA for at least 17 years, and this is the first time I have encountered any LEO in their official capacity while I was armed and away from my house and property. At home I open carry so there is never a surprise. For the last few weeks, for what ever reason, I have been thinking about what I would do if just this situation arose. Here is what happened. This young, thin framed, female officer got out of her vehicle and approached the passenger side of the car and after we exchanged greetings asked me if I knew how fast I was going. I gave her a number I believed to be accurate, she responded with a number 6 mph faster. Her number made for a much more significant citation, but I just told her I did not agree with her but was not going to argue with her. She asked to see my license. This is what I did.
I told her my license was in my right rear pocket, my permit to carry a concealed weapon was in my left rear pocket and the handgun was in my right front pocket. I asked her how she wanted to proceed. She asked me to exit the vehicle and meet her at the back of the truck. She had me turn-away from her, place my hands on the back of my head, and she started to remove the gun from my right pocket. She started to remove the gun and I asked her to stop and slide the gun back into the holster and take the gun and the holster out in one motion as the gun was a Glock and I wanted to keep the trigger covered. She did, and then placed the gun on the front seat of her vehicle. She came back and I repeated the hands on the head while she searched me for any other weapons. I told her I had a knife in another pocket, which she removed, and then asked me for my driver license, and my ccw permit. She looked at my license and my permit and requested that I slow down while driving, returned my knife and my gun. We exchanged pleasantries and I went on my way. I fully expected to receive a citation. I deserved a citation. I do not know why she decided not to cite me.
Often times we have articles condemning the actions of LEOs, and rightly so. I just wanted to share, what I consider to be a good experience.
This is not a “good” encounter. He was searched, disarmed without probable cause.
Officer friendly violated the 4th Amendment, as well as the 2nd. Please explain how this was a “good” encounter?
Was it because he was not tasered?
Perhaps because he was not shot?
Perhaps it was a good stop because a SWAT team was not immediately sent to his home and his dog shot?
Just because the Officer was polite, and did not cite him for speeding does NOT make this a “good” stop. The officer was hoping the perp would not complain about how she handled the stop in exchange for no ticket.
So our writer was paid for silence and went away happy.
Is that really a “good” stop for the rest of us?
Rural California counties are nothing like the Marxist tyranny urban and suburban counties. In counties like Calaveras, Amador and others, the Sheriff is objective and reasonable in the issuance of CCW to law abiding citizens.
The State doesn't like it, but the Sheriff and deputies are fine with it.
Good post. You did it right.
Yeah Patriot, I hear that.
I was always in the middle of KommieFohnia though.
Hope them folks stay away from all the good left in Colorado, but they are sure creeping in (Denver and such).
I’m in Pennsylvania (see FR homepage). I’ve had my carry permit for over 20 years and I’ve been pulled over several times in that period, though not since last year. I have never been asked about anything except, “license and registration, please”.
Imagine that. -Schneeks..
Please see post #45.
The good news is that police are on an upward learning curve about gun liberty, and the more they know, the more relaxed they can become. But as you might expect, rural small town police will be somewhat behind the curve.
The end result of this is important to know, however. If police are relaxed about your having a gun, they are still intensely aware of it. So you need to have an unthreatening body language, with no jerky, fast movements. Because if you look like you may be “going for it”, they likely *will* quick draw you.
So the best bet is to relax, conform to your judgment with “the process”, and things will likely have a good outcome.
In Washington state, the vehicle registration is flagged so when an officer runs your plate before the stop, he knows you’re licensed to carry. It’s advisable to keep your hands in sight and ask permission to get in the console, etc. They usually ask if there’s a firearm in the car and where it is. They’re more attentive, but I’ve never been patted down or taken out of the car, but in my state, CCW’s are almost as common as drivers’ licenses.
“Often times we have articles condemning the actions of LEOs, and rightly so. I just wanted to share, what I consider to be a good experience.”
You behaved properly and responsibly, as did the Highway Patrolman. You are both to be commended. Nice to hear a good story.
I think she respected you when you informed her about the CCW permit and worked with her to make sure it did not become a threatening situation for her. I would bet that is why you did not get a citation.
Because in some states, failure to inform a cop that you have a ccw and are carrying is a against the law and you can lose your ability to carry legally. Not saying that I agree with this but it is the law in some places.
I’ve been pulled over while carrying by the Washington State Patrol (I renewed my tabs but neglected to put them on), and the Kenmore (Seattle area) Police (I was speeding). I handed them my permit and told them I was carrying, and on both occasions the officers were very courteous and respectful to me. They thanked me for informing them that I was armed and asked me where the weapon was. I told them I had a j-frame Smith in my front pocket, and they told me to just leave it where it was, and we conducted our business. Both officers were very professional in their conduct, and decent human beings to boot.
Yet another reason I do not feel it necessary in any way, shape, or form to get a "permit" to carry. The 2nd Amendment says nothing about "permits" being required for a noted right. When or if I possess or carry any sort of firearm it is entirely My own business.
I would like to believe Plumas County is somewhere among the names you left out but at least nominally included in the list you posted, but essentially believe along with most others locally that what I carry and shoot is no-one else’s business or requires a “permit” to do so. The bear charging at you hereabouts does not even give a great bloody buggering damn if you have a “permit” for the firearm you are shooting it with. It is going to kill you regardless unless you kill it first.
A glock you would be likely to get back. A custom pistol with engraving, you might not.
Similar experience here. After the officer fished out all the various weaponry I was carrying and he determined that I wasn’t a mass murderer, he returned all my stuff and we parted amicably.
I trusted him because he was respectful and professional. I appreciated that.
Away from the beach, California can be very conservative.
May issue: Permits are usually issued, or not, by local county.
I have a CC license in WI and in my car, I keep a gun in a quick access safe, not on my person, next to me chained to the passenger seat. If stopped by the cops, I wonder if I should say anything.
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