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.
You were lucky you got the gun back.
You do not have to get out of the car. You can request a lawyer because she does not have the right of search under the 4 Amendment. She might have broken your window but you at that point have a case in court. She did not have reasonable suspicion since you did tell her you had a gun. She did not have the right to search you.
Great post about a good encounter with a LEO. Thanks for sharing. There are still plenty of good ones still out there.
Don’t know what you mean. I was doing nothing wrong, legally carrying, and concerned for both of our safety. Why would you think I would not get my gun back?
If onceone had followed your advice, he would not only have received a citation, but would likely have spent the night in jail and had to pay an impound fee on his car after he was released.
Discretion is the better part of valor.
???
I don’t think I understand. Why wouldn’t you just hand over your license and registration and shut up about everything else? I always have a gun in my car or in my pocket and it would never occur to me to announce it to a cop. I get pulled over from time to time and just take my medicine (or my warning) and go on my way.
The most remarkable part of the whole thing is that you have a CCW permit in Kahlifohnia.
He’s lucky he left his dog at home.
I agree. Never tell anyone you have a weapon.
Your right, but that is not the path I chose. I decided to not be confrontational.
I am glad it turned out alright for the op, but I don’t see where the officer had a right to order him out of the car or search him.
I got pulled over here in Texas and politely told the state trooper that I had a concealed handgun license (CHL) and was currently carrying. After asking for and reviewing my license and chl, he finished his ticket, gave me my ticket, and thanked me for my cooperation. The operative thing was that I told him I had a chl before mentioning that I had a gun on me. I volunteered this info because you are told to do so when ever getting stopped.
It must suck to live in a state where you need to have a permit in order to use your constitutional rights.
In early 2011 after I just bought my 2010 Tundra, I ran a stop sign. I don’t know if the cop saw my CCW card as I was looking for my license or knew it from the radio. He asked me if I was carrying and where it was. I told him “yes” and patted my crotch area(there is a bulge there anyway). He said don’t pull it out(either one) and gave me a $120 ticket. End of it.
Good report. Thanks!
I think officers generally respect a bit of courtesy when they get it. It’s been my experience anyway.
CA is a big place. In my county there are approx. 800 ccw holders.
In some jurisdictions the CCW info will show up on the DL check... And in some you are also required to advise you carry.
You were in California with a concealed carry permit, pretty obvious to me
...she thought you were someone famous
bttt
It sounds like it went very well. You overtly tried to present yourself as not a threat and allowed the officer to control the situation for their safety.
That’s probably how it should be done.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.