To Declare or Not to Declare redux: a Personal Anecdote

[Yota]

Remember the To Declare or Not to Declare (http://www.colorado4x4.org/vbb/showthread.php?p=588806) thread?

Well related to that, I want to add this very recent experience of getting pulled over while carrying.:

I was on my way to Park Meadows mall and was traveling south on Yosemite, just south of Dry Creek. You may recall that there's a nice hill there. Well for various reasons that really don't matter, I let my Heep get up to 50 MPH (35 zone) and I got pulled over by an Arapahoe County Sheriff's Deputy.

I was carrying my XD as I usually do. Here's how it went down...

I pulled over and took the keys out of the ignition and rolled down the window, fished out my wallet and put both hands on the wheel (where they stayed).

The Deputy came to my door and very politely explained where he lasered me and what the gun said. He brought the laser gun with him and showed it to me, but I had no dispute. He explained that it is their dept. policy to issue a citation for speed. I said "No worries. It was my fault. I wasn't paying attention and I deserve it." Smiling :)

He asked for my license and registration. I produced my license along with my Douglas Co. CCW permit and said "As a courtesy, I want you to know I have this." Now DougCo does NOT report to CCIC currently, so if I hadn't said anything, he really would not have known. He asked if I was currently carrying and I said "Yes. On my right hip." (Hands on the wheel) He said "OK, no problem. It will just take me a few minutes to run this. I'll be right back."

So he went back to his vehicle and ran all my stuff. When he came back, he handed me my license and CCW permit and then took a few minutes to explain that it's a 4-pt moving violation but that if I mailed it in it would be reduced to a 2-pt non-moving violation and $100 fine. Not a bad deal, really.

When he was done, he added this (paraphrased, but close):


I just want to thank you for presenting your carry permit to me. I really appreciate that and I know a lot of other guys do too. I know you have to pass a background check to get one so it tells me that you are a law-abiding person who carries a firearm responsibly. Thank you.


So that's just another datapoint to consider.

Kudos to this Arapahoe County Sheriff's Deputy. :thumbsup: :beer:

[Whitey]

That's a very good response to a traffic stop when carrying!

I've always read not to mention 'gun' so the officer doesn't fixate on the word 'gun', just give the LE your CCW with the drivers license. That's an excellent way to handle the situation, worthy of a re-quote IMHO;

"As a courtesy, I want you to know I have this."

I've found that most law enforcement are very reasonable and when treated with due respect, they respond in kind. Thanks for sharing that. :thumbsup:

[newracer]

Good to hear, I think you and the officer handled the situation perfectly. :thumbsup:

[shunt]

Good post. Well, other than you getting the ticket that is. Glad it was a somewhat positive stop.

[jnschwie]

Concur.
Like I told you on the phone. Better you show him your permit than weapon. :D

:beer:

[ccondrey]

Great post - thx for sharing! :thumbsup:

[sweater]

Kudos to this Arapahoe County Sheriff's Deputy. :thumbsup: :beer:

Huh.

Had an Erie cop give me an earful about how I am supposed to immediately declare that I'm carrying during any stop... blah... blah... blah...

He looked like he was about to crap himself when I told him. :rolleyes:

Good for that deputy, though.

- mike

[Budman]

He looked like he was about to crap himself when I told him. :rolleyes:

- mike

That is because he heard about your political views.

[Yota]

Huh.

Had an Erie cop give me an earful about how I am supposed to immediately declare that I'm carrying during any stop... blah... blah... blah...

He looked like he was about to crap himself when I told him. :rolleyes:

Good for that deputy, though.

- mike

Stupid cops suck.

[sweater]

That is because he heard about your political views.

Maybe it was the Hillary in 2008! sticker on the back of my Prius?

:flipoff2:

- mike

[Jeffro600]

Stupid cops suck.

Hence the reason why i WILL NOT declare unless i:

A. Have to get out of the car

B. Might put myself in a position to where it could expose my weapon(i.e, if it was in the glove box where i keep my registration and insurance, etc)

C. He\she asks

Otherwise, its really none of their business IMO. Im sure most would appreciate that you tell them, but theres always that one cop whos had one too many cups of coffee or someone shat in his easter basket or something and hes having a bad day and wants to make your miserable too by being "mr edgy super trooper".

[Gunter]

you sure did kiss as when you got pulled over didnt ya?:D

[Yota]

Yes.

What do you do? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wEHv7kVMz0)

:D







.

[jeepn4evr]

That was funny.

When I get pulled over I usually show them my CCW with my liscense, along the same lines as Yota. In most cases I have found they let me go with a warning instead of a ticket & are very nice about it. Course that didn't help with the 86 in a 55 a few weeks ago in my '72 Highboy. Most the other times it was small things like 10 over or no blinker etc. Geuss 30 over has no get out of jail free card. Good thing I let off the gas when I did or it would have been worse. Maybe I should get the speedometer fixed.

[denverd0n]

When I get pulled over I usually show them my CCW with my liscense, along the same lines as Yota.
I agree. If there was some way to ABSOLUTELY GUARANTEE that the cop could not possibly become aware of my gun in any other way then I might not declare. But of course there isn't. As long as there is a possibility that he might find out, I want him to find out from me, voluntarily, and right up front.