Bad encounter with a LEO

[bluesteel]

You are not required in Florida to inform a LEO that you are legally armed during a traffic stop. This is why you may want to do so. You have to copy the link and google it.

LiveLeak.com-FL Deputy

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[Exacto]

You aren't required to inform unless asked in Virginia. But, in talking with the officers on the street and not the pencil necks that write the laws, they all say that as a professional courtesy they would like to be told. The officers on the street are the ones we deal with, not the law makers, so I inform upon initial contact, as a courtesy.

[Brad426]

I think the guy showed poor judgement in getting out of the vehicle. If you are going to go the route of not telling the officer you are armed (which I am neither advocating nor discouraging) then sit in your seat and keep your hands on the steering wheel.

[Brady]

In SC you must inform when asked for ID.
This deputy went overboard and needs to examine whether he is in the right line of work, and improve his vocabulary. Bad attitude also.

[whoppo]

"Put your hands on the van or I'll shoot you in the [*******] back!" - Bad cop... no donut!

[dben002]

LEO's risk danger and death on any traffic stop. Especially at night with multiple occupants of a vehicle. For my own safety and and as a courtesy to the officer if I am ever stopped I will inform him and show my CCL whatever state I am in. Here it is law to do so anyway.

[pittypat21]

"You were brandishing a firearm"

Give me a freakin break. He was being calm and polite and you saw his holstered weapon. Yeah...he was "brandishing and displaying" a firearm alright...

Unbelievable.

[gregnsc]

Yea i'm from S.C. I got pulled for speeding,back in 2010,and was carrying.All i did was give LEO the 3 usual things and my ccw permit.I'm guessing he ran my permit but no problem at all.

[JoshJ10]

So in FL if your weapon shows its a violation?

[OldVet]

The cops is all wrong on this one. Driver did nothing illegal nor threatening. Accidental exposure of a CW is not illegal nor a violation of open carry law in FL, nor is one required to inform unless asked. Either this is an old video, before the law was changed over a year ago, or some LEO is going to be paying off a huge debt while trying to find a new job.

I'd have done two things:
1. Tell the LEO I want a copy of that video and that I have nothing further to say to him,
2. Tell the wife to contact a lawyer and order those house plans for that summer cabin in Montana.

[Lotus222]

So in FL if your weapon shows its a violation?

Not since they passed new legislation last year. I didn't look at the video, so it could be older than when the law was passed.

[OldVet]

So in FL if your weapon shows its a violation?

No.
790.053 Open carrying of weapons.—
(1) Except as otherwise provided by law and in subsection (2), it is unlawful for any person to openly carry on or about his or her person any firearm or electric weapon or device. It is not a violation of this section for a person licensed to carry a concealed firearm as provided in s. 790.06(1), and who is lawfully carrying a firearm in a concealed manner, to briefly and openly display the firearm to the ordinary sight of another person, unless the firearm is intentionally displayed in an angry or threatening manner, not in necessary self-defense.


This law was changed specifically for the reasons in the video.

[OldVet]

"You were brandishing a firearm"

Give me a freakin break. He was being calm and polite and you saw his holstered weapon. Yeah...he was "brandishing and displaying" a firearm alright...

Unbelievable.

Negative. Brandishing and displaying are two entirely different things. Brandishing inplies a threat, whereas displaying is only visible. IAW FL law, I can actually, and intentionally, show you my CW as long as it's not "intentionally displayed in an angry or threatening manner, not in necessary self-defense."

The driver did neither.

Edit:
The closest thing to brandishing in FL law is "use" as described in the statute covering guns and alcohol. In that, it defines "use" as having the fiream "in hand."

[pittypat21]

Negative. Brandishing and displaying are two entirely different things. Brandishing inplies a threat, whereas displaying is only visible. IAW FL law, I can actually, and intentionally, show you my CW as long as it's not "intentionally displayed in an angry or threatening manner, not in necessary self-defense."

The driver did neither.

I was being sarcastic in my response. Also, I used brandishing and displaying because the cop in the video accused the man of both.

[gregnsc]

Yea the man should have told him to start with.