Had my first encounter with the law...

[dlclarkii]

...and my first time in the back of a state trooper cruiser. I was pulled over for doing 55 in a reduced 40 speed zone on US 50 in eastern rural WV over the weekend. I was not going to disclose that I had two guns in the car unless I was asked, I just wanted the ticket so I could continue on my way. The trooper asked me the usual questions; and then asked me if I had any dangerous weapons in the car. At this time I told him I had a gun in the glove box and another in the trunk. The trooper admonished me for not disclosing the two weapons to him so he asked me to open my glove box slowly and he sees my gun so he asks me to close the glove box and to hand him my permit. Then the trooper asks me to step out of the vehicle, searches me, and then asked me to have a seat in his cruiser. So I took a seat while he ran a check and a few minutes later I was released and given a warning for speeding. I fully understand the trooper's actions for his safety and I explained to the trooper that it's not a law in my state to disclose to a policeman if you have a gun and I thought WV was a not tell state too. I wasn't thinking, I had too many thoughts going through my mine and next time I'll probably hand my permit with my license.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[scgunlover1]

Besides the gun issue I think you got out of this situation pretty well. You only got a warning for speeding while going >10 mph over the speed limit.
Yea, next time I would probably hand over my permit too. It's over now & all is well. Thank God!

[retsupt99]

If you are going to carry a weapon in ANY state, find out about its laws.
There are certainly enough resources around to stay informed. It might just help you KEEP your CCW permit. OMOYMV

[GWRedDragon]

If you are going to carry a weapon in ANY state, find out about its laws.
There are certainly enough resources around to stay informed. It might just help you KEEP your CCW permit. OMOYMV

According to handgunlaw.us, WV is NOT a must-notify state.

[dlclarkii]

If you are going to carry a weapon in ANY state, find out about its laws.
There are certainly enough resources around to stay informed. It might just help you KEEP your CCW permit. OMOYMV

I do a lot of traveling by myself all over the US and a lot of it is unplanned. I wasn't planning on being in WV this weekend. But I agree, I should do more research, but with the laws changing so frequent it's hard knowing each state's laws. It's even hard knowing what states you have reciprocity in, if I wasn't informed, I wouldn't know about loosing NV with my UT permit! But for the moment, all I know are the states I don't have reciprocity and those states I'm very cautious. And usually when I'm out of state my gun goes in the glove box or the trunk regardless whether I have reciprocity or not when traveling. If I don't have reciprocity, the guns get unloaded and the ammo stored seperately.

According to handgunlaw.us, WV is NOT a must-notify state.

I use this site as a reference and I thought so too. But the trooper made a point that I should tell any officer regardless what state I am in, as a curtoisty.

[TucAzRider]

Personally I would just tell anyway,.. You know they are going to ask about weapons anyway,. I don't think I have every been pulled over and not been asked if I have any weapons on me or in my possession.. I think it is only right and from the LEO's I have talked to they take into account being up front with them.. Just my 2cents. :-)

Glad ya didn't get a ticket..

[FastDraw]

IMHO you were very fortunate NOT to get a ticket.... 55 MPH in a 40 MPH zone will often get a driver more than a "warning." Glad you are OK.....

[NC Bullseye]

Like I tell my classes, "Tell or Don't Tell, one choice is always legal." If you want to stand by the law then just be prepared to have less than optimal dealings with LEO if they aren't fully up to speed on gun laws.

You just HAVE to check all states that you will be traveling through and do it EVERY trip. Laws are changing every day. It never hurts to print the states web pages that list their carry laws and keep it with you each trip.

[havegunjoe]

It’s best not to explain anything. It just gives you more opportunity to say something wrong. You got off with a warning, leave it at that.

[shooterX]

I would have told him anyway, their job can be dangerous enough, why add to it, let him/her know that your one of the good guys upfront.

[BaserRonin]

But the trooper made a point that I should tell any officer regardless what state I am in, as a curtoisty.

That is pure BS. If legal, don't ask, don't tell.
I have never, not once, been asked by a cop on a routine traffic stop if I had any dangerous weapons in the car. Why did he even ask the question if you were pulled over for speeding (a standard, no threat, traffic violation.)? If it were me, I would be down at the station asking his supervisor the same. You were harassed for your honesty.

[Riana]

I've not been pulled over while carrying (yet - I'm sure it'll happen eventually), but I plan to inform the officer *if* there's a reasonable chance he's going to see my sidearm while I get my paperwork out of the glove box (when I'm carrying) or if I need to reach near it (as in, it's in the glove box). No need to surprise him with it, after all.

Now if there's NO chance of him seeing it (I have it stashed in the back of the vehicle or something), then I see no reason to inform, unless the law requires it.

[jjkjr]

That is pure BS. If legal, don't ask, don't tell.
I have never, not once, been asked by a cop on a routine traffic stop if I had any dangerous weapons in the car. Why did he even ask the question if you were pulled over for speeding (a standard, no threat, traffic violation.)? If it were me, I would be down at the station asking his supervisor the same. You were harassed for your honesty.

Coming from the other side of the coin...... I understand exactly where they are coming from.... that is why I will ALWAYS tell LEO that i am ccw and there is a gun in such in such place.

In my state (Missouri) LEO knows that you are ccw when he runs you through the system....

There is alot of opinions out there on this but for me, this is what i do.

[BaserRonin]

There is a good case for not stowing it in your glove box actually, since that is where your vehicle paperwork typically resides. I drive an ancient beat up escort (that still starts every time though...) and like to jam my pistol in between the seat and the column. With the hand brake down (driving position) it is *almost* totally hidden from anyone looking in on the passenger side. You have to know it's there to see it.

jjkjr brought up a good point. I may have never been asked because they already know when they run me through the system. However, CO has a don't ask don't tell policy, and you can legally conceal in your car without a permit (it is an extension of your home). It is safe to say that a lot of the local LEO's are not aware of that and may go all Barney Fife on you if you casually tell them there is a gun under your seat. If you don't have a permit to back it up (not necessary remember) you may find yourself in the back of a squad car running the conversation you are going to have with your lawyer through your head.

[Majorlk]

Why did he even ask the question if you were pulled over for speeding (a standard, no threat, traffic violation.)? If it were me, I would be down at the station asking his supervisor the same. You were harassed for your honesty.

Does anyone see an inconsistency here?

Before I go any further, I am NOT saying this poster has taken any side on the proposed law in Arizona doing away with the necessity for a permit. That said ...

May of the same people that have the opinion that BaserRonin has on telling a LEO at a traffic stop that they are carrying are some of the very same people that have lambasted the Arizona AG and several police chiefs for saying that now their officers will have to assume all citizens are armed and dangerous. These folks have said they ought to do that anyway.

Which is it, folks? If you don't want to tell, then expected to be treated like a threat at every contact with a LEO. You can't have it both ways.

Many, many of the LEOs I have known over the years tell me there is no such thing as a "standard, no threat, traffic violation".