had a tense moment today....

targa911S · 06:23 PM

On my way home from the shop today, I was stopped by a patrol car, at the moment I had no clue why. As I said I was on my way home from the gun shop that I work at, so of course I had my 1911 tucked under my arm in it's shoulder holster under my coat. I have never been stopped while armed and of course I have a CCWP, but never the less you never know how this is going to go. Amazingly all my training for CCW came into play automatically. I pulled far off the roadway enough that he did not have to be concerned with traffic, shut my motor off, turned on my flashers, rolled down my window, and waited for him to approach with my hands on top of the steering wheel. He approached, we exchanged greetings and he asked for my license and registration. I took this as my opportunity to say to him. "Sir I am armed and I am licensed to carry a firearm how do you want me to proceed?" and waited for his reaction, albeit nervously. His reaction was a calm as he said "OK". I asked if he wanted me to produce my weapon, never using the "gun" word trigger. He said no and I gave him my drivers license, CCWP, and registration. I then asked what I was being stopped for. He said for having an expired inspection sticker on my van. yeah I know, my bad, I just forgot to get it done. I told him I honestly thought I had it done and that I must have just forgotten, and that I would get it done tomorrow. He and I exchanged in conversation about it and he then gave me back all my stuff and said " Get it done. have a nice day". I honestly think we were both a bit relieved and my CCWP got me a free pass.

fastfredracing · 03-13-2015, 05:46 PM

I"ll be at the shop early tomorrow morning if you wanna stop by and grab a sticker . I had a similar stop in a customers car that was also out of inspection . Told him that I had a hand gun, told him where it was at, and asked him how he wanted me to proceed.
He was a young guy, first day on the job in a new area, and he was cool as a cucumber. We ended up bs'ing for a few minutes, and he thanked me for the way I handled the stop .
I have to admit, I was nervous also.

Baz · Baz's Garage

targa911S · 06:05 PM

Thanks, that is a generous offer, but I got a guy up here that can get it done for me. Coming to see you is an hour each way for me and I got stuff I have to do tomorrow..I DO appreciate the offer though. Another time..we'll have lunch..

targa911S · 03-13-2015, 06:21 PM

Thanks Baz....tears in my eyes now...

vash · vash's Garage

I put my hands on the dash. Habit.

URY914 · URY914's Garage

That Chris Rock video needs to be shown to every 9th grade home room class.

rusnak · 03-13-2015, 07:28 PM

I could definitely see how a person who gets stopped with a pistol under his coat might be nervous, even **** himself. Good job!

Gogar · 03-13-2015, 08:20 PM

Quote:

I"ll be at the shop early tomorrow morning if you wanna stop by and grab a sticker .

That's kind offer, but a foolish one. The only way to make this stop worse would have been to have a fraudulent sticker on the car, instead of an expired one. That would have made for a much Angrier cop.

M.D. Holloway · 03-13-2015, 08:22 PM

he wouldn't have gotten pulled over then...

Jeff Higgins · 03-13-2015, 08:37 PM

I had a similar experience with a couple of county sheriff deputies years ago. I had driven the 911 out into the boonies to shoot in a gravel pit with a couple of buddies, and was on my way home - with the trunk full of guns, and a Peacemaker on the passenger seat.

My buddies and I were discussing the current condition of a washed out bridge that was being rebuilt, situated some distance up a logging road that was kinda sorta on my way home, so I volunteered to investigate. Since I knew the road dead ended that time of year (mid winter) at a gate that was closed seasonally, I figured no one was up there, so I was kinda hauling ass...

Well, there were two deputies up there in a Blazer or something, and they took exception to my driving, so they stopped me. I told the guy at my window right away that I was armed. He asked for my gun, so I gave it to him, and he went back to his rig. Next thing I know, his partner is getting out... ruh-roh...

These two guys walk up saying "jeezus, whataya doin'? None one carries one of these anymore...". So I told them it was what I was used to, I'd had it forever, and it seemed to work... So they let me go. I unloaded it for them, let them play with it, and even offered to let them shoot it (but they declined). It was amazing the "icebreaker" that old Peacemaker proved to be.

onewhippedpuppy · 03-14-2015, 03:37 AM

I've fortunately never been pulled over while CCH, but I would approach it in a nearly identical manner. Frankly I would act that way regardless in any traffic stop. Being a cop is a stressful job, anything you do to alleviate that stress will benefit you with the officer. Despite the many bad cop stories, I've always found that if you treat them with respect then they return the favor. I have several cop friends, and most of my guns were purchased from a cop that also owns a local gun shop.

fastfredracing · 03-14-2015, 03:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gogar

That's kind offer, but a foolish one. The only way to make this stop worse would have been to have a fraudulent sticker on the car, instead of an expired one. That would have made for a much Angrier cop.

I was not offering him a fraudulent sticker. I would have performed the inspection and given him a valid sticker. I do them all by the book. Just offering to help a brother out.

Rick V · 03-14-2015, 03:51 AM

Not sure if all states are like Va, but DMV has a record of CCW permits and when they run your tags (before they get to your car) They already know the car is registered to a CCW holder. The couple of times I have been pulled over I have noticed the police seem to be much more robotic when they approach. They are far less arrogant.

KFC911 · 03-14-2015, 04:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by targa911S

...and said " Get it done. have a nice day". I honestly think we were both a bit relieved and my CCWP got me a free pass.

Naw....I'm thinkin' it was your "* Curmudgeon White Pelican" status David

. Never CCW'd, but often I'll have something close in my truck if I'm going rural at all. Not often, but over the years my encounters have been similar. And I get away with stuff now that NEVER would have happened as a young pup though I've always been respectful to LEOs. Got a similar "free pass" on a recently expired truck tag just last year too.

...but who doesn't still have a "pucker moment" when the blue lights go on...pulling away from a stop light yesterday, right on my tail...."he just wanted by"

Gogar · 03-14-2015, 04:32 AM

Oh, sorry! That's awesome then.

Quote:

Quote de Gogar

That's kind offer, but a foolish one. The only way to make this stop worse would have been to have a fraudulent sticker on the car, instead of an expired one. That would have made for a much Angrier cop.

I was not offering him a fraudulent sticker. I would have performed the inspection and given him a valid sticker. I do them all by the book. Just offering to help a brother out.

targa911S · 03-15-2015, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

I was not offering him a fraudulent sticker. I would have performed the inspection and given him a valid sticker. I do them all by the book. Just offering to help a brother out.

again I DO appreciate that gesture...I got it done here locally by the guy who normally does it for me.....if I remember to do it...doh.

targa911S · 03-15-2015, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC911

Naw....I'm thinkin' it was your "* Curmudgeon White Pelican" status David

. Never CCW'd, but often I'll have something close in my truck if I'm going rural at all. Not often, but over the years my encounters have been similar. And I get away with stuff now that NEVER would have happened as a young pup though I've always been respectful to LEOs. Got a similar "free pass" on a recently expired truck tag just last year too.

...but who doesn't still have a "pucker moment" when the blue lights go on...pulling away from a stop light yesterday, right on my tail...."he just wanted by"

You may be right on the "old guy pass" thing. I haven't been stopped in years though so I may have achieved a new status unknowingly .

flatbutt · 03-15-2015, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by targa911S

You may be right on the "old guy pass" thing. I haven't been stopped in years though so I may have achieved a new status unknowingly .

HA! Being an old guy has helped me the few times I've been stopped while hooning about on the Ducati. I get my helmet off immediately and when they see what could be their Grandpa they have always reacted in a bemused manner. I had one state trooper actually laugh and say "old man what are you doing on that thing!?" Then he politely said something to the effect of please don't get dead on my shift.

flatbutt · 03-15-2015, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by targa911S

You may be right on the "old guy pass" thing. I haven't been stopped in years though so I may have achieved a new status unknowingly .

HA! Being an old guy has helped me the few times I've been stopped while hooning about on the Ducati. I get my helmet off immediately and when they see what could be their Grandpa they have always reacted in a bemused manner. I had one state trooper actually laugh and say "old man what are you doing on that thing!?" Then he politely said something to the effect of please don't get dead on my shift.

this is what they see