I find it a common curtesy to let a LEO know whether or not I have any firearms in the vehicle though I recognize that I am not "legally compelled" to do so. Last time I was pulled over though, the officer took note of my "NRA" license plate and asked first thing.
I have my DL and LTCH together and I have it in plain sight to show the officer.
I know I don't have to BUT.... I want LEO to be comfortable and take out any variable in his/her mind.
Both of my hands are in plain sight and no stupid movements on my part.
I have every respect for police officers and their safety, so I try to make things as easy for them as possible.
I always inform and let them know that I do so because I'm very safety conscience for me and for them and I don't want the officer to misunderstand anything or be surprised to find or see my gun during our interaction.
With my hands placed on the steering wheel, I then say that I will wait for his instructions on how to handle it before we get into the reason why I was pulled over.
I think this puts the officer a little more at ease and sets the expectation that he/she knows that I will be 100% cooperative.
I've done this many times over the past 20 years and it has gotten me out of a moving violation every single time. State police, Sheriff, IMPD, Fishers PD, Noblesville PD, Carmel PD... I drive a lot.
Most of the time, they just give me a verbal and a few times I've received a written warning, but no tickets.
I'm cool with them, and they are cool with me.
It's funny, the times I've been pulled over in a company car where I'm not allowed to carry, I've received tickets - but not every time.
I would say "yes" and plan on doing so if ever in that situation.If you are a passenger in a vehicle that is pulled over, do you inform the officer that you are armed?
I would say "yes" and plan on doing so if ever in that situation.
Thank you for your reply. I am trying to figure out how to best handle the situation and am interested in how other people approach it.
If you are carrying firearm(s) and while driving, in Indiana, are pulled over by a LEO, do you tell them you are carrying?
So there is no link between the Indiana driver license database and the database of LTCH holders? I.e. if a cop runs your DL during a stop, does it not tell him if you have a LTCH?
She got educated fast and learned the lesson as one poster said….."why would you inform?"
People want to inform out of the deep psychological need for approval.
"Oh, look, officer, I'm ever so good. Pat me on the head, pleeeeaaassseee."
Telling on yourself, does not help yourself.
First, obey the traffic code. The turn signals are there on your vehicle for a reason, snowflake. You aren't special, obey the traffic laws.
1. Relax. It's only a stupid infraction.
2. Stop scurrying about the inside of the car like a squirrel burying a nut.
3. Stop yammering. Shut up. I know you want the pat on the head, I get it. Just be quiet.
4. Do what the officer says.
5. If he tells you to get out of the car, get out of the car.
6. Relax.
7. If he wants to play 20 questions, shut up. Playing cop games won't help you. Am I free to go.
8. If not, stay there. If you are free to go, leave.
If the officer asks, "Do you have any firearms in your vehicle?", is your recommended response, "Am I free to go?"