To make this short and as factual as possible....
I was pulled over this past weekend while driving.
Turned truck off, rolled window down, dome light on before the officer even got out of his car.
The officer informed me the reason for his stop was that I had a headlight out and asked for DL and Insurance. He questioned if I had "anything in the vehicle he needed to be aware about".
At this point I found myself wondering the following questions:
Do you have to inform an LEO of open carrying in a vehicle if they do not ask?
Do you have to tell them there is a firearm in the vehicle if they do ask?
I informed him I value my privacy and that the contents of what is in my vehicle are not any of his concern. He seemed agitated by this remark response. (sorry but that's his problem).
He asked a second time.
Now, keep in mind he didn't ask about a firearm just the "anything that he needed to be aware of/about", but at this point I went ahead and did inform him I was carrying openly on my hip.
He asked again about anything else, to which I informed him, "no".
When he returned, he informed me that "it is a lawful request by an LEO, and that you have to tell them if you have a firearm or not in your vehicle" (not going to argue vernacular on this) so I said "ok".
The stop was without any further problems, rather quick, and no citations issued.
Please keep in mind that I was professional and respectful to the officer / but not the warm, gonna give him a hug, nice either... LOL
I'm not "bashing" the officer or anything like that, I just found it odd with the "lawful request" statement he made.
My own ignorance on the situation, made me think about the above two questions.
I am not asking for "legal advice" but if someone could point me in the right direction, or to the law stating this matter, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks,
I was pulled over this past weekend while driving.
Turned truck off, rolled window down, dome light on before the officer even got out of his car.
The officer informed me the reason for his stop was that I had a headlight out and asked for DL and Insurance. He questioned if I had "anything in the vehicle he needed to be aware about".
At this point I found myself wondering the following questions:
Do you have to inform an LEO of open carrying in a vehicle if they do not ask?
Do you have to tell them there is a firearm in the vehicle if they do ask?
I informed him I value my privacy and that the contents of what is in my vehicle are not any of his concern. He seemed agitated by this remark response. (sorry but that's his problem).
He asked a second time.
Now, keep in mind he didn't ask about a firearm just the "anything that he needed to be aware of/about", but at this point I went ahead and did inform him I was carrying openly on my hip.
He asked again about anything else, to which I informed him, "no".
When he returned, he informed me that "it is a lawful request by an LEO, and that you have to tell them if you have a firearm or not in your vehicle" (not going to argue vernacular on this) so I said "ok".
The stop was without any further problems, rather quick, and no citations issued.
Please keep in mind that I was professional and respectful to the officer / but not the warm, gonna give him a hug, nice either... LOL
I'm not "bashing" the officer or anything like that, I just found it odd with the "lawful request" statement he made.
My own ignorance on the situation, made me think about the above two questions.
I am not asking for "legal advice" but if someone could point me in the right direction, or to the law stating this matter, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks,
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