just a guy with a Glock
Regular Member
imported post
Now that my complaint letters are done here are the details of my incident with two State troopers in September. I own a business here in Virginia and I'm currently opening another in North Carolina, so I'm back and worth often and frequently utilize the rest stops for brief naps if I feel myself getting a bit sleepy. September the 12th I was woken up by a flashlight tapping on the window of my mini-van and ordered to step out of the vehicle by two State troopers. Once I realized they were troopers I complied thinking something had happened at the rest stop. Upon getting out of my van I asked whatsthe problem? The trooper replied, " well we see you have a gun in the vehicle (I had iton the passenger seat right next to my leg) is it registered to you and do you have a permit ?I replied that's not illegal, a permit is not required for open carry and there is no registration of firearms in the Commonwealth of Virginia. To that she replied, "don't get smart with me, it may not be illegal but it's not very bright to have it where someone could break in and grab it". I found that arather ridiculous thing for one adult to say to another and replied, hey you woke me upfor no real reason. They demanded my license and I complied.I then asked for both of their business cards and shereplied, "No you are not entitled to my business card! " When she figured out that I was dialing #77 on my cell to ask for a supervisor to be sent over, she said I will write it down for you. She then started askingwhere are you headed, how long have you been here etc. I simplysaid I resent you illegally detaining me, waking me up without identifying yourselves (I never knew they were troopers until I put my glasses on as I had taken my contacts out) and attempting to infer that I had violated some gun law. I will not be answering any more questions,what you are doing hereis illegal . When the other trooper returned he said, " he doesn't have a a concealed carrypermit ( I had already advised them of that) . She then asked the other trooper " he is not a convicted Felon ? " She appeared tobe acting shockedrather poorly (bad actress & a lousy trooper). She then handed metheir names and badge numbers and the phone number of theirstation.
My problem is they put us bothat risk the way they approachme. Their cars were parked across the lot. They could have pulled behind me and activated the safety lights and spot light, then I would have know right off they were troopers. Apparently they just walk the rest stop and peak in on folks sleeping. Weird and unnecessary.
#2 There was zero reasonable articulable suspicion. Waking up a guy sleeping in his vehicle at a rest stop,just because he is armed is an reckless intrusion.
#3 She was incredibly rude,arrogant and ignorant of firearms laws (or attempting to imply I had done something illegal). Law enforcement shouldn't be attempting to mislead citizens with respect to the laws just so they can illegal detain folks.
Well we will see what the Superintendent of VSP and their professional standards division (internal affairs) has to say in response.
Now that my complaint letters are done here are the details of my incident with two State troopers in September. I own a business here in Virginia and I'm currently opening another in North Carolina, so I'm back and worth often and frequently utilize the rest stops for brief naps if I feel myself getting a bit sleepy. September the 12th I was woken up by a flashlight tapping on the window of my mini-van and ordered to step out of the vehicle by two State troopers. Once I realized they were troopers I complied thinking something had happened at the rest stop. Upon getting out of my van I asked whatsthe problem? The trooper replied, " well we see you have a gun in the vehicle (I had iton the passenger seat right next to my leg) is it registered to you and do you have a permit ?I replied that's not illegal, a permit is not required for open carry and there is no registration of firearms in the Commonwealth of Virginia. To that she replied, "don't get smart with me, it may not be illegal but it's not very bright to have it where someone could break in and grab it". I found that arather ridiculous thing for one adult to say to another and replied, hey you woke me upfor no real reason. They demanded my license and I complied.I then asked for both of their business cards and shereplied, "No you are not entitled to my business card! " When she figured out that I was dialing #77 on my cell to ask for a supervisor to be sent over, she said I will write it down for you. She then started askingwhere are you headed, how long have you been here etc. I simplysaid I resent you illegally detaining me, waking me up without identifying yourselves (I never knew they were troopers until I put my glasses on as I had taken my contacts out) and attempting to infer that I had violated some gun law. I will not be answering any more questions,what you are doing hereis illegal . When the other trooper returned he said, " he doesn't have a a concealed carrypermit ( I had already advised them of that) . She then asked the other trooper " he is not a convicted Felon ? " She appeared tobe acting shockedrather poorly (bad actress & a lousy trooper). She then handed metheir names and badge numbers and the phone number of theirstation.
My problem is they put us bothat risk the way they approachme. Their cars were parked across the lot. They could have pulled behind me and activated the safety lights and spot light, then I would have know right off they were troopers. Apparently they just walk the rest stop and peak in on folks sleeping. Weird and unnecessary.
#2 There was zero reasonable articulable suspicion. Waking up a guy sleeping in his vehicle at a rest stop,just because he is armed is an reckless intrusion.
#3 She was incredibly rude,arrogant and ignorant of firearms laws (or attempting to imply I had done something illegal). Law enforcement shouldn't be attempting to mislead citizens with respect to the laws just so they can illegal detain folks.
Well we will see what the Superintendent of VSP and their professional standards division (internal affairs) has to say in response.