Rest Stop OC?

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Tomorrow is my big break out from Maryland. Want to clarify the laws around carrying at rest stops. Read laws and some stories and I am confused.

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Carrying at rest stops is legal in NC & Virginia. I travel between Northern va & Raleigh monthly and have only had a problem at a rest stop once. While sleeping at a Virginia rest stop two State troopers woke me up because they saw my firearm (They were walking around and peaking in on people sleeping, great way to get killed). This idiot trooper LL parker (a real bitch)ordered me out ofmy mini-vanand asked if my weapon was registered to me and if I had a permit. She obviously just didn't know they law or was attempting to mislead me, as she became irate when I responded. " no permit is required for open carry and there is no such thing as gun registration in Virginia". She then said Don'tget smart with me and I burst out laughing at that. Additionally The US Supreme Court ruled in Florida v. JL case # 98-1993 (2000) that simply carrying a firearm or a report that a person is carrying a firearm doesn't in and of itself establish Reasonable Articulable Suspicionrequired for the policeto detain a person.

So are you moving to NC ?

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Yes I am. In the Army but after spending 20 yrs civilian in MD and 3 in Ft Drum, NY....I am freaking stoked to be going south.

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Welcome to the free world! You are legal in rest stops, just don't go into the ones that have an onsite highway patrol station.

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.40 Cal wrote:

Welcome to the free world! You are legal in rest stops, just don't go into the ones that have an onsite highway patrol station.

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Why would that be a problem ?

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Because you are not allowed to go into a police station armed in any way.

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I think you would be ok at rest stops regardless if the police have a station there. North Carolina law specifically says rest stops are not prohibited places. Walking into the State police office would be illegal, but the rest stop itself ? I doubt it would be a problem. The State police in NC are extraordinarily positive on citizens carrying firearms from my experience.

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jack wrote:

I think you would be ok at rest stops regardless if the police have a station there. North Carolina law specifically says rest stops are not prohibited places. Walking into the State police office would be illegal, but the rest stop itself ? I doubt it would be a problem. The State police in NC are extraordinarily positive on citizens carrying firearms from my experience.

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I agree with your last point.

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.40 Cal wrote:

jack wrote:

I think you would be ok at rest stops regardless if the police have a station there. North Carolina law specifically says rest stops are not prohibited places. Walking into the State police office would be illegal, but the rest stop itself ? I doubt it would be a problem. The State police in NC are extraordinarily positive on citizens carrying firearms from my experience.

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I agree with your last point.

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+2. The NC State Highway Patrol are the most respectable and courteous law enforcement officers I have ever dealt with.

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Thanks for all the advice. Move was completed with no complications and no OC stories for NC. Just don't want to have something stupid happen before I have even reported in to my new unit. Anyone think I should ask for information from the local States Attorney on OC in order to cover my own ass or just OC and see how police react?

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Go with option B.

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Rgr

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The other night in a steak n shake there were several of us open carrying. Several Raleigh Police officers came in and said absolutely nothing. Despite what some have said about Open carrying in Cary, I have had no problem there either.

Open carry is not going about armed to the terror of the public as some claim. I don't see you having a problem in NC at all. I would avoid carrying on the Indian reservation and VERY careful about crossing into South Carolina if open carrying. You need a permit and MUST conceal there. Welcome to a wonderful State.