77zach
Regular Member
I live in Florida and was driving back home after visiting my dad in Virginia. I have a Florida CCW, which is valid in SC. I was stopped on I-95 for speeding. I pull over and hand him my driver's license and CCW. I told him I put the weapon in the glovebox, and he ordered my out of the car. He goes back to his unmarked SUV, meanwhile two more cops show up. One of the latecomers starts trying to establish rapport with me, so we talk about my trip, etc. Then he asks if they can search my vehicle and I, of course, refuse. He shakes his head "no" to his buddy in the SUV and then says he's going to retrieve the pistol in the glovebox and make sure it's not stolen. I tell him there is no reason to retrieve the gun, and I don't give him permission. He ignores this and takes it back to the SUV. He comes out again and asks me if there is anything illegal in the car, I tell him everything is "lawful personal property". The tax feeding fat-ass who pulled me over retrieves a drug dog and walks around my vehicle several times. Fatty gives the dog a silent command and the dog jumps and puts his paws on the gas tank. They then go through everything, and all my personal belongings. I had another pistol (unloaded) in a suitcase in the backseat and an unloaded rifle in the trunk. They "make sure these aren't stolen" and take them back to the SUV. Of course, they find nothing illegal. Fatty comes back, tells me "he's going to give me a break" and not give me a speeding ticket (80 in a 70) or give me a hard time about the unloaded pistol in the suitcase. He said it had to be in the glovebox or trunk. I did not think that was correct, but did not argue. I was relieved they didn't plant anything in the vehicle. Just another day in the USSA.
Questions:
When they searched without my consent, and found nothing, even though the dog "alerted", what position does that put them in? I assume I can't take any action against them.
Was the officer correct in saying that having an unloaded pistol in my suitcase was illegal, even with a permit? Even without a permit, you may carry a loaded pistol in the glovebox. I can't imagine that I can't have an unloaded gun in the backseat suitcase WITH a permit.
Questions:
When they searched without my consent, and found nothing, even though the dog "alerted", what position does that put them in? I assume I can't take any action against them.
Was the officer correct in saying that having an unloaded pistol in my suitcase was illegal, even with a permit? Even without a permit, you may carry a loaded pistol in the glovebox. I can't imagine that I can't have an unloaded gun in the backseat suitcase WITH a permit.