A friend was stopped in NoVA for wearing ear phones while driving. He does not have a CHP, so he open carries, and when driving alone keeps his firearm openly displayed on the dash.
The trooper saw the revolver and asked him to exit the vehicle and assume the position at the rear of the car.
The trooper asked if the hand gun was registered in his name. He asked what he meant. The trooper asked the same question, only louder. Instead of asking another question at that time he said "No", knowing that firearm registration is not required in VA.
A second trooper arrived after 15 minutes, spoke with the first trooper, then asked my friend what kind of bullets were in the revolver. My friend told him, then was asked where he had purchased the, explaining that they were trying to determine if the bullets were illegal or not.
They then explained the "registration", that all firearm purchases required a State form be filled out for a back-ground check. When my friend explained he acquired the revolver from an aquaintence and did not involve a dealer, Trooper 2 told him that all privately purchased firearms must be brought into the VSP so the serial number could be run to see if it was a legal firearm and so a record of it could be made.
After all this, and determining the ammo was "legal", his revolver was returned in pieces.
My friend decided the side of I-95 was not the place to educate the VSP on VA firearms laws, signed his ticket, and wished the Troopers well.
Okay, anyone with a shred of knowledge of VA law knows these two made several mistakes.
When he asked me if he should complain, I voted in the affirmative, and he wrote a polite email, esplaining what happened in detail and sent it via email to
bonnie.crowder@vsp.virginia.gov
Two weeks later he received a response from
Lieutenant Colonel E.A. Stockton, Director of the Bureau of Field Operations for the VSP viaBud Cox, Business Manager, VSP.
In the response is this: "We appreciate your bringing this matter to our attention. Based on the information you provided I am forwarding your e-mail to the State Police Area Office where Trooper ************* is assigned asking that a supervisor discuss this situation with him to ensure the polices andthe procedures of the State Police, and the laws of the Commonwealth were properly followed."
This worked for my friend. Give it a try...
RussP