CharlesC
Regular Member
imported post
I was pulled over for an expired safety inspection on North Kings Hwy near RT1 Sunday afternoon. It was the first time I had to interact with LE in an enforcement capacity since I started carrying.
I was armed at the time.
I knew the officer was coming after me as soon as he turned around so I wasn’t unprepared for the lights. I pulled off into a parking lot and dug out my license and registration.
As the officer approached my window, 2 other officers arrived and looked into my van from the passenger side. I’m certain that they saw the Glock 21 on my hip.
After the usual banter about why I was pulled over the officer asked for my license and registration. I provided them. I was alone in my van and not asked to leave the van. I did NOT inform the officer that I was armed or that I had a CCP.
It took the officer a while to write up the citation and while he was doing that, one of the other officers stayed on the passenger side of my van staying out of my sight line. She would often walk in such a way to be able to see me and then walk back keeping about 10 feet from my van. The third officer stayed next to the first officer’s car where he could see me in my mirror.
While this was going on I prepared myself in case they asked me to step out. I made sure that both sets of keys were in my pocket and my wallet and phone were not on me. The only thing I had in my hand was my CCP. The plan was that if they asked me to step out, I would show the officer my CCP (even though I was OC at the time.) and let him know I was armed. I did NOT want to be shot for an invalid safety inspection.
Well the officer returned and did ask me to step out of the vehicle. I gave him my CCP and said that I was armed. He said that he already knew I had a CCP and thanked me for letting him know I was armed. He said it was ok.
I rolled up my window and as I exited the van I locked the door and immediately closed it. I also did NOT hike up my pants! He asked me some general questions about amateur radio. (I have Amateur Radio plates.) General conversation stuff.
The officer asked me toward the front of his vehicle and then explained the citation for the expired safety inspection. I’m pretty sure he did this so that my signature on the form was caught on the vehicle camera. Otherwise I’m not sure why he asked me out. He and the other officers seemed very relaxed and were quite professional.
So it went ok.
But I’m left with some questions. If I was carrying totally concealed, should I have informed the officer I was carrying or just make sure my CCP was handy? How do the officers know I have a CCP? Do they get that data when they run my license or my plates? Did the officer know I was armed when he walked up or latter? (I did notice that he stayed well back of my door when asking for my license and registration.
How does an officer feel when they see it pop up on the computer that someone they pulled over or whatever has a CCP? Are they more apprehensive or do they feel better knowing that people with a CCP have had a background check and are less likely to be a problem?
What are the statistics in VA about CCP holders shooting an officer or causing a problem at a traffic or other LE incident?
-Charles
I was pulled over for an expired safety inspection on North Kings Hwy near RT1 Sunday afternoon. It was the first time I had to interact with LE in an enforcement capacity since I started carrying.
I was armed at the time.
I knew the officer was coming after me as soon as he turned around so I wasn’t unprepared for the lights. I pulled off into a parking lot and dug out my license and registration.
As the officer approached my window, 2 other officers arrived and looked into my van from the passenger side. I’m certain that they saw the Glock 21 on my hip.
After the usual banter about why I was pulled over the officer asked for my license and registration. I provided them. I was alone in my van and not asked to leave the van. I did NOT inform the officer that I was armed or that I had a CCP.
It took the officer a while to write up the citation and while he was doing that, one of the other officers stayed on the passenger side of my van staying out of my sight line. She would often walk in such a way to be able to see me and then walk back keeping about 10 feet from my van. The third officer stayed next to the first officer’s car where he could see me in my mirror.
While this was going on I prepared myself in case they asked me to step out. I made sure that both sets of keys were in my pocket and my wallet and phone were not on me. The only thing I had in my hand was my CCP. The plan was that if they asked me to step out, I would show the officer my CCP (even though I was OC at the time.) and let him know I was armed. I did NOT want to be shot for an invalid safety inspection.
Well the officer returned and did ask me to step out of the vehicle. I gave him my CCP and said that I was armed. He said that he already knew I had a CCP and thanked me for letting him know I was armed. He said it was ok.
I rolled up my window and as I exited the van I locked the door and immediately closed it. I also did NOT hike up my pants! He asked me some general questions about amateur radio. (I have Amateur Radio plates.) General conversation stuff.
The officer asked me toward the front of his vehicle and then explained the citation for the expired safety inspection. I’m pretty sure he did this so that my signature on the form was caught on the vehicle camera. Otherwise I’m not sure why he asked me out. He and the other officers seemed very relaxed and were quite professional.
So it went ok.
But I’m left with some questions. If I was carrying totally concealed, should I have informed the officer I was carrying or just make sure my CCP was handy? How do the officers know I have a CCP? Do they get that data when they run my license or my plates? Did the officer know I was armed when he walked up or latter? (I did notice that he stayed well back of my door when asking for my license and registration.
How does an officer feel when they see it pop up on the computer that someone they pulled over or whatever has a CCP? Are they more apprehensive or do they feel better knowing that people with a CCP have had a background check and are less likely to be a problem?
What are the statistics in VA about CCP holders shooting an officer or causing a problem at a traffic or other LE incident?
-Charles