Lyndsy Simon
Regular Member
If the cop runs the serial# then that is a violation of your 4th Amendment rights (illegal search).
If the officer disarms you under the guise of "officer safety" and that action is upheld by the court, then if the serial number is visible on the weapon then I believe it would fall under the "plain view" doctrine.
I'd like to put a piece of electrical tape over the serial number plate on my pistol, but I'm as yet unsure if this would run afoul of federal law. I vaguely remember a gunsmith acquaintance telling of an instance where he had issues with BATFE for installing a tang sight on a lever gun, because the sight covered the serial number. Then again, Glocks come from the factory with a rail so that if a weapon light were mounted the serial number would not be visible.