So, my buddy with a CHL got pulled over last night...

[Skiprr]

I would never assume anything is going to be excused, or waived, if I hand over my CHL and DL during a traffic stop...

No, no. I was never implying any special consideration, leniency, nada. I would never want or expect that, either. I play by the rules, and expect others to do the same.

My point was simply from the LEO's perspective. If you pull over some guy for 10-over on a dark stretch of road in a bad area of the big city at 11:00 p.m., you never know what you might be getting into when you open the door of your cruiser. The license plate may run clean, but you'll approach the driver's side with extreme caution. Your local "Gangsta" or MS-13 member ain't gonna have a CHL to hand over with a driver license.

My point was that a CHL, in a snapshot, helps the LEO better understand who he or she is dealing with. It makes their job a little more efficient, and maybe just a little bit safer, too.

[stevie_d_64]

I would never assume anything is going to be excused, or waived, if I hand over my CHL and DL during a traffic stop...

No, no. I was never implying any special consideration, leniency, nada. I would never want or expect that, either. I play by the rules, and expect others to do the same.

My point was simply from the LEO's perspective. If you pull over some guy for 10-over on a dark stretch of road in a bad area of the big city at 11:00 p.m., you never know what you might be getting into when you open the door of your cruiser. The license plate may run clean, but you'll approach the driver's side with extreme caution. Your local "Gangsta" or MS-13 member ain't gonna have a CHL to hand over with a driver license.

My point was that a CHL, in a snapshot, helps the LEO better understand who he or she is dealing with. It makes their job a little more efficient, and maybe just a little bit safer, too.

I know that you didn't mean it that way...But there have been some folks on other forums I've seen over the years boast about how they expect to get treated differently and special by Law Enforcement...They usually get put in their place rather quickly...

I know that wasn't your intent...

Now how Law Enforcement treats you is really up to you, if "you" do not have any expectations, and reside yourself to the fact that your going to be cited...I think your attitude will be more pleasant, humble...LEO's are pretty sharp...They pick up on stuff pretty quick...

Remember that thread a while back discussing how someone was percieved to "look" suspicious??? Its buried down in the topics somewhere around here...That had boucoup (sp?) amounts of ideas and comments on LEO and civilian CCW attitudes on encounters...

For the most part I believe we do pretty good in that regard...

[Mike1951]

Maybe I've just gotten more respectable looking in my old age.

But I confess that I have indeed been treated better and gotten warnings rather than tickets since getting my CHL.

I've also never had to surrender my sidearm. When asked where it was, I would reply right side, or right front pocket and the discussion would go no further.

[1TallTXn]

I've been pulled over twice with my CHL.

Small town officer wrote me a ticket and didn't even comment on the CHL. only asked where it was.

TXDPS officer had me get out of the truck, disarmed me, grilled me about why I was carrying ("are you scared?", "are you going to war?" [when I told him I had another mag]) went back to the truck and asked the passengers if they were carrying guns. then let me go with a warning.

The local officer was very polite about it.
The DPS officer was nearly to the point of being rude.

I was 23 for both of those stops and I made every point of being very polite to the officers. That is my policy in any dealing with LE.

[kauboy]

Good policy, but I would have filed a complaint against the DPS officer. He had no right to grill you about having a CHL. Having one all but proves that you are a responsible citizen. He carries a gun for the same reason you do, yet nobody asks him why.

[Commander]

I've been pulled over twice with my CHL. ........
TXDPS officer had me get out of the truck, disarmed me, grilled me about why I was carrying ("are you scared?", "are you going to war?" [when I told him I had another mag]) went back to the truck and asked the passengers if they were carrying guns. then let me go with a warning.

The DPS officer was nearly to the point of being rude.

I was 23 for both of those stops and I made every point of being very polite to the officers. That is my policy in any dealing with LE.

What was the reason for the traffic stiop? Were there actions on anyone's part that would have given the Trooper cause for alarm? If so, then he was justified under DPS policy to disarm you. If you are quoting his comments accurately, then they were out of line. If this stop was recent you might wish to contact his Sergeant and discuss his actions. Each stop is recorded both audio and video and retained for a period of time. If recent enough the recording will be available for the Sergeant to review.

As a matter of information, each DPS Sergeant periodically reviews each Troopers recorded traffic stops for compliance with policy. (Activating the overhead red lights starts the recorder)

[txinvestigator]

I've been pulled over twice with my CHL. ........
TXDPS officer had me get out of the truck, disarmed me, grilled me about why I was carrying ("are you scared?", "are you going to war?" [when I told him I had another mag]) went back to the truck and asked the passengers if they were carrying guns. then let me go with a warning.

The DPS officer was nearly to the point of being rude.

I was 23 for both of those stops and I made every point of being very polite to the officers. That is my policy in any dealing with LE.

What was the reason for the traffic stiop? Were there actions on anyone's part that would have given the Trooper cause for alarm? If so, then he was justified under DPS policy to disarm you. If you are quoting his comments accurately, then they were out of line. If this stop was recent you might wish to contact his Sergeant and discuss his actions. Each stop is recorded both audio and video and retained for a period of time. If recent enough the recording will be available for the Sergeant to review.

As a matter of information, each DPS Sergeant periodically reviews each Troopers recorded traffic stops for compliance with policy. (Activating the overhead red lights starts the recorder)