TexasCHLforum.com

If I am a passenger in a car and the driver gets pulled over by a LEO do I or should I inform the LEO that I have a CHL and have a firearm on me?

If the officer asks you for ID, then you are required to show him both TDL and CHL. If you show him the CHL, do not offer information about the gun unless asked. If he doesn't ask, he doesn't want to know. If the officer does not ask for your ID as the passenger of the car, then volunteer nothing.

This is not to try and hide anything. The point is to let the officer direct the proceedings.

From my understanding of the laws, The Annoyed Man is 100% correct.

...only thing I can add is if you hear the officer ask if there are any firearms in the car, I'd tell him "I have a Concealed Handgun License and am carrying one(or whatever the correct number is )." Don't go scrabbling about for your DLic and CHL after he asks the question...keep hands visible and ask "Do you need to see my ID and License?" and let him direct you...do not keep silent and let him find out later that you're armed...he might construe that as deception...

I have to second the above two. Always err on the side of quiet cooperation and, unless under arrest, information. I don't live in a state that requires notification either, but would do so if asked for an ID just to keep any nonsense down to a minimum.

I think if I were a passenger in a car that was pulled over, and did not want the driver to know about my CHL, I'd have both cards in my shirt pocket, or palmed, and if that question were posed "Any Firearms in the vehicle" I'd show the officer both cards without comment and hope he would acknowledge with some discretion. If the driver wasn't looking my way I might keep my secret. If not, I'd just have to deal with that.

Having been in a similar situation, where the driver didn't know I was armed, I have just stayed quiet. Until and unless I am directly addressed by the officer (in the form of asking me for ID), I'm not a "subject" of the stop or encounter.

I printed a business-card that says "I hold a valid Texas Concealed Handgun License, and I am currently carrying a concealed Handgun. My companions are not aware of this fact. Any discretion you can provide would be greatly appreciated."

If asked for ID and thus "engaged," I would hand the stack of the three (my DL/ID, CHL, and this card, on top of the stack) with a smile, and hope not to be "outed" in the process. Worst that happens is the LEO chooses to ask where it is and/or disarm as "usual," but i tried. I have not had the "opportunity" to try this, but i have been known to carry in the company of those who aren't as supportive as the folks on this forum

It's been my experience that most LEOs would rather a passenger keep quiet, show their hands, and stay out of it, unless directly engaged...again, letting the LEO direct the encounter.

For what its worth, the few times I've had to ID, my CHL has been discreetly handed right back to me with a knowing nod (at least in a crowd) or handed back with an "Thank you, but I don't need this."

As a passenger, I would keep my hands visible, not make any sudden moves, and say nothing unless directly addressed by the officer; I'm not going to inject myself into the interaction between the traffic cop and the driver.

If asked something directly by the officer, I'll proceed by my best understanding of the law - including presentation of ID, CHL, etc.