"Preferential" treatment for CCW holders?

[rscottlow]

 

I know there are a few of you out there, and I'm curious about your experiences as a CCW holder after being pulled over (on the bike, or otherwise).

I have a friend that was pulled over recently for speeding. When the officer approached his vehicle, he handed him his DL and his CCW (in Ohio you're required to disclose if you're armed during a traffic stop). The officer looked at his identification, didn't run his license or ask for insurance or vehicle registration, told him why he pulled him over, and that he was free to go. I can't help but to think that the LEO assumed that my friend was a generally law abiding citizen because of the CCW, and let him go with a verbal warning as a result. I've not been pulled over since I got my CCW over 4 years ago so I can't cite any personal experience, but something like this wouldn't surprise me. What do you all think?

[yamahonkawazuki]

on the flipside, sometimes the LEO will put you under the magnifying glass . theres a few variables such as if you get pulled over constantly ( specially by same cop). double standards iim not sure. maybe.
Aaron

[rscottlow]

I think you're right about that, to an extent. It's just that most LEO's that I have met or know personally tend to advocate gun rights, but this could be due to the fact that this part of the country tends to lean to the pro second amendment rights side of the debate.

By the same token, I think motorcycle cops tend to be more lenient on motorcyclists in certain scenarios.

[Bluesmudge]

In Washington and Oregon there is no duty to inform unless asked by law enforcement. That said, if I was carrying I would respectfully inform the officer or hand over my CPL card with my driver's license. Especially if the pistol was easily visible or accessible. I have not had that situation arise yet so I have no idea if an officer would treat me better or worse because I was carrying or just because I was licensed to carry. I think it is entirely dependent on the individual officer.

I think your analogy to motorcycle cops is a bit off. I find and have heard that motorcycle cops are actually harder on motorcyclists. Those cops ride year round rain or shine, cold or hot and they have tons of motorcycle safety and skilll training. They have very little tolerance for anyone riding in an unsafe manner. Additionally, in most cities and highway patrols the motorcycle cops exist only primarily for traffic enforcement so their job is to write tickets. The one time I got pulled over by a motorcycle cop while on a motorcycle he only asked for my license and then wrote me a ticket without saying another word. I have always heard, "if the boot hit the pavement, the pen hits the paper."

[Watcher]

I haven't heard of any preferential treatment because of CCW, but I have talked myself out of tickets before just by being incredibly polite and cooperative.

Submitting your CCW and declaring yourself to be armed in a calm and polite manner, especially when not required to do so, may just impress the officer enough to not take any monetary action against you.
Writing a ticket isn't a necessity, many cops will say something to allude to this and make you think all traffic stops require a paper trail, in fact there are people who will "learn their lesson" just from the red and blues and being late for work.  Many cops understand this, and a lot of what they do depends on how you act.

Not that I've been pulled over much, but the times I've been pulled over in the car I've turned the car off, put the key on the roof, and flipped on the dome light.  Officer approaches calmly and usually gives me a verbal warning.
And I've done it more than once for speeding/aggressive driving.

[rscottlow]

In Washington and Oregon there is no duty to inform unless asked by law enforcement. That said, if I was carrying I would respectfully inform the officer or hand over my CPL card with my driver's license. Especially if the pistol was easily visible or accessible. I have not had that situation arise yet so I have no idea if an officer would treat me better or worse because I was carrying or just because I was licensed to carry. I think it is entirely dependent on the individual officer.

I think your analogy to motorcycle cops is a bit off. I find and have heard that motorcycle cops are actually harder on motorcyclists. Those cops ride year round rain or shine, cold or hot and they have tons of motorcycle safety and skilll training. They have very little tolerance for anyone riding in an unsafe manner. Additionally, in most cities and highway patrols the motorcycle cops exist only primarily for traffic enforcement so their job is to write tickets. The one time I got pulled over by a motorcycle cop while on a motorcycle he only asked for my license and then wrote me a ticket without saying another word. I have always heard, "if the boot hit the pavement, the pen hits the paper."

I definitely agree that it depends on the individual officer, but as a whole I feel like most officers, at least around here, appreciate legally armed citizens with an intent to protect themselves and their families from harm. Plus, and probably more importantly to the officer, if you've got a CCW you've submitted to a background check at least somewhat recently.

What I meant to say was "motorcyclist cops," or cops who also ride motorcycles, rather than "motorcycle cops" who ride in the line of duty. My brother was once pulled over for speeding on his bike after pulling out into a busy intersection. The officer (who rides as a hobby) let him off because my brother's excuse was that sped up significantly due to a car quickly approaching from behind - he understood the rationale because he understands the challenges of being surrounded by drivers who may or may not be paying attention. For the same reason, I would also expect motorcycle cops to have some extra tolerance for certain violations. I can see where you're coming from about them being more strict regarding certain things, though.

On the other side of the coin, I've met cops who plainly state that they'd write their own mother a ticket if they pulled her over.

I haven't heard of any preferential treatment because of CCW, but I have talked myself out of tickets before just by being incredibly polite and cooperative.

Submitting your CCW and declaring yourself to be armed in a calm and polite manner, especially when not required to do so, may just impress the officer enough to not take any monetary action against you.
Writing a ticket isn't a necessity, many cops will say something to allude to this and make you think all traffic stops require a paper trail, in fact there are people who will "learn their lesson" just from the red and blues and being late for work.  Many cops understand this, and a lot of what they do depends on how you act.

Not that I've been pulled over much, but the times I've been pulled over in the car I've turned the car off, put the key on the roof, and flipped on the dome light.  Officer approaches calmly and usually gives me a verbal warning.
And I've done it more than once for speeding/aggressive driving.

Being polite and cooperative seems like common sense to me, but I guess that's easy to say if I don't have anything to hide. I've avoided a ticket on most occasions when I've been pulled over, so maybe that's what I've got working in my favor.