Identify yourself as a LCH holder or not?

[Cole46845]

Talking with my dad and he seems to think only identify yourself as a gun permit holder if your ASKED if your carrying a weapon. I was always told to put hands out window and tell the officer first thing that I am carrying a weapon. In the case that you are pulled over. What's the right answer

A. Tell them your packing

B. wait until you are asked and then tel, them. Thanks

 

[Mgderf]

Indiana has no requirement to notify. You are NOT required to offer that information.

If you are asked, you MUST tell them the truth, or be subject to charges.

Ohio is a different story. If you get pulled over in Ohio, the FIRST thing out of your mouth had better be, "Sir, I want to make you aware that I am a license to carry a firearm holder and I have a firearm in my possession."

Best to know the laws applicable to your specific location.

 

[FrankTank83]

Good question, I agree with your old man. Does anyone know if your LTCH is connected to your license? For example, if you are pulled over for a traffic violation in IN, does the system notify the officer that you are a permit holder? If so, I would'nt think there would be a need, they are already informed.

 

[tgmorris99]

Wait until asked - or - inform if the weapon will become visible for some reason.

That's what the Sheriff department in Gannett County, Georgia taught when I took a firearms class from them. They basically said there's no reason to escalate the encounter if you don't need to. The officer, as one might expect, knowing you have a weapon approaches things differently.

 

[Mgderf]

Good question, I agree with your old man. Does anyone know if your LTCH is connected to your license? For example, if you are pulled over for a traffic violation in IN, does the system notify the officer that you are a permit holder? If so, I would'nt think there would be a need, they are already informed.

If/when I'm pulled over, I simply hand the officer both I.D.'s, my drivers license and my LTCH. They know at a glance what it is, and it is basically a default notification.

 

[Bunnykid68]

If/when I'm pulled over, I simply hand the officer both I.D.'s, my drivers license and my LTCH. They know at a glance what it is, and it is basically a default notification.

And with that notification it should end any and all questions or concerns about the firearm, don't recall the court case.

 

[Cowboy76]

When I took the Utah class one of instructors was in LE he told us in Indiana you do not have to inform. He did suggest that if you want to inform the officer always tell them you hav LTCH & that you are "carrying". Never say you have a gun. Some LE will only hear gun & freak out.

He said he had given warnings instead of tickets on minor infractions,for the courtesy if being informed. I guess that depends on the LE.

 

[churchmouse]

When I took the Utah class one of instructors was in LE he told us in Indiana you do not have to inform. He did suggest that if you want to inform the officer always tell them you hav LTCH & that you are "carrying". Never say you have a gun. Some LE will only hear gun & freak out.

He said he had given warnings instead of tickets on minor infractions,for the courtesy if being informed. I guess that depends on the LE.

I never inform unless asked. If I am being pulled over for speeding etc. it is of no concern to LEO so just give me the ticket and lets get on with our day. No need to escalate any situation or give someone an excuse to dig in and waste more of your time to find absolutely nothing wrong.

 

[FrankTank83]

If/when I'm pulled over, I simply hand the officer both I.D.'s, my drivers license and my LTCH. They know at a glance what it is, and it is basically a default notification.

Thats not a bad idea. I have only been pulled over a couple of times in the past 15 years, maybe I'll try this next time.

 

[mrjarrell]

This is one of those times when your dad is right. Don't ask, don't tell. Best way to avoid any confrontations if they're the jumpy type.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Rule #1, don't tell on yourself.

Don't lie, but you don't have to volunteer nothing to no one.

Avoid the "G" word (no, not Glock), "gun" is a trigger word (pun intended of course) in law enforcement training.

 

[stephen87]

Good question, I agree with your old man. Does anyone know if your LTCH is connected to your license? For example, if you are pulled over for a traffic violation in IN, does the system notify the officer that you are a permit holder? If so, I would'nt think there would be a need, they are already informed.

If an officer runs your plate, it comes back with a name that the plate is registered to. It will not tell the officer that you have a LTCH. If they decide you need to be stopped, they get your license, run it and then your LTCH status comes up. This is from personal experience.

Oh, and the best thing to do if you're carrying, is jump out of your car, draw your handgun, and start yelling "OFFICER! I JUST WANT YOU KNOW THAT I HAVE A GUN!"

 

[CitiusFortius]

Not that i get pulled over often, but if i do, I figure I'll hand my pink slip over with my license. Who knows, if he's focused on the gun maybe he'll forget about that stop sign I rolled through?

 

[qwerty]

It will only show you have a LTCH if they run you by name and date of birth, not by your Drivers license number. If they run your plate, it will show your DL number in the response and most will just click on that and run your license.

 

[stephen87]

Don't make it a habit of rolling through stop signs so often.

I never mention it when I get stopped. I don't plan on using it, so for me it's a non-issue. Officers have also never asked, though I know it comes up.

 

[mrjarrell]

Not that i get pulled over often, but if i do, I figure I'll hand my pink slip over with my license. Who knows, if he's focused on the gun maybe he'll forget about that stop sign I rolled through?

Or maybe he'll seize your firearm, empty it and its magazine and disassemble it for you. All after running it through the system to see if you're a thief that he can arrest. Not worth the hassle.

 

[stephen87]

It will only show you have a LTCH if they run you by name and date of birth, not by your Drivers license number. If they run your plate, it will show your DL number in the response and most will just click on that and run your license.

Are you sure of that? I've watched an officer put in the DLN and it returns the LTCH status.

 

[Scutter01]

Ohio is a different story. If you get pulled over in Ohio, the FIRST thing out of your mouth had better be, "Sir, I want to make you aware that I am a license to carry a firearm holder and I have a firearm in my possession."

Unless you're in Canton where you're not allowed to speak until they threaten to take two steps back and put ten rounds in you for daring to have a legal firearm on you.

 

[qwerty]

Are you sure of that? I've watched an officer put in the DLN and it returns the LTCH status.

I am 100% positive, I see it every day.

The OLN is a number assigned by the BMV and is in no way linked to your LTCH. The database also has no field to inquire using a Drivers License Number (Only has fields for Name, DOB, SS# or Permit#).

Additional databases are automatically queried, but only against what is submitted, so if I send an request using a DL# and a DL# is not listed specifically in the wanted person file, protection order file, Concealed Weapon file, violent gang file, supervised release file, terrorist file, or missing person file; there would never be a positive response.

The preferred inquiry method is Name, Sex, and Date of Birth but is not practiced as nearly as they would like. Especially since most MDT clients allow you to just click on a DL# in a plate response and run the owner if he/she is also the operator. If a request is made using name and DOB, then that same information is used to query the additional files.....

Hope that makes sense.

 

[slipnotz]

If you elect not to tell them that you have a LTCH, then locate you LTC away from your DL. They are trained to look in your wallet. I was pulled over and given a warning for speeding. When he came back to my car, he ask if I was carrying. He had seen that I had a LTCH, I asked if there was something on my DL that showed I had a LTCH. That is when he said there is nothing on the DL but he had seen it in my wallet behind my DL. So don't keep them together if you plan on not telling. The LEO I know recomended telling the officer when he comes to the car that you have a LTCH and where the gun is. I won't suggest what you should do.