chasekerion4
Sharpshooter
Last week, I was pulled over on I-65 at the 26 exit in Lafayette, for "following too close."
The state trooper comes up to the passenger side, looks inside my windows (more than just a peek), and asks for my license and registration. While getting my license out, I inform him that I have a gun under my seat and I.... "Do you have a handgun license?" "Yes, sir, I was about to tell you that as well." He then says "Just get out of the car, don't worry about the registration." I conform.
He brings me to the front of his car, demanding I put my hands behind my back and he proceeds to pat me down. Next, we're off to his car, and he puts me in the front seat with him.
Now is when I get my entire life scrutinized.
I have a Florida drivers license, Florida plates on my car, and an Indiana LTCH, as I live in both Indiana AND Florida, 6 months each. This is both legal, legit and not up for scrutiny.
He runs me through the state system, and NCIC as well, and has dispatch run the history of my driver's license, as to when I surrendered what license to what state upon moving into another, for my entire adult driving life.
He asks me how I got my LTCH, to which I politely replied, "Honestly, I don't know the specifics of the laws and loopholes and what qualifies who for what, but my sheriff and your Firearms Superintendent were both involved and the decision was made that I am legal to possess a LTCH in this state. My guess is that since I live here half the year and own a business here, that qualifies me, but this would be a better question for the brass within YOUR department. Obviously I passed your state as well as your department's background check requirements"
Now, we just bought a new house in October, to which we moved into at the beginning of December. I haven't updated my address change with the firearms division yet. Not happy that my current address doesn't match what is listed on the LTCH, he then proceeds to ask dispatch for the "TX to Legal."
This guy actually had the balls to call one of the state's attorneys with me sitting there to validate the legality of my possessing a firearm, as well as whether or not I am legit to hold a LTCH.
Of course, the attorney basically told him in as many words, "you're wasting your time, he's legit and legal" but he was not satisfied. He then proceeds to ask if I am still legal since my address doesn't match what's listed on the LTCH. Once again "it's a non-issue, stop wasting this guy's time"
If you haven't changed your address with the firearms division, here's a nugget of info. They don't have to send you a new LTCH with the correct address. According to the LTCH, you don't have to do anything but notify the state police within 60 days of address change. I have since faxed in my address change, but am not required to pay the fee (according to the state form) to get a new LTCH with the correct address.
I mention this because the trooper never once validated with dispatch what address they have listed on my LTCH. He just assumed that since my LTCH said one address, I was 'breaking the law' by it not being my current address. Nevermind that I might not have changed addresses til yesterday (thus not being required to even notify ISP yet).
Once the trooper hung up with the attorney, he says to me "well, you're going to jail today." I had been stewing on this whole BS situation now for 30 minutes, and this kinda set me off. "WTF are you talking about? WTF for?" He replies, "basically, you're not allowed to carry... Nah, I'm just kidding" My reply was "Not F-ing funny"
Now he turns cool and says "I appreciate the honesty up front about the weapon, so I'm just going to give you a warning" He prints it out, informs me that he typed all my information and conversation into the system and it is being forwarded to the firearms division for further review of my LTCH"
After pondering the whole thing for 24 hours, I got extremely PO'd about the whole thing. I have since contacted his and another supervisor with ISP, my sheriff (who has confirmed with the Superintendent that I will NOT be in any trouble, and that my LTCH will remain valid because I am a legal citizen, eligible to possess an Indiana LTCH).
I was never worried about whether or not I would lose my LTCH. But I definitely don't ever want this to happen again. I have told both supervisors that "this is EXACTLY why people don't inform your officers they have legally possessed firearms in their vehicles. Had I kept my mouth shut, I would have gotten a ticket or warning and been on my way in 7-8 minutes. I informed the officer of the firearm for 2 reasons. One is because regardless of what the law says, I think it's the right thing to do, but mainly, for my own safety, because I don't want him finding it, pointing his Glock into my ear and getting an itch on his booger hook. Just as police don't trust us regular citizens, we don't trust all of you, either."
I got nowhere with his supervisor, other than apologies for his poor choice in humor.
All in all, I learned ONE lesson in that traffic stop, and it wasn't that I shouldn't follow too close on the interstate.
Thoughts?
The state trooper comes up to the passenger side, looks inside my windows (more than just a peek), and asks for my license and registration. While getting my license out, I inform him that I have a gun under my seat and I.... "Do you have a handgun license?" "Yes, sir, I was about to tell you that as well." He then says "Just get out of the car, don't worry about the registration." I conform.
He brings me to the front of his car, demanding I put my hands behind my back and he proceeds to pat me down. Next, we're off to his car, and he puts me in the front seat with him.
Now is when I get my entire life scrutinized.
I have a Florida drivers license, Florida plates on my car, and an Indiana LTCH, as I live in both Indiana AND Florida, 6 months each. This is both legal, legit and not up for scrutiny.
He runs me through the state system, and NCIC as well, and has dispatch run the history of my driver's license, as to when I surrendered what license to what state upon moving into another, for my entire adult driving life.
He asks me how I got my LTCH, to which I politely replied, "Honestly, I don't know the specifics of the laws and loopholes and what qualifies who for what, but my sheriff and your Firearms Superintendent were both involved and the decision was made that I am legal to possess a LTCH in this state. My guess is that since I live here half the year and own a business here, that qualifies me, but this would be a better question for the brass within YOUR department. Obviously I passed your state as well as your department's background check requirements"
Now, we just bought a new house in October, to which we moved into at the beginning of December. I haven't updated my address change with the firearms division yet. Not happy that my current address doesn't match what is listed on the LTCH, he then proceeds to ask dispatch for the "TX to Legal."
This guy actually had the balls to call one of the state's attorneys with me sitting there to validate the legality of my possessing a firearm, as well as whether or not I am legit to hold a LTCH.
Of course, the attorney basically told him in as many words, "you're wasting your time, he's legit and legal" but he was not satisfied. He then proceeds to ask if I am still legal since my address doesn't match what's listed on the LTCH. Once again "it's a non-issue, stop wasting this guy's time"
If you haven't changed your address with the firearms division, here's a nugget of info. They don't have to send you a new LTCH with the correct address. According to the LTCH, you don't have to do anything but notify the state police within 60 days of address change. I have since faxed in my address change, but am not required to pay the fee (according to the state form) to get a new LTCH with the correct address.
I mention this because the trooper never once validated with dispatch what address they have listed on my LTCH. He just assumed that since my LTCH said one address, I was 'breaking the law' by it not being my current address. Nevermind that I might not have changed addresses til yesterday (thus not being required to even notify ISP yet).
Once the trooper hung up with the attorney, he says to me "well, you're going to jail today." I had been stewing on this whole BS situation now for 30 minutes, and this kinda set me off. "WTF are you talking about? WTF for?" He replies, "basically, you're not allowed to carry... Nah, I'm just kidding" My reply was "Not F-ing funny"
Now he turns cool and says "I appreciate the honesty up front about the weapon, so I'm just going to give you a warning" He prints it out, informs me that he typed all my information and conversation into the system and it is being forwarded to the firearms division for further review of my LTCH"
After pondering the whole thing for 24 hours, I got extremely PO'd about the whole thing. I have since contacted his and another supervisor with ISP, my sheriff (who has confirmed with the Superintendent that I will NOT be in any trouble, and that my LTCH will remain valid because I am a legal citizen, eligible to possess an Indiana LTCH).
I was never worried about whether or not I would lose my LTCH. But I definitely don't ever want this to happen again. I have told both supervisors that "this is EXACTLY why people don't inform your officers they have legally possessed firearms in their vehicles. Had I kept my mouth shut, I would have gotten a ticket or warning and been on my way in 7-8 minutes. I informed the officer of the firearm for 2 reasons. One is because regardless of what the law says, I think it's the right thing to do, but mainly, for my own safety, because I don't want him finding it, pointing his Glock into my ear and getting an itch on his booger hook. Just as police don't trust us regular citizens, we don't trust all of you, either."
I got nowhere with his supervisor, other than apologies for his poor choice in humor.
All in all, I learned ONE lesson in that traffic stop, and it wasn't that I shouldn't follow too close on the interstate.
Thoughts?
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