CCW Question

[RCCrawler]

I have my CCW and have had it for the last year or so.

Last week I was driving home late at night, like 12:30 am or so. I just got off the highway after doing 70mph for an hour, and hit a 35mph zone, needless to say I got busted doing 54 in a 35.

I have no problem getting a ticket, and handling that. I was in the wrong, and will suffer the consequences.

My question comes in here:

When the officer came up to my truck I already had all my paperwork out and handed it to him.

When he came back up to my car he gave me my stuff back, and then while I was taking my ass chewing I started to put my ID into my wallet. As I did this he saw my CCW permit and asked what it was.

When I told him what it was, he started yelling at me and told me I was required to tell him right when he pulled me over that I was a CCW holder. I told him I was not carrying my weapon at the time, but if I would I for sure would have let him know.

He told me that it doesn't matter if I have my weapon or not, I am required by law to inform him that I have a CCW.

He even went as far as to tell me that he could take it from me right there on the spot for not informing him.

I thought 2 things, 1. They knew we were CCW holders the minute they ran our info, and 2. We only had to tell them if we were actually carrying.

What say you?

[TFOGGER]

In Colorado:

You are not required to tell the officer you are a permit holder, and technically there isn't supposed to be a database that tells them when they run your Driver's license(sometime they know, sometimes they don't), but! it is considered to be the courteous thing to do to inform them before they find out on their own. Other states(notably Utah) have different requirements as far as notification, including in some cases specific wording and actions that you are required to perform.

My policy has been to hand the CCW permit to the officer along with my DL, registration, and insurance card, and verbally tell him "I have a concealed carry permit, and I am(or am not, as applicable) armed. How would you like for me to proceed?" while keeping my hands in plain view. NEVER use the words gun or weapon, as the cop may revert to training, and react unfavorably. Usually, they will ask where you are carrying, and may choose to disarm you for the duration of the contact (within their rights), but usually they relax a bit, as they have some idea what kind of background checks you had to go through to get your permit, and you are unlikely to be a bad guy.

[pickenup]

Just another cop that does NOT know the law.
He is WRONG on two accounts.

Text of the law.....

(2) (a) A permittee, in compliance with the terms of a permit, may carry a concealed handgun as allowed by state law. The permittee shall carry the permit, together with valid photo identification, at all times during which the permittee is in actual possession of a concealed handgun and shall produce both documents upon demand by a law enforcement officer. Failure to produce a permit upon demand by a law enforcement officer raises a rebuttable presumption that the person does not have a permit. Failure to carry and produce a permit and valid photo identification upon demand as required in this subsection (2) is a class 1 petty offense.

Colorado law does NOT require that you inform an officer that you are carrying.

(b) A peace officer may temporarily disarm a permittee, incident to a lawful stop of the permittee. The peace officer shall return the handgun to the permittee prior to discharging the permittee from the scene.

Notice the word.........temporarily.............

[Hoosier]

http://cbi.state.co.us/ccw/relatedstats.asp

http://cbi.state.co.us/ccw/Statutes/18-12-214.asp


Not sure if 214 is the only section discussing LEO's or not.

[GhostRider]

There is no legal requirement to inform an officer that you have a CCW permit or are lawfully carrying. There has been much debate as to whether someone should do this. I think it depends on the situation. If the encounter is incidental and consensual, i.e. no criminal activity involved, then I don't think it necessary to inform the officer. If there is actually a lawful stop, it might be wise to inform the officer that you are a licensed concealed handgun permit holder and have a firearm on your person. That will accomplish two things that will immediately tell the officer you are not a threat--you TOLD him you have a gun and that you are licensed.

This was taken from another forum as it says it better than I would have. I always tell an officer that I am carrying so he doesnt see it when I move or something. I do not tell them not am I required by the law to tell them that I have a permit and not carrying. I think that you might want to get a hold of that officers Sgt. and have him inform the officer of the correct law requirements and how to best deal with the public on this.

[Bailey Guns]

First, the officer was absolutely wrong with regards to notification requirements as others have stated. Find his name on your summons, call his department and ask for a supervisor. Explain to the supervising officer what happened and your understanding of the law (which is there is no requirement to inform).

My opinion on LE contacts is not to volunteer the information on "routine" contacts such as traffic stops. If it's something a little more involved, I agree that telling the officer you have a permit and are armed is the way to go.

Kudos for admitting you were actually speeding. When I was on the job, honesty would almost always get people out of a traffic ticket...at least the serious offenses (I might stop someone for speeding but write them for not wearing their seatbelt, for example).

[Colorado Luckydog]

Just another Cop on steroids.

[Irving]

Someone needs to publish the stats on just how many CCW holders have used their weapons in unlawful manners, then pass it around to all the police departments, just like they pass around info on what to do with people with Ron Paul stickers.

[GunTroll]

Someone needs to publish the stats on just how many CCW holders have used their weapons in unlawful manners, then pass it around to all the police departments, just like they pass around info on what to do with people with Ron Paul stickers.

And dopers!

[two shoes]

Someone needs to publish the stats on just how many CCW holders have used their weapons in unlawful manners, then pass it around to all the police departments, just like they pass around info on what to do with people with Ron Paul stickers.

I bet the number is ridiculously low...