Being pulled over by LEO

[et2]

Never have been, and don't plan to be. Very curious as to the actual procedure if it happened. Now I'm sure the officer would come to the side door ( by passenger up front on our DP).

So should I get up and open the door and step out to meet them, or allow the wife to unlock the door. If you allow them to step inside or you open the door to them have you given up your right to being searched as we invited them in? Or let's say they climb the step and sorta put a arm inside on the dash. Just wondering what the legal ramifications would be. Personally our dogs wouldn't take kindly to their entrance.

If anyone has had this happen what has it gone like? I as many others believe in protecting our rights. Just curious if making them stand outside raises flags on their end. I certainly wouldn't invite them to sit in my car if that were the case.

Just pass the info needed out the screen door opening?
Might be a silly post. Just has me wondering what most people would do

[et2]

frankdamp wrote:
One advantage of being an alien resident in the US, as far as I'm concerned, is that I can't own firearms. Never wanted to, can't see any good reason for carrying a device that would enable me to end another person's life. Maybe that's a throwback to being British, where, in general when we lived there, the only guns that could be privately owned were shotguns owned by farmers.

I'm aware that a lot of NRA members would think I'm a Commie-loving wimp, but that's my opinion, and I don'r give a rat's what those loonies think.

This post isn't about anyone's choice. It's about being pulled over with or without one and the procedure and entry into the MH and its ramifications. I respect your opinions on guns, as I'm sure you respect all the laws that allow everyone a citizen here our freedoms in this wonderful country. We all have choices.

We can refrain from name calling as it's not warranted in this thread and hasn't been brought up until your post. You have a choice ( or don't ) and I'm sure you are comfortable with it ( or sounds like it). That's all that matters to those that do. It mostly isn't for your protection.

[bigdog2]

I am really surprised at how this thread is going. I have never felt 'threatened' when the blue lights flash behind me. I turn on the right turn signal to let him/her know that I know the lights are meant for me. Soon as safe I pull over and get my papers in hand. I expect the officer to be courteous and professional. They always are. I feel much safer stopped on the highway with an officer present than not. I do own guns but don't need to carry one on the road and if I did I sure wouldn't step out to face a police officer with it on my person. I would think that would be the worst way to start a peaceful conversation.

Also, by presenting myself as friendly and easy going. I have been stopped several times in the big truck and a couple of times in the motor home and survived without a ticket.

I've been a professional driver since 1962 and my system has worked for me.

[mtofell1]

I never realized there were so many LEOs hanging out around here. You couldn't pay for better advice/experience than what is on this thread. Agree, disagree or somewhere in between, it's great knowledge to have and I promise anyone following this thread from start to finish will be better equipped if/when they encounter a LEO while out enjoying the RV lifestyle.

All that being said, PLEASE keep the discussion going toward the original topic. If it turns into a gun debate it's OVER - thread CLOSED.

[gemert]

frankdamp wrote:
One advantage of being an alien resident in the US, as far as I'm concerned, is that I can't own firearms. Never wanted to, can't see any good reason for carrying a device that would enable me to end another person's life. Maybe that's a throwback to being British, where, in general when we lived there, the only guns that could be privately owned were shotguns owned by farmers.

I'm aware that a lot of NRA members would think I'm a Commie-loving wimp, but that's my opinion, and I don'r give a rat's what those loonies think.

Commie loving wimp, I like that! I disagree, I respect that you do not trust your own ability to control yourself, so understandably you do not carry a firearm. I hope you leave your knives at home also, they can be dangerous! Americans have grown up in a liberty loving country where 20 million or more of us own guns and have never lost control of ourselves to the point where we took a life. I applaud your good sence.

[gemert]

Terryallan wrote:

gemert wrote:
A lot of LEOs will not like you carrying concealed when you approach including me. I would hope that you would leave it in the coach .

Have a quest. IF I leave it in the coach, or truck. And DW does NOT have a Concealed Carry permit. Would that not create a problem for her? She would be then the one responsible for the gun. Would that make her carrying illegal?

Just want to know

If she were to conceal it on her person then technically she would be in violation. For someone who does not have a CCW, the law is (paraphrased): in a vehicle, it must be securely encased and not available for immediate use. In my opinion (disclaimer)securely encased could be in a glove box, in a holster with a snap. The law is clear but still leaves some room for good judgement. So if you left it in the RV, in a drawer in a snapped holster you would be ok. There is nothing wrong with keeping it on your person but most officers will want it under their control while they are talking to you. When it's in my control, it's only natural for me to run the numbers to make sure it's not stolen. Why bring all those variables into play. If it's not on your person you don't have to tell the LEO it's in the RV. Some States will list it with your DL info so we will know anyway. I may ask if you are armed so be truthful and say no. That is being honest and truthful. Why introduce variables? I hope I answered your question.

[frankdamp]

One advantage of being an alien resident in the US, as far as I'm concerned, is that I can't own firearms. Never wanted to, can't see any good reason for carrying a device that would enable me to end another person's life. Maybe that's a throwback to being British, where, in general when we lived there, the only guns that could be privately owned were shotguns owned by farmers.

I'm aware that a lot of NRA members would think I'm a Commie-loving wimp, but that's my opinion, and I don'r give a rat's what those loonies think.

[msgtord]

Terryallan wrote:

gemert wrote:
A lot of LEOs will not like you carrying concealed when you approach including me. I would hope that you would leave it in the coach .

Have a quest. IF I leave it in the coach, or truck. And DW does NOT have a Concealed Carry permit. Would that not create a problem for her? She would be then the one responsible for the gun. Would that make her carrying illegal?

Just want to know

No. Advise the Officer of the weapon and it's location. He will decide how he wants to handle it. In Arizona it is a daily occurrence to encounter folks with weapons. The Officer will probably want to run the serial number, or to just look at your weapon and talk guns. I always ask two questions. Where did you buy the weapon? And, do you practice?

Do not carry a weapon you are not proficient with and are not mentally prepared to take the life of another person.

[Terryallan]

gemert wrote:
A lot of LEOs will not like you carrying concealed when you approach including me. I would hope that you would leave it in the coach .

Have a quest. IF I leave it in the coach, or truck. And DW does NOT have a Concealed Carry permit. Would that not create a problem for her? She would be then the one responsible for the gun. Would that make her carrying illegal?

Just want to know

[gemert]

I have worked in Law Enforcement in one way or another for most of my adult life. Military police, County Sheriff's Office in Florida, local police and finally State in Florida. I never meant to advise anyone to do anything they felt unsafe unless directed by an LEO. I described what I do, which mirrors Dennis's pretty close. I always approach on the passenger side in high traffic areas for obvious reasons. I try not to quote the law if I can because the law is never cut and dry from State to State. It has modified by case law that is different in every State. The Case Law that does not allow an officer to hold someone until a dog arrives has been in effect for at least 15 years in Florida. Maybe Fed case Law maybe State, no clue. I just described to you what I do to give you an idea what to expect. Some cops are not reasonable, just a fact of life folks. There are bad apples in every barrel. The law and case law is tricky and changes from incident to incident based on circumstances unique to that incident, (at times). Most cops know the law and case law better than any lawyer I ever met. Lawyers have plenty of time to look things up and if they make a mistake they don't lose their job or go to jail, we do. The lawyer that is giving you advise may be a corporate lawyer the specializes in tax law, relying on his constitutional law class in 1982. My whole point was to be polite and do what the LEO tells you to do, To do otherwise is not a good idea and may get you arrested. Frankly I don't like strangers in my RV around my kids or dogs either. Happy camping folks. I retire in April and maybe we can have this conversation face to face in the Grand Canyon or somewhere. My wife tells me that the closer I get to retirement the more social I'm getting with non-cops. I'm used to being criticized for what some "creep" cop did to some guy 10 years ago in Idaho!! That was obviously my fault.

[gemert]

Executive wrote:
I would always approach the drivers window and direct the driver to exit the vehicle with his DL and registration. All conversations then occur outside the vehicle on the passenger's side. I never had an issue with any RVr that wasn't polite and accommodating. Then again, I was always respectful of them too. Respect begets respect. Now if the freeway was really busy, I might approach the front passenger window and give directions to exit the vehicle there. Either way, rarely will you see a LEO writing a ticket etc. while the trucker/RVr etc sits inside the vehicle....as I always told my kids, there's 78,000 violations in the California Vehicle Code, just sitting in your car, you're probably violating several. Be a jerk and the officer will find those violations. How you handle yourself goes a long way to how long you are going to sit there.

I'm reminded of the traffic stop I made where the guy was a real pistol. He kept yelling and using profanity while I was writing his ticket. I was on my third ticket before he asked what I was doing. I politely told him as long as he kept talking, I'd keep writing. He shut up...:B...Dennis

My experience and the procedures I follow are exactly like Dennis describes. He appears to be from California, I am from Florida. It's a good bet that most LEOs everywhere in between will follow approximately the same procedures.

[Sully2]

hershey wrote:
A very interesting thread.
First, the only time I've been stopped was at a DUI checkpoint and the officer just looked at me thru the window and asked me a few questions and sent me on my way. But I find it interesting to see how many people are so paranoid about the police entering their MH. Whats the big deal? If the situation presented itself, I'd ask the officer in to sit and have a cold drink or a cup of coffee. Course, I don't think I fit the profile of a gangbanger or dope head but not all gangbangers and dope heads look like gangbangers and dope heads either.

Amen to all of that!

[et2]

My concern was not to harass any LEO during a stop, but concerns for my safety as well as respecting theirs. As I said in one of my posts there are creeps here in the southeastern lower Michigan area in fake unmarked cop cars ( look alikes) with the flashers pulling people over on the freeways.

There would be no way I would leave my seat to great them at the rear of my coach outside unless I recieved some visual confirmation they were legit. So the staying in my seat and let them decide what area they wish to approach and go from there is my choice.

Our dogs would not allow them into our MH without a issue, so I'm not fighting with them and trying to handle the stop too. If asked to cage them I will. If they wish to enter then the driving area I will let them.

Thanks to all

[AZAmmochief]

Gemert, your comments are welcome and helpful. Thanks much.

[PastorCharlie]

msmith1199 wrote:

PastorCharlie wrote:

msmith1199 wrote:
et2, it's going to depend on where you're stopped. If it's on a freeway by Highway patrol they generally like to come up on the right side to stay out of traffic. If traffic isn't an issue they will likely come up on the left side and give you instructions through the window. My recommendation is open your window so you can hear directions and then stay in the drivers seat and wait for the officer to do whatever he is going to do or give you directions and then do that.

Like already mentioned, inviting them in does not give permission to search. It does give them permission to look and if you have something illegal in plain site, then they can seize it and arrest you and then search.

As for the people claiming no way law enforcement is searching without a warrant, as I already explained above that is not the law. If they have probable cause to search then they can search. If you try to physically resist that search because you read on the Internet that they have to have a warrant so you know your rights, then you will escalate that situation into extra criminal charges for yourself and all kinds of trouble. Bottom line, don't get legal advice from the Internet.

"Bottom line, don't get legal advice from the Internet."

Good advise. So we are to ignore all the advise given here on the internet by those claiming to be LEOs.

Gotcha. :B

Yes you should ignore it. Or confirm it yourself before relying on it. I'm telling you I am a retired cop and also a professor of criminal justice for three colleges. But you have no idea who I am or if I'm lying to you or not. I gather information from the Internet, but I'm not completely trusting anything I read on a forum unless I verify it myself. So most certainly don't take my word for it.

Good advise and I agree. I was just having a little fun with you. This is an internet forum and some take what is written to seriously, including my post. But it is an interesting topic and one that merits discussion. It may save a lot of hurt down the road.

[msmith1199]

PastorCharlie wrote:

msmith1199 wrote:
et2, it's going to depend on where you're stopped. If it's on a freeway by Highway patrol they generally like to come up on the right side to stay out of traffic. If traffic isn't an issue they will likely come up on the left side and give you instructions through the window. My recommendation is open your window so you can hear directions and then stay in the drivers seat and wait for the officer to do whatever he is going to do or give you directions and then do that.

Like already mentioned, inviting them in does not give permission to search. It does give them permission to look and if you have something illegal in plain site, then they can seize it and arrest you and then search.

As for the people claiming no way law enforcement is searching without a warrant, as I already explained above that is not the law. If they have probable cause to search then they can search. If you try to physically resist that search because you read on the Internet that they have to have a warrant so you know your rights, then you will escalate that situation into extra criminal charges for yourself and all kinds of trouble. Bottom line, don't get legal advice from the Internet.

"Bottom line, don't get legal advice from the Internet."

Good advise. So we are to ignore all the advise given here on the internet by those claiming to be LEOs.

Gotcha. :B

Yes you should ignore it. Or confirm it yourself before relying on it. I'm telling you I am a retired cop and also a professor of criminal justice for three colleges. But you have no idea who I am or if I'm lying to you or not. I gather information from the Internet, but I'm not completely trusting anything I read on a forum unless I verify it myself. So most certainly don't take my word for it.