Do you tell the CT State Trooper you have a CCW?

[turnkey]

as a newbee I want to say Hi to all out there and weigh in on this question of telling the nice police officer who stopped you that you have a legal firearm and a permit to carry it. My possition is if he has stopped you for a traffic violation why bother making him nervous? I feel it's none of his consern. Up to the point that he, for a legitimte reason, asks you to step out of the car. At that point, in a calm and curtious manner you should tell him.

[fdesantis]

Let's not lose sight of the fact that the number one incidence of fatalities among LEOs nationally is traffic stops, and they train accordingly. Any cop is on high alert when approaching a stopped car because they have no idea who is in the car. They do have registration info, but in CT that does not include pistol permit info. Keep your hand on the steering wheel with your Licence and registration, and don't mention the weapon unless asked. Oh, and take into account that most are trained to approach from the passenger side now. I only mention this because you will, in that instance, be reaching across you car to hand things to the cop.

[OpenCarryYes]

I recently had an officer friend tell me that this info comes up whrn the run the plate... If he needs to, he/she will ask you about the firearms.

[turnkey]

I can count on one hand the number of times I have been stopped in Ct. since obtaining my carry permit. Never has any police officer, state or local, asked me about a gun. Nor do I inform them that I have one. From what I undestand Ct. laws do not require me to inform the stopping officer. However if an officer were to ask I would tell him in a polite manner I am carrying and I have a permit. If an officer didn't ask but for some reason asks me to step out of the car I would then inform him of the gun, it's location and my carry permit.

[rev. dave]

I'm not sure it much matters if you tell them or not. They will call in your plate number to get the scoop on the owner - presumably you - when they pull you over and that call should result in a call-back telling them there is a CCL in the equation, right? So, when they know that, if you've NOT told them, they may be PO'd and want to hassle you anyway.

My choice for handling this all is a lockable (combination in my case) briefcase which I keep on the seat beside me. If I'm lit up, I toss my guns, magazines and blades in there and LOCK IT B/4 the cop gets to my car. It takes 6 numbers to open the case, so it's not like I can get to it in a hurry, and not like he'll get it open even if he illegally searches my vehicle. If I'm asked about a weapon - it's locked in that there briefcase where we're both safe.

Once I'm 'free to go' I open the case and get my gear back on my person.

[G50AE]

I'm not sure it much matters if you tell them or not. They will call in your plate number to get the scoop on the owner - presumably you - when they pull you over and that call should result in a call-back telling them there is a CCL in the equation, right? So, when they know that, if you've NOT told them, they may be PO'd and want to hassle you anyway.

My choice for handling this all is a lockable (combination in my case) briefcase which I keep on the seat beside me. If I'm lit up, I toss my guns, magazines and blades in there and LOCK IT B/4 the cop gets to my car. It takes 6 numbers to open the case, so it's not like I can get to it in a hurry, and not like he'll get it open even if he illegally searches my vehicle. If I'm asked about a weapon - it's locked in that there briefcase where we're both safe.

Once I'm 'free to go' I open the case and get my gear back on my person.

This is a realy, realy bad idea. Having a cop see you stash a bunch of stuff in a briefcase is going to raise a HUGE RED flag.

[rev. dave]

This is a realy, realy bad idea. Having a cop see you stash a bunch of stuff in a briefcase is going to raise a HUGE RED flag.

Bad idea? Read again what I wrote. By the time the cop sees the interior of my vehicle, the briefcase is locked and sitting there. I said "B/4 he gets to the car" - that's "before" in case you didn't know. Mostly, I'd be stashing that stuff while still in motion, and I can do that without too much motion and without turning my head to look. There's nothing to see.

And red flag or not, the briefcase is locked, and he'll need a warrant. I really don't care about being detained if it preserves my rights.