First Stop After Getting CHL

[Durendal]

On my way to work at nearly the witching hour, I was enjoying the open interstate. There's hardly any traffic at 11:30 PM, so I rarely have anything to worry about. I have my cruise control at 68 in a 70, when lo and behold, a Rogers PD car sitting where they usually are on weekends. It's the first time I've seen an officer on I-540 on the way to work in a few months. I'm going just under the speed limit, so I'm understandably confused when he pulls out after me. My first thought was maybe he's going somewhere on a call, but he gets right on me and, boom. Blue lights. Well, hell. I can't imagine anything I've done to warrant a stop, so I'm in a bit of a panic trying to figure out how to explain something I haven't done. He walks up to my passenger side, and I slowly reach over and open the door, since my window can't roll down. I explain that to him, then take a deep breath.

"Got your license and insurance?"

"Yes. Officer, I'm informing you that I have a CHL and the sidearm is on my left hip."

"That's cool, I'm not worried."

"...I...I was just wondering how you'd like to proceed..."

"It's no problem. What're you carrying?"

*gasp*

Traffic stop proceeds quickly and amicably, and he gives me a contact form. Not a ticket, or a warning. A FRIGGIN contact form. All it means in Rogers is "hey, we talked to you for a bit." Much better than any situation I'd dreamed up about getting stopped with a concealed handgun. A very professional stop by a very professional officer. It's nice to know I live in a city with good cops. I've never dealt directly with the very few bad ones we have.

Do you know why he stopped me? He said my license plate was so dirty he wasn't even sure what state it was. I told him I'd clean it up as soon as I got to work. I don't know how he saw that in the dark at 70 mph, but ok.

[MADnMO]

Sounds like a pleasant experience. I have yet to have my 1st LEO encounter.

[GeneralSumter]

Same here, Mad. I hope it doesn't happen.

[CCW357]

Good ending to the traffic stop.**:

[mikeintexas]

My first run in was about as good, except I got a speeding ticket! I was on 635 on the east side of Dallas when a Balch Springs LEO pulled me over for speeding. I told him I was CHL. He said "you aren't going to shoot me, are you?" Smiled, went back to his car and returned in a few minutes with my ticket and said have a great day.

[matthewaynelson]

Well, if Rogers is anything like Glenwood... it doesn't take but just a short spell of rain to get roads good and muddy enough to keep your whole vehicle looking like you've gone mudding!

But, in the end... no harm, no foul! Any LEO stop that results in NO tickets handed out is a good stop as far as I'm concerned! Sorry about the Balch Springs outcome Mike! :(

[Durendal]

Rogers roads aren't the problem. My girlfriend lives at the end of a dirt road in a neighboring town. I was trying to be pragmatic by never washing my Jeep for two reasons: First, it's going to get dirty every day, so it's a waste of money in my opinon, and Two, it's a Jeep. It's supposed to be dirty. No self-respecting Jeep owner drives around without a little mud on it.

[matthewaynelson]

... it's a Jeep. It's supposed to be dirty. No self-respecting Jeep owner drives around without a little mud on it.

Ha! I agree! I have a Jeep Sahara that rarely gets washed... never has doors on, and only gets a top (or a cleaning) when water falls from the sky! :)

Course... I'm on the Gulf coast of Florida and don't get into mud as much as I'd like these days.

[infntrysuicdekng]

My first leo encounter was driving to houston tx from ft polk la, i was doing 82 in a 70 and a dps officer pulled out of some bushes or something and i thought i was screwed, when he came up i handed him drivers license registration insurance and.. my fl ccw permit. he asked me to step out he asked me where it was and what it was i told him. he disarmed me unloaded it and placed it on the hood of his car. he began asking me about my 1911 i told him that i built it myself then he asked to see the rifle in my trunk... a GA Precision 700. after about 15 min of bullshitting he said good luck at my match have a nice day slow down.

[Lonewolf2810]

See they aren't all A-holes. I still haven't had any encounters with LEO's yet. Not even a license check, now watch I will get stopped tomorrow taking my wife in for her day surgery @ 6:30am LOL.