Traffic accident

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Bob Wright

Bob Wright

Hawkeye
Joined
Jun 24, 2004
Messages
8,597
City & State/Province
Memphis, TN USA
I was involved in a minor traffic accident yesterday. Fender bender with no serious injuries. I sort of T-boned another vehicle. We were both turning left and I had lost sight her car in deep shodows. I called 911 and got an ambulance and the police en route. The other driver complained of shoulder pain, so I called for the ambulance.

As the first police officer arrived I indentified myself and advised him I was armed, and asked if he had any instruction for my being armed. He thanked me and said that was fine. I was shaken up some but remained calm and conducted myself in a proper manner.

I was careful to say "I am armed and carrying," and never mentioned the word "gun."

Bob Wright
 
Glad you're OK. You might want to look into one of these newfangled cars that don't let you do such things. I drove my wife to the Dr yesterday in her car. Get too close to the shoulder it tries to center you back up. I haven't tried driving it at a wall or anything but it would supposedly stop itself. It beeps and buzzes when anyone gets near you blind spot camera kicks in when needed etc. We're all getting older and need all the help we can get. My Wife got a great deal on a 2022 Scooby Doo Forester with all the bells and whistles. She's always had a way of getting sales people to curl up into the fetal position.
 
Last edited:
Ka6otm said:
I never notify anybody that I'm carrying, especially cops. If they ask, then I'm legally required to tell them and I will, but no other way.

Don't invite the man into your life.
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Double check your State and locale. Some jurisdictions require that you violate your Constitutional Rights all on your own by handing yourself up upon contact with any LEO, sadly. If your place of residence doesn't require it, keep the below list in mind if traveling.

https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/blog/in-which-states-must-you-notify-an-officer-youre-carrying/
 
Ka6otm said:
I never notify anybody that I'm carrying, especially cops. If they ask, then I'm legally required to tell them and I will, but no other way.

Don't invite the man into your life.
Click to expand...
He's carrying a Blackhawk OWB I believe. It might print slightly and better to tell than have them notice for themselves. It's not exactly an LCP in the pocket.
 
Driving across the country, entering and leaving multiple states, it would be easy to forget which states require you to immediately inform the officer and which do not. To avoid making what could be a costly mistake, and possibly having my firearm confiscated, my plan is to routinely inform the officer by handing my cancealed carry license with my driver's license to the officer when he asks for the driver's license and proof of insurance. I see it as a courtesy to the officer to let him/her know that "I am licensed to carry a concealed firearm, and I am doing so. My firearm is in my right front pocket/holstered on my belt on my right side/etc." and then to await his instructions or acknowledgment. Fortunately for me, I have not been stopped for a traffic violation since I began concealed carry over a decade ago.
 
Bob,, I know I speak for the masses here,, saying we are glad you weren't hurt or even worse.
Things happen. We are human. We all make mistakes.

That said; I'd like to address this comment;
"I never notify anybody that I'm carrying, especially cops. If they ask, then I'm legally required to tell them and I will, but no other way.

Don't invite the man into your life.

Many, if not most states that allow CCW with a permit, have it written in their laws that you are REQUIRED to give any police officer, who is on duty & conducting official business, immediate notice of your CCW status, if you have CCW, and if you are armed.
To NOT tell them violates the law.
It may not be right,, but we must follow the law. We may disagree with the law,, but we must follow it, until we can change it.

Now,, if it is NOT required by law in your state,, then you do not have to do so,, but knowing many, many LEO's,, it's a courtesy thing,, that goes a LONG way in establishing the fact you are a lawful individual and respectful of them & their jobs. It puts LEO's in a much higher stress attitude if they find out indirectly,, ESPECIALLY if it's an incident here other tensions are already high.

We here on the Ruger Forum do not promote breaking laws,,, especially firearm laws.

Bob,, my apologies for the hijacking,, but I know you understand.
 
I thought Ohio got rid of thar requirement a couple years ago. Someone should make an app for your phone that notifies you of gun laws/restrictions when you enter another state or jurisdiction! I try to check before I leave on a trip and have a hard time remembering evert rule for every state!

Illinois, I make sure i have gas, eat and pee before I enter that state and try not to stop! I avoid most of the eastern states if at all possible. The BS is baffling IMO!
 
Ka6otm said:
I never notify anybody that I'm carrying, especially cops. If they ask, then I'm legally required to tell them and I will, but no other way.

Don't invite the man into your life.
Click to expand...
Then there is always the chance while the cop is investigating the accident and he spots your weapon. Well, some inexperienced newly hired idiot could think he's in some kind of danger and pull his weapon on you. Hopefully, he's not stupid enough to pull his trigger.
 
3manfan said:
Double check your State and locale. Some jurisdictions require that you violate your Constitutional Rights all on your own by handing yourself up upon contact with any LEO, sadly. If your place of residence doesn't require it, keep the below list in mind if traveling.

https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/blog/in-which-states-must-you-notify-an-officer-youre-carrying/
Click to expand...
Don't have to double check my state or locale. I did all that before moving here almost 20 years ago. We have no duty to notify unless asked.
 
Yeah, and if you tell him you've got a gun and he decides to take it temporarily "for his own safety" and then has a ND with it, believe me he'll cuff and stuff you rather than tell his superiors the truth.
 
caryc said:
My fist can, but will it? Only if I am in some kind of danger.
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Exactly. You get it. In my truck there are plenty of tools that can cause injury. A lot of things are situational depending on the location. The people on this forum are not the type to cause harm to a police officer. Before anyone says it, there is the occasional odd nut in every drawer (hardware store humor) but for the most part everyone here would not injure an officer. A cop in an inner city has a much higher chance of a bad encounter than in many other places
 
I think when they "run your plates " it shows up if you have a ccp. If true, they know there may be a gun in your pocket , glove , center console etc . So why even bring it up. Then we have them asking for it , checking serial #s and such . I have read too many stories where the gun owner had to fight to get his or her gun returned .
 
"When I had my wreck on January 2, 2020, the state police took my two rifles and the Colt Commander and S&W M60 into custody. The meat wagon took me to hospital. The tropper asked if there was anyone who could meet with him to take the firearms. Fortuneatly there was as he said if he turns then in at the barracks, odds are I'd never see them again. One of the rifles was a $3,500 custom Mauser in .280 Rem. The Colt had some minor custom work by me but the M70 and .38 Spl. were strictly stock.
My truck was totaled and my chest pretty well caved in. Losing my guns as well was not an option.
Paul B.
 
Watertender said:
Exactly. You get it. In my truck there are plenty of tools that can cause injury. A lot of things are situational depending on the location. The people on this forum are not the type to cause harm to a police officer. Before anyone says it, there is the occasional odd nut in every drawer (hardware store humor) but for the most part everyone here would not injure an officer. A cop in an inner city has a much higher chance of a bad encounter than in many other places
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When I do my weekly grocery shopping, I will often see on duty firefighters picking up some snacks there around lunch time. I will always go up to them and thank them for their service. Same with law officers but I don't see them that much. I remember see a cop there two times. They seem to be really appreciative when someone comes up to them and thanks them.

Try it sometime. It doesn't hurt.
 
Paul B said:
"When I had my wreck on January 2, 2020, the state police took my two rifles and the Colt Commander and S&W M60 into custody. The meat wagon took me to hospital. The tropper asked if there was anyone who could meet with him to take the firearms. Fortuneatly there was as he said if he turns then in at the barracks, odds are I'd never see them again. One of the rifles was a $3,500 custom Mauser in .280 Rem. The Colt had some minor custom work by me but the M70 and .38 Spl. were strictly stock.
My truck was totaled and my chest pretty well caved in. Losing my guns as well was not an option.
P aul B.
Click to expand...
At least this LEO was being honest with you . One of the true "good guys " .
 
In Oklahoma the law says if stopped place both hands on steering wheel and first thing you say Is I have a concealed carry license and I am carrying. My buddy and I were heading back to Texas from a gunshow and the top taillight was broken. We were stopped and the officer proceded to have my buddy who was driving go back to his automobile and he got a 30 minute ass eating. They don't require that in Texas but this happened to be a little short cop who wanted to play big s;hot. Just remember this if you are stopped in Oklahoma.
 
If I am stopped, I place my hands upon the steering wheel, wait for the officer to approach, and inform him I have a permit and am carrying and ASK how he'd like to proceed. I'd rather he come "into my life" than his bullet come into my brain by mistake! If you have done nothing wrong, you shouldn't have anything to fear!

Besides, it's the courteous thing to do. More flies with honey than with attitude!
 
caryc said:
When I do my weekly grocery shopping, I will often see on duty firefighters picking up some snacks there around lunch time. I will always go up to them and thank them for their service. Same with law officers but I don't see them that much. I remember see a cop there two times. They seem to be really appreciative when someone comes up to them and thanks them.

Try it sometime. It doesn't hurt.
Click to expand...
Funny that you mention about saying thanks to firefighters and police. I do this religiously any time I see them on duty. I had an incident in a parking lot where I actually backed into a marked police vehicle. I had looked both ways and heard his horn just as I bumped into the cruiser. I profusely apologized to the young officer and told him that I deserved a ticket if he wanted to cite me. In my entire driving life I have had the sum total of 1 ticket and that was a seat belt violation. The officer said that he would have to get his supervisor because it was an incident involving the cruiser. It took 45 minutes for the supervisor to get there.... It was a Zone Commander that over the years I have wished
"Have a quiet shift and home safe" probably 10 or 15 times. He looked at the ding on the vehicle and rubbed it with his thumb... I told him the same thing that I told the 1st officer and said that if I was cited I had earned it. The Zone Commander told the officer that if he had to deal with people like me all of the time his job would be much easier. Then he tells me that there was no real damage because it was plastic and to drive carefully..... Being nice does have advantages!
 
Ka6otm said:
Don't have to double check my state or locale. I did all that before moving here almost 20 years ago. We have no duty to notify unless asked.
Click to expand...
My apologies for attempting to offer some information that may have been of assistance to you or to others.
I wasn't aware that you already had it all figured out & didn't need anyone else's opinion on the matter.
I'll not make that mistake again.
 
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