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I got pulled over for speeding (51 in a 45) tonight and had my pistol sitting on the seat next to me. Unfortunately, I did not have my GFL with me (just grabbed my DL and some cash to go to Subway, not thinking that the gun was in the car).
The officer asked me if I was carrying any weapons or anything in the car and I told him about the pistol, at which point he asked me if it was loaded and if I had my "pistol permit" (his words) with me.
I said yes, it's loaded, and no, I don't have my permit on me, I left it in my wallet.
He then replied that I was breaking the law and asked me to please step out of the vehicle. He took my pistol out of the car, cleared it, and set it on the hood.
He then proceeded to tell me that without a "pistol permit" I was not allowed to carry a loaded weapon in my car, and that if I wished to have my pistol loaded in the car with me, I needed my permit.
I asked him politely to please review the code sections that explicitly permit a LOADED handgun in a vehicle without a license and directed him to GA Code 16-11-126.
He thumbed through his "pocket code" and found the section, read it aloud, and said, "Well, I guess you're right. I didn't know that."
He placed the pistol back in the vehicle on the seat, said "I'm sorry for your trouble, just please slow down a little next time" and told me I was free to go.
I asked him to please share his newfound knowledge of the code with his fellow officers and he said he'd be sure to.
Lessons learned:
1) ALWAYS have your GFL with you.
2) The police appreciate those who are honest, forthcoming, and polite.
3) Slow the hell down.
4) If you know the law, you've got one step up on those who don't.
5) Not all LEOs know the law.
forgot to mention, he was a rookie cop, I know most of them and I'd never seen him before.
The officer asked me if I was carrying any weapons or anything in the car and I told him about the pistol, at which point he asked me if it was loaded and if I had my "pistol permit" (his words) with me.
I said yes, it's loaded, and no, I don't have my permit on me, I left it in my wallet.
He then replied that I was breaking the law and asked me to please step out of the vehicle. He took my pistol out of the car, cleared it, and set it on the hood.
He then proceeded to tell me that without a "pistol permit" I was not allowed to carry a loaded weapon in my car, and that if I wished to have my pistol loaded in the car with me, I needed my permit.
I asked him politely to please review the code sections that explicitly permit a LOADED handgun in a vehicle without a license and directed him to GA Code 16-11-126.
He thumbed through his "pocket code" and found the section, read it aloud, and said, "Well, I guess you're right. I didn't know that."
He placed the pistol back in the vehicle on the seat, said "I'm sorry for your trouble, just please slow down a little next time" and told me I was free to go.
I asked him to please share his newfound knowledge of the code with his fellow officers and he said he'd be sure to.
Lessons learned:
1) ALWAYS have your GFL with you.
2) The police appreciate those who are honest, forthcoming, and polite.
3) Slow the hell down.
4) If you know the law, you've got one step up on those who don't.
5) Not all LEOs know the law.
forgot to mention, he was a rookie cop, I know most of them and I'd never seen him before.
