Gear heads: Ever been stopped by the police?

Grim/Don

Grim/Don

Joined
Feb 1, 2003
Messages
1,221
I haven't, but I'm wondering about getting patted down and having them start emptying my pockets. It's take 1/2 hour for someone to get all the gear out of my pockets and off my belt. (Not that I do anything that would interest an LEO, but sometimes I wonder :what if?")

LEO? What would you think if you searched someone and found 2-3 knives, 2-3 lighters, 2-3 flashlights and lots of extra gear?
 
Peter Atwood said:
I'm not an LEO but I'd obviously think you were up to no good..... :D :p
Click to expand...

Especially if you were carrying some crazy leopard spotted prybar looking thing on your keychain...

Mark
 
CHP, they were professional and polite and courteous, I'll give them that, it was the first time that I have experienced decency from a police officer making an arrest, and I am 39.

Benchmade 710, iwb, Benchmade model B in front right pocket, Swiss Army Climber in left rear pocket, and a Case Sowbelly Stockman in jacket pocket. They put everything but the Climber in a Ziploc, and put it in the storage area between the buckets of my truck, which got impounded. They asked me why I had so many knives, and I told them that I used them at and for work, which is the truth, and they seemed satisfied with that.

Unfortunately, they missed the Climber during the patdown, and when booked, took it from me, back to CHP HQ. As it costs me approx. $14.00, I declined to drive the 20 miles to retrieve it, and simply purchased a new one.

Because they were polite and professional with me, I reciprocated, and while the experience was far from pleasant, it did not suck as badly as it could have.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
I think these things depend on many factors. How YOU handle it, what kind of day they've had, what they're pulling you over for (i.e. do you fit a profile they're looking for whether or not your the person they're looking for?). Lots of things. I think if you're cool you'll probably be alright. Of course, if they're corrupt, having a REALLY bad day, or you fit the profile of a bank robber they might not be so nice about it. Bottom line, treat them like professionals, and even if they don't behave like professionals then you still might catch a break.

Sincerely,
Anthony
 
Funny... In my mispent youth I had plenty of experience with various arms of L.E. , CHP , Sheriffs and F.P.D..
My only arrest was from a F.P.D. Officer , it was for a big knife that I had concealed in my jacket whilest riding myself and my girl of the moment away from a huge brawl on my motorcycle. The officer was pretty cool and was going to let me go (keeping the knife) of course but a higher ranking officer showed up and insisted that I be taught a lesson , that was that.
I have seen L.A.P.D. show incredible restraint in a couple if incidents that I wish I wouldnt have been near. The most hassle I have gotten was from CHP, but I cant complain too much , I had more than my share of fair breaks from LEO's.
In the second part of my life I have even more experience with F.P.D. , when I ran a sports bar/nightclub , I tell you it is those times when you really appreciate police officers.
There is only one incident in that time that made me very embarrassed to know these cops and it is a long story , you might not even understand the implications unless you have a little street sense , I'll just say how this guy and his partner made it into L.E. I do not know , but I do fear for the future if they do not start cracking down during the screening process.
 
Years back when I was in gunsmithing school, two guys graduated and headed back home. Of course they had a car full of guns .Unfortunately it was sunday when they were stopped and the cops couldn't verify by calling the school.So they spent the night in the slammer and were released next morning when the school opened.
 
That's an interesting question so I figure I'll jump in. The short version is no. Not once. I'm 49 now, been carrying all sorts of sundy 'tools' concealed on my person since I was in my early teens. As per all the guys juggleing between 'good cop, bad cop' I'll throw in my own unique perspective. As long as you are not a duck, don't look like a duck, walk like a duck, or quack like a duck, you won't be mistaken for one and end up on the menu. That said, most LEO now adays are more concerned with gang bangers doing drive-bys and drug dealers/users than worried about what Joe Sixpack has in his pocket. Sure, there are always a few Barney Fifes out there with their first ticket book, or maybe they are just an a@#hole with a power complex. Every workplace has those. Just my two cents worth on the subject. BTW, I'm a retired LEO with over 20 years service.
 
First rule of knife carrying club - Don't talk about knife carrying club.
Second rule of knife carrying club - Don't pat your pocket when you walk by a cop.
 
when i was still carrying a gazillion pouches on my belt, i used to carry 4 folders on me
i never got checked once
someone told me i'd most likely be skipped over, because i look decent, and i wear spectacles :D:D:D

failing that, i have my namecard to justify why i'm carrying all these tools
*smirk*
 
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