No one wants an otherwise typical drive to be interrupted by flashing blue-and-red lights. But, to paraphrase a popular bumper sticker, it happens. That said, having a gun in your car when police pull you over could complicate matters. Fortunately, these professionals have some advice should you find yourself in that scenario. 

These professionals implore you to know the law and follow a few easy steps when pulled over with a gun in your car

No two traffic stops are the same. A Redditor asked law enforcement professionals about a scenario that left him feeling uneasy. In short, he had been pulled over with a gun in his car, and, in keeping with his knowledge of dealing with law enforcement, notified the cop in the interest of safety.

In his case, the officer reportedly ordered him out of the car and searched his vehicle after he “declared himself a threat,” per the Reddit story. One self-identified police officer chimed in. “In Alaska, you’re legally required to notify an officer that you’re armed upon making contact,” he said.

“When someone needed to reach for their registration in the glove box and they’ve informed me there’s a gun in there, I secured it for them and ran the serial number while running everything else,” he added. “At the end of the stop, I put it back in their glove box, unloaded, and set the loaded magazine on their back seat.”

Your ‘duty to inform’

He brings up a great point: the laws of your state have a lot to do with handling the situation. In “duty to inform” states, a motorist must notify police if they’re pulled over while transporting a gun. 

Guess what? It’s your job to know that, too. So, if you live in Alaska, Arkansas, Louisiana, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, or Texas, you must inform a law enforcement officer.

Another police officer points out that the manner of carry is also of importance. “I appreciate it when someone notifies me,” he said. “I have had several occasions when people just have a firearm wedged in between the seat or just out in the open and don’t say anything. Not in love with that, and I will ask you to exit the vehicle.”

A lawyer adds that you don’t want to be any of these three “types” when pulled over with a gun in your car

Jason Squires, an attorney for over two decades, weighed in on Recoil. For starters, he echoed the importance of complying with state laws like the “duty to inform” and documentation for special National Firearms Act (NFA) weapons.

However, Squires also said you should avoid being the nervous guy, the overly-friendly guy, or the angry guy. Admittedly, the latter is a bit, well, obvious (getting angry with an armed police officer simply isn’t advisable). But Squires makes a great point about the first two.

For example, an overly nervous motorist with a gun in their car may volunteer false information in their worried state. Something along the lines of lying about the gun itself. That can add fire to the situation. An overly-friendly person, on the other hand, may feel comfortable enough to reach for a gun without discussing it with the police officer. Big mistake.