I guess my run of good luck has finally come to end. After carrying a gun for the last 4 years I had my first bad experience with a police officer.

My brother and I had stopped down at Runyons on Washington for a drink. I had one drink and my brother had two. We talked and BS’ed with the bartender for probably an hour and a half. Since I drove I needed to bring my brother back home, he is living in NE Minneapolis right now so we took the Hennepin Bridge to get across the river. For some reason I thought the speed limit on the bridge was 40, turns out it is actually 30. About halfway across the bridge there was an unmarked police car with a radar gun. I didn’t think anything about it because I really thought I was going the correct speed. He pulled in behind me and turned on his lights.

I did all my normal routine for getting pulled over permit and DL in hand, dome light on, and my hands on the steering wheel. He took one look at the DL and permit and told me get out of the car. Before I got out he asked me where my gun was I told him that I had it on my right side at 3 o’clock. As I was getting out of the car he said to put my hands on the top of the car so that he could remove my gun. I placed my hands on the car and then told him that my gun was loaded. In retrospect he must have thought I was being a smart ass, but I was mostly concerned about him unloading my 637 while it was pointed at my back!! He asked if I thought this was the first time he had seen a loaded gun before. He took my gun and keys back to the squad with him. We waited about 10 minutes before he came back. When he came back he handed me my unloaded .38 and then gave me my ammo. Unfortunately I could not find my proof of insurance so he decided that he was going to tow my car as well as give me a ticket for speeding.

I did break the law, and getting a ticket and having my car towed was not what made this a bad experience. What really screwed it all up was the fact that the officer was rude, edgy, short and all around not a nice guy. It also bothered me that he had to disarm me. All of the officers that I have seen in the past tended to be easy going, friendly, and in a good mood. I have never been pulled over by the MPD before so I really didn’t know what to expect. In the past I have been stopped by State Troopers and County Deputies always in a more rural setting.

Bottom line is I need to stop speeding, but I have always had such good experiences with LEOs in MN it never really bothered me to get pulled over. They usually gave me a warning and sent me on my way in about 5 minutes. This will probably affect my driving habits for quite some time. Most officers I have interacted with were so nice it was a real shock to finally get someone that wasn’t.

He had you towed? A few years ago I got a speeding ticket from a trooper, and also didn't have my insurance card with me (had an accident a week earlier, it was with the accident report on my kitchen table... bad week.). He simply gave me a ticket for speeding which included a citing for no insurance card. He said that once the speeding ticket hits the system, I could go into Hennepin Cty with my insurance card and it would nullify that portion of the ticket.

Something went right... the ticket apparently got lost! I checked for over a year, and it never "hit the system".

Back to you getting towed. Seems to me he might have penalized you extra for being a permit holder. It would be interesting to know if this is SOP for MPD.

They towed your car for no proof of insurance?

I know any tickets for no proof of insurance can be dismissed if you prove that you have insurance (after the fact), so why would they tow?

I've had at the least- 6 speeding tickets, a stopping on the highway (moving violation), driving on the shoulder, and 2 tickets for no proof of insurance. And not once was my car even threatened to be towed. Sounds like those MPD bastards make a lot of money off their impound lot.

Does the MPD still require you to tow your car out of their lot?

Only if you don't show proof of insurance before you leave! If you don't have that they can't keep your car but it has to be towed home and parked off the street; they may also take your plates.

Greg

I understand. Short people pi$$ me off too.

[quote="Pakrat"]. Sounds like those MPD bastards make a lot of money off their impound lot./quote]

Some of those MPD officers do an excellent job. It can't be easy to work in a city that is run by the DFL and has a a political hack for a chief of police. The only thing I agree with their current mayor on is that they need more police.

A new chief that supports his officers might also be helpful! Not a LEO and glad I don't live in the socialist utopia that is Mpls!

Geeezzzz! Ever think of changing from "Pakrat" (or rat guy as range gurl states) to something more in line with "Ticket-Holder" or "FineMe"

Now, I thought Carry Permit holders are suppose to be some of the most lawabiding citizens.... Hmmm, must be an outlier...

Mostly-

Actually he was pretty tall Aquaholic.

Looking back on the whole situation I am wondering if he thought that I don't have insurance at all. Here in WI we are not required to have it by law. He asked something about why I didn't have my insurance information in the car and I replied with something about how we don't have to have it here in WI. I am not pissed about the towing of the car, I am pissed that he was so rude and took my gun.(He did give back to me when the whole thing was over)

I really haven't kept track of how many times I have said this, but I don't believe in informing the LEO that I am carrying unless of course he asks, or if there is a chance that I might expose it. (I guess I get in a rutt sometimes):oops:

Most people have reported a real positive experience with LEO's when they inform them, some think it may have even gotten them out of a ticket or two, that's great. But the reason this certain officer, which really doesn't have anything to do what department he works for, was a possible jerk is because he is a elitist and doesn't think a law abiding citizen should carry a weapon for self defense.

Do you think he had your car towed to get you as much as possible, maybe because you where carrying?
Even one beer, I would think he would have smelled that yet, maybe even after a hour and a half later, and tried to put you through somemore grief.

Anyway, for the exact reason of what happened to sturmruger, is why I do not declare I am carrying, and you even said yourself, you had a fear of him pointing a loaded gun at your back. Now why would that be??????????

Even though it looks like it, I am not trying to chastise anyone, just trying make a point.

So, you were driving a car with WI plates, gave him a WI DL, your state doesn't require insurance... and the MN proof of insurance law still applies? Hmmph. Doesn't sound right.

If I were you, I would find the answers to these q's (plus whether it is normal procedure to tow in this situation) and if the cop is in the wrong, I'd fight it in court. It would then sound like abuse of power.

I know you are more upset by the cops demeanor- His demeanor may well be why you were treated so harshly, and likely because you have a carry permit and use it. If his actions were not SOP, I'd be happy to show that to a court and have him defend his actions.

Obviously, IANAL.

Sounds pretty shaky to me to have your car towed.
Unless it had something to do with you being out of state?

My daughter got stopped in Bloomington for speeding. She got a warning on the speed, and was given a ticket for no proof of insurance, which would be voided out if we sent proof within 72 hours (I think that was the time alloted). We sent a copy in with the ticket, and that was the end of it.
But she has Minnesota plates on the car. And it was my fault that she didn't have proof of insurance, so I'd have paid any fines for her.

Sorry to hear about your experience with that cop.

I have been a huge fan of showing my permit to LEOs, but might rethink that if I am stopped in the metro. He would have had no clue that I was armed if I had not handed him my permit. Showing officers my permit has always turned out good for me so I should have known that sooner or later it would come back to bite me!!

I wouldn't really put it that way. Everybody has different reasons for declaring, like maybe getting out of a ticket. If it works for you, great.

Maybe my opinion of not declaring will come back and bit me someday too.

It was all before I got my permit.

I was under the impression that your carry permit status comes up if a cop runs a 10-25 on your plate.