THP out of control

[dralarms]

I agree, I call BS on this. Something doesn't sound right. All of the news over the last 2 years about gun rights in TN, i would bet THP knows what the laws are. It is perfectly legal to carry unloaded guns in a vehicle in TN as long as the ammo is not in the same compartment.

well if I am reading this correctly(since he specified the rifle was "unloaded" then the pistol, even though it was in a locked box in the trunk was loaded and therefore in violation. Not sure if thats the case but why specidy the rifle was "unloaded" and not specify the status of the pistol as well unless it was loaded.

The law is clear on that point, "unloaded and ammo seperate" for transport without a HCP.

[G27]

well if I am reading this correctly(since he specified the rifle was "unloaded" then the pistol, even though it was in a locked box in the trunk was loaded and therefore in violation. Not sure if thats the case but why specidy the rifle was "unloaded" and not specify the status of the pistol as well unless it was loaded.

The law is clear on that point, "unloaded and ammo seperate" for transport without a HCP.

I noticed that as well.

A reminder that when traveling, it is our responsibility to know the laws of the states and cities we travel through...

The more I think about this, the less sense it makes.

[Guest clownsdd]

The story as written just does not make any sense.

[East_TN_Patriot]

To add for you report hunters a misdemeanor citation for unlawful possession of a weapon wouldn't require a report. You would have to request a copy of the citation itself to see any paperwork unless required by a supervisor or policy.

This may or may not be true. When I worked in law enforcement, anytime a contact resulted in a criminal charge we also had to do a written report to go along with the citation/charging document. I have seen agencies that did not require it for misdemeanors and I admit that I don't know anything about the policies of THP, so you could be 100% correct.

I also find it very odd that the original story teller says that he took a large amount of ammo for his AK just in case something happened at the rally he was attending. Really? Is this guy serious? Yes, I know that he has every legal right to do that and a firearm is virtually useless without the ammo, but that whole statement just sounds screwy to me. He was expecting an armed shootout at a pro-Constitution rally and felt the need to load up his car with a pile of 7.62 x 39 ammo just in case? The statement and the fact that he openly told this to the cop screams that this guy is not the totally normal and innocent guy portrayed. Having been a cop for a decade, I can almost see this scenario in my head. This guy likely got belligerent, probably had the weapons loaded, started talking all sorts of nutty BS about shootouts with people, and the cop did what he thought was legal and necessary. Granted, officers can do things that are a little shady or outright illegal, but that is definitely the exception to the rule.

[Guest Letereat!]

Yea. I gotta agree with the doubters, something does not add up here. Although I did talk to a Morristown Female Policewoman recently about my SKS. I was shocked when she said that she thought my weapon was illegal and should be registered!! Ignorance comes in all forms.

[DaveTN]

There is a Trooper Michael Loftis on the THP. Maybe someone will let him know about this thread and he can shed some light.

[vontar]

Let me add one more HOLE to this.

BTW,

because the tinting of the windows on our vehicle was too dark.

Seems pretty odd. TN is pretty lacks on window tint, compared to the state of Virginia had been in. TN you are allot to be much darker then Virginia. I don't know the numbers but I know my car when I brought it was at the legal limit in TN, but I was told if I went to Virginia I could get a ticket.

[TNRobocop]

35% Visible Light Transmission in TN....

[Guest Sgt. Joe]

35% Visible Light Transmission in TN....

I am not sure just how one would check that out, but my van has some very dark windows that I truly love.

I have only been pulled over once in it here in TN and nothing was said. I have been pretty much all over the South East but not to VA in it.

How does one determine "Visible Light Transmission"? My windows are extremely hard to see thru from the outside and it is an after factory tint that was on it when I bought it.

[Guest jackdm3]

KB or Jamie, I think, said take a dime, put it behind the glass and be able to read the year on the coin.

[Guest Sgt. Joe]

Thanks Jack I will try that and I do have my doubts about being able to read it, but I could be wrong.

[Guest Drewsett]

Surprised this is still open...

If we are to take the story at face value then there was a serious miscarriage of justice here. The fact that he got his firearms back would seem to point to the fact that THP didn't have the right to seize them in the first place.

That said, the guy does seem to be a little crazy...who carries 1100 rounds of 7.62x39 just in case the SHTF? And if you do, you'd have to be even crazier to tell the truth as to why you brought it! If it had been me in that car and the officer had asked why I had the ammo, I would have told him I found a good deal and made a bulk buy.

I'm sure there is more to the story, and now my interest is piqued and I want to know more.

[Guest Glock23ForMe]

I'm sure there is more to the story, and now my interest is piqued and I want to know more.

Agreed... There are things that do not add up here... Like the ammo, as you said above, for instance. However, does anyone know the law on semi/full automatic weapons in CO. It could have been Full Auto, and AFAIK that is a "no-no" here in TN. Thus, being illegal.

[Chucktshoes]

This story puts me in a Shakespearean mood, "Something's rotten in Denmark."

Noglock23forme, FA is perfectly ok here in TN w/ normal BAFTE registration.

[Armed Aviator]

I am not sure just how one would check that out, but my van has some very dark windows that I truly love.

I have only been pulled over once in it here in TN and nothing was said. I have been pretty much all over the South East but not to VA in it.

How does one determine "Visible Light Transmission"? My windows are extremely hard to see thru from the outside and it is an after factory tint that was on it when I bought it.

Believe it or not, In Virginia, Many law enforcement carry light meters that gauge that sort of stuff. . .

[Guest Knightsr25]

In Blount county many of the police cars have nearly black windows. We figure whats good for one group must be good for all of us.

[DaveTN]

I am not sure just how one would check that out, but my van has some very dark windows that I truly love.

Cops have meters. Or if you just want to know, stop in a window tint shop. They will tell you just by looking.

Most cops I know wouldn’t stop you just for window tint. But if you get their attention and they are looking for a reason to stop you; window tint will do it.

I don’t know how Tennessee is, but in Illinois you could have tint darker than the law allowed if you have a note from your eye doctor. Of course you would get stopped occasionally.

[Guest brownwater]

Over my many years I have learned much, and most of it the hard way. One is, pick your battles. You can argue with the cops but will probably loose. Don't give the cops a reason to stop you. I try to become invisible. Should I have dark windows just because the cops do? This world is not fair so I say again "PICK YOUR BATTLES". I respect LEO's because I would not want their job for what it pays. Just don't give them a reason to pull you over.

[bubbadavis]

Agreed... There are things that do not add up here... Like the ammo, as you said above, for instance. However, does anyone know the law on semi/full automatic weapons in CO. It could have been Full Auto, and AFAIK that is a "no-no" here in TN. Thus, being illegal.

Full auto weapons are legal in Tennessee, as long as you follow all NFA rules. You must have a copy of your tax stamp with you. If you are traveling into other states (than your home state) with a NFA firearm, you must get permission from the BATFE first and all the states you are visiting must allow NFA weapons. Whew!

[kb4ns]

This whole thing seems strange to me. Who issues a misdemeanor citation for a class A misdemeanor to someone from Colorado? My department and every department I know of considers that a "reasonable likelihood that the arrested person will fail to appear in court", thus requiring a physical arrest & transportation so the person can post a bond. Of course, THP does things differently. Anyone good buddies with a trooper that can ask about that?

As far as the tint thing, yes we have tint meters and yes you can get an exemption from the state if you and your doctor complete the appropriate forms and send them to the Dept. of Safety. I'm not 100% sure what the process is, but I've seen that once or twice. I've run across a couple of folks with just a doctor's note and I've let 'em go with a warning, but you have to have the official "exemption" to be legal.

[Sheepdog]

Believe it or not, In Virginia, Many law enforcement carry light meters that gauge that sort of stuff. . .

Light meters? Huge waste of taxpayer dollars!

I got pulled over (for speeding) back in the 90's. The cop checked my level of window tint with a laminated paper card, white on one half and gray on the other. He put the white part behind my tinted window, and if it was darker than the gray half of the card, it was a violation. (Mine was legit...)

[Guest Abominable_Hillbilly]

I also find it very odd that the original story teller says that he took a large amount of ammo for his AK just in case something happened at the rally he was attending. Really? Is this guy serious? Yes, I know that he has every legal right to do that and a firearm is virtually useless without the ammo, but that whole statement just sounds screwy to me. He was expecting an armed shootout at a pro-Constitution rally and felt the need to load up his car with a pile of 7.62 x 39 ammo just in case?

That said, the guy does seem to be a little crazy...who carries 1100 rounds of 7.62x39 just in case the SHTF? And if you do, you'd have to be even crazier to tell the truth as to why you brought it! If it had been me in that car and the officer had asked why I had the ammo, I would have told him I found a good deal and made a bulk buy.

Fellas, let's not start encouraging the government to harass people who are law-abiding. Being "odd" or "weird" is not yet against the law. YET.

Let me add one more HOLE to this.

BTW,

Seems pretty odd. TN is pretty lacks on window tint, compared to the state of Virginia had been in. TN you are allot to be much darker then Virginia. I don't know the numbers but I know my car when I brought it was at the legal limit in TN, but I was told if I went to Virginia I could get a ticket.

Perhaps you've never dealt with a pretextual traffic stop. It's an odd, infuriating experience.

FWIW, this guy's story smacks of BS to me. His tone and attitude (combined with is ignorance of Fourth Amendment case law) tell me that there's much more to this story. I'll form an opinion of the stop when I see some actual documentation.

[machinist]

This is the latest from the original blog (Naming names: 2nd update on the gun confiscation incident in TN « Restore The Constitution)

... the seized weapons have finally been returned, about 5 months after they were taken. Plus, the victim had to pay every single cost in getting them back, attorney fees, court costs, and even shipping.

Now all charges have been dropped, so the bad guys are basically acknowledging that they had no real legal reason to take the weapons in the first place. But still they make the victim jump through all these hoops and pay about $1000 total just to get the guns back.

And, of course, the officer who took the guns without reason, is still on the force patrolling the highways, writing tickets, doing his thing.

The guns taken are just about equal in value to the costs the victim had to pay in getting them back, so the calculation in the minds of all involved in the confiscation is that most people will not go through all the hassle to get their guns back and that the TN highway patrol can, in most instances, just take guns and property with no recourse.

[dralarms]

This is the latest from the original blog (Naming names: 2nd update on the gun confiscation incident in TN « Restore The Constitution)

... the seized weapons have finally been returned, about 5 months after they were taken. Plus, the victim had to pay every single cost in getting them back, attorney fees, court costs, and even shipping.

Now all charges have been dropped, so the bad guys are basically acknowledging that they had no real legal reason to take the weapons in the first place. But still they make the victim jump through all these hoops and pay about $1000 total just to get the guns back.

And, of course, the officer who took the guns without reason, is still on the force patrolling the highways, writing tickets, doing his thing.

The guns taken are just about equal in value to the costs the victim had to pay in getting them back, so the calculation in the minds of all involved in the confiscation is that most people will not go through all the hassle to get their guns back and that the TN highway patrol can, in most instances, just take guns and property with no recourse.

Still want to know if the hadgun was loaded. Until we know one way or the other none of will ever know who was right and who was wrong.

[vontar]

Read some of the comments, people there have even more questions then we do.

If I was not on my phone I would quote some of the good ones.