long story NH stop
From GONH's F&F of fall/winter 2003 :
One Very Foggy Morning - a disturbing letter from a GO-NH Member
Editor’s notes: This member included his/her name and attachments that show the stop, etc. However, the name, description of the vehicle, and other information that would identify the author have been withheld for his/her protection. DHMC is Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.
It was a very foggy morning, on my way down Route 10 to work in Lebanon (passing through Hanover) as usual, so I had reduced my speed. I had my lights on, seatbelt on, and the radio was on but barely audible. My radar detector alarm sounded but I couldn’t see any traffic. Just a few seconds later, a vehicle appeared about 250 feet ahead of me through a break in the fog, traveling in the same direction. The vehicle did not have any taillights on and I thought, “What an idiot not to have his lights on in this fog!”
After about half a mile, the vehicle made a left turn into a driveway and made a U-turn. Either the lights were turned on at that time or the daytime running lights were on, and I recognized it as a Hanover police cruiser. I kept going, and the cruiser pulled out after another vehicle went by going the other direction. It then approached me at a high rate of speed (unsafe given the road conditions), then followed me for about 1 or 2 miles. Finally, the blue lights came on and I pulled aver immediately and drove at a slow speed along the guardrail for approximately 200 feet before pulling off of the road when it was safe to do so, stopped, and turned off the ignition.
The officer approached my car and I retrieved my wallet from my pants pocket. I was having difficulty finding my Pistol License (I had put it behind my Drivers’ License and forgot where I had put it). He told me that he was pulling me over because I didn’t have any mud flaps on my SUV. I told him I was searching for my Pistol License and it should only take a second. He then asked where I was traveling to. I told him that I work at DHMC and was going to work. I was dressed in a jeans jacket, tropical shirt, Dockers, dress shoes, and wearing my DHMC picture ID tag around my neck in full view.
He then asked why I had the pistol. I didn’t answer, as I was searching my wallet. He stated that he found it “funny” that I would carry a pistol to work with me and asked if I took it into the building with me. I told him that I did not, but that I kept it locked in my glove box while I was at work. He then asked me to exit my vehicle and told me that he was going to take my pistol back to his car with him. I produced my Drivers’ License, finding my Pistol License in the process, and exited the car as he asked. He told me to get back in my car and retrieve my vehicle registration. I did, and then waited in my car.
Soon, a large, black, unmarked SUV with a radio antenna came from the direction of town, did a U-turn, and pulled in behind the first cruiser. A younger-looking man in plainclothes, who never identified himself, watched me while standing outside the driver’s door of the cruiser. The first officer sat in his car, running my license (I assumed), while I lit a cigarette and waited. About 5 minutes later, another Hanover cruiser arrived from the direction of town, did a U-turn, and pulled in behind the SUV. This 3rd officer then exited his cruiser and stood talking to the original officer at the driver’s door of the first cruiser. About 10 minutes after that, the first officer approached my vehicle while the third officer stood behind my vehicle in view of my side mirror. Both officers were in a “ready to draw” stance. I couldn’t see what the plainclothes officer was doing.
The (first) officer informed me that the reason it was taking so long was that they were trying to run the numbers from my revolver. He stated that they were having a hard time finding the serial number on my revolver and that every gun has a serial number. He stated again that he found it “funny” that I would carry a gun to work with me, and then asked if I got the revolver through private sale, to which I said yes. He asked whom I got it from and I did not answer. He then asked if I knew where the revolver’s serial number was. I said I couldn’t recall where it was, but it did have one because I had it recorded at home. He said that he had contact the Chief of Police in my town and he had confirmed that I had a valid pistol license but
did not know what I carried for a weapon.
The officer stated that he had worked in Vermont for some years before and that Vermont requires that the type and serial number of the weapon be on the license. I knew that Vermont does not issue licenses, but responded in a joking manner, “Welcome to New Hampshire.” He returned to his car. I don’t know how long he was there, but it was longer than before, and long enough for me to smoke another cigarette - probably more than 10 minutes.
He then approached my car again in the same stance as before, and gave me a written warning for not having mud flaps (I drive a pickup truck). He then wanted to know why I was carrying, because if I was using the pistol for recreational purposes I didn’t need to take it to work with me. I stated that I have a right to defend myself and he agreed. He said that since they couldn’t find the numbers, they were having a hard time “running the pistol” and if I wanted they would give me a property claim ticket and I could pick it up after they ran it. I declined. He said that their Chief was coming to make a final determination and returned to his car.
Shortly after that, I remembered that the serial number is located under the grip and called that information out of my window. He came back to my car, in the same stance as the previous times, and said that they didn’t want to dismantle my pistol because they didn’t want to damage it and have to replace it on a policeman’s salary. He said he had never seen a gun with the serial number in that location and asked me why they would make a gun with the serial number covered by the grip. I said I had replaced the old grip. He returned to his car.
The third officer now approached my car, in a somewhat calmer manner than other approaches, and asked whom I had purchased the pistol from to make it easier to look up the pistol. I told him I had traded with a neighbor for it, and he had bought it from another private sale from someone named Marty who had bought it from a gun shop in Thornton. He returned to the other officers. A 3rd cruiser came from town. I never saw him, nor was he identified to me, but I assume that was the Chief. Very little time passed between his arrival and when the first officer returned to my car with my pistol.
He asked if I knew what the rules at Dartmouth Hitchcock were regarding the carrying of a handgun. I told him that I wasn’t sure, but it was my belief that as long as I left it in the car it wouldn’t be a problem. He stated that he was positive that they had rules against such things and that he was sure that I was not allowed to take it on hospital grounds. I stated that I do not park near the hospital but in an external parking lot and ride the bus to the hospital. He said that as soon as you turn onto I Medical Center Drive you are on hospital grounds. When I stated again that I do not park on hospital grounds, he shrugged his shoulders, handed me my unloaded revolver, asked me to put it in my glove box - which I did - and then handed me my 6 bullets and said I could go.
Within 20 minutes of my arrival at work, I received an email from hospital security stating that they had been called by the Hanover Police and told that I carry a handgun, but that security “has no problem” with me having a handgun as long as I DO NOT bring it into the building and keep it in my car.
At no time during this stop did I act in a discourteous fashion, but was compliant and cooperative the entire time. I feel that my rights as a law-abiding citizen were purposely and willfully violated. Please share this as you see fit. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing this with us Comments, anyone? —el
Firearms & Freedom Fall/Winter 2003 Page 17
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