A couple of days ago, I emailed the Illinois State Police a media query about an incident that occurred this past Sunday on I-55. A young woman with a CCW license was stopped between Bloomington and Chicago for a traffic infraction. Before the stop concluded, the Trooper asked to see the woman’s carry gun to do a “compliance check” to ensure she didn’t have a magazine over 15 rounds.
The officer had no probable cause or reasonable articulable suspicion that she was in violation of the law which had been struck down as unconstitutional the preceding Friday afternoon.
Here is the reply they sent towards the end of the day yesterday. I received it as I was en route to the Charleston GSL meeting or I would have posted it yesterday.
Here it is, exactly as received.
ISP has not given or planned to give direction to ISP officers to check for compliance with the Protect Illinois Communities Act during traffic stops. ISP is not taking any actions inconsistent with the various court orders and cases. ISP will continue to follow guidance from the Attorney General’s office. It is not a standard practice to request to see the firearm of someone with a Concealed Carry License without probable cause, reasonable suspicion, or by way of consent.
ON BACKGROUND:
Without knowing the totality of the circumstances of this alleged incident, we cannot asses to any degree of certainty the roadside decision making of an officer. Changing, adding, or the absence of a single fact can be significant to the analysis. Can you please provide us with additional details – the date, time, and location of the incident, and especially the Trooper’s name? Having that information will allow us to look into this, correct any potentially poor decision making, and provide clearer guidance to officers in the field if needed. ISP takes all allegations of misconduct seriously and investigates any complaints forwarded to us – File a Complaint
This would suggest maybe the ISP has a rogue officer.
Or perhaps that this college coed is an attractive female had something to do with it.
We don’t know.
But ISP claims it has not given any directives to conduct “compliance checks” of motorists with carry licenses nor do they plan to issue any said directives in the future. Time will tell.
Either way, stay safe out there. If you are subject to an ISP traffic stop or other non-consensual contact, let us know if you get the “magazine compliance check” routine in comments.
I was going to ask if this coed was attractive. It will interesting to watch the cop’s video. I have a windshield camera and now I have second use for it.
Is that a “cover their rear” statement? My bet it is, if this ever happens to someone reading this BE SURE to get officer info: badge number, name, date, time, location, be sure to write it down and follow up to state representative and ISP complaint dept. Concealed is concealed and your carry piece is “nunna-their-bidness”, altho, better to “be in compliance” until this unconstitutional piece of crap is adjudicated as such. }If you don’t have to travel on interstate highways, do so, stay away from ISP territory, if possible.
Pretty sure no ISP Troopers are gonna want down my pants.
I want to believe ISP. I really do.
I just had a terrible thought. I understand that there are bra holsters and that women in the movies often have thigh holsters. I wonder if the coed had a low cut top? What better place to hide a gun than in the most intimate places?
My money was on this being a CYA statement, and that they were directed to harass CCWs in this manner. Now that this has been exposed, that order might just come to a halt.
I don’t see how this will continue now that the law has (supposedly) been blocked. Still waiting for my Rural King to start selling self-defense guns and mags again.
Unfortunately, if ISP continues to use traffic stops as the basis for checking compliance with the mag ban, they will use Section 10 of the Illinois Concealed Carry Act as their authority to take possession and examine the handgun/magazines. Under Section 10 {h}, each officer is given the authority to take possession of the handgun during the pendency of the investigative stop. No probable cause or reasonable suspicion is necessary. I am surprised the ISP didn’t cite that authority in response to the GSL inquiry.
Take possession of does not equate to disassemble, count rounds, inventory, etc.