Location: North Carolina.
I was at a gas station around 3:00AM sitting inside my truck and a cop came up behind me. When he got to my window I immediately let him know about the pistol I was openly carrying on the passenger seat, with my hands out the window.
He asked me to step out because of the pistol, which is understandable. He then unlocked all my doors, went and opened my passenger door, and unloaded the gun. While he was still there he asked if I had ID and I said yes, it's in there. He helped himself into the center console and then into my wallet to grab my ID.
He put the unloaded gun in the glove box, and the magazine in another compartment. Basically searching my truck without asking! He definitely did that to be nosy.
He then asked "how much have you had to drink?" and I correctly answered none. He said "OK I'm not getting any odor of that" and pretty much left.
I never gave him permission to do anything. He said very little. He did not see me actually driving, I was already parked. He never stated any reason for the contact, nor can I think of anything suspicious I was doing besides the time. Time is not probable cause.
I'm not that upset, but I'm wondering if that was a legal stop? He basically came up to me with no PC, and then let himself into my vehicle. Does having a legal firearm allow any of that? I think unloading the gun was reasonable, but not helping himself into my wallet!
With that said, was even touching my firearm legal? Illegal search in general? Illegal stop? I realize 3:00AM Sunday morning with a gun is a bit "suspicious" to be driving around, but again, not probable cause! I was not allowed to leave until he called in the serial on the gun, and checked me for warrants.
He also failed to notice my expired license plate, LOL!