Do duty to inform (traffic stop) rules differ by state?

Yes. Must you tell police you are armed on a stop — volunteer-first, if-asked, or permit-dependent? Crosstatelaws maps all 50 states for travelers who are physically in that state — not for what a state requires of its own plates or licenses.

Does duty to inform (traffic stop) apply if my vehicle is registered in another state?

Operate-here rules (speed, helmets, possession, inspections you must stop for) follow the state you are in. Registration-state rules such as a front license plate do not. Read the layer notes on the map.

Where can I see a duty to inform (traffic stop) map?

Open the Crosstatelaws interactive map with this layer soloed: https://crosstatelaws.com/?solo=duty_to_inform

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Duty to inform (traffic stop) laws by state

People search “Duty to inform (traffic stop) by state”, “Duty to inform (traffic stop) laws by state”, and “Duty to inform map” when a road trip, boat, bike, or load is about to cross a line. This page is the 50-state index for duty to inform (traffic stop). Colors and quotes are written for someone in that state today, not for what that state demands of its own registered vehicles.

Open the Duty to inform difference map

How states differ

Must you tell police you are armed on a stop — volunteer-first, if-asked, or permit-dependent?.

Affirmative duty — volunteer that you are armed
Disclose if the officer asks
Depends on permit / constitutional-carry status
No statewide duty to inform (still answer if asked)

Searches this page is meant to answer

If you typed any of these — or a close variant with a state name — this is the Crosstatelaws topic that should show up:

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Duty to inform (traffic stop) laws by state
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Duty to inform (traffic stop) map
Duty to inform (traffic stop) traveling across state lines
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Texas duty to inform LTC
Hawaii duty to disclose firearm
Maine permitless duty to inform
Michigan CPL disclose traffic stop
Nebraska duty to inform EMS
North Carolina CHP disclose
Arkansas CHCL notify officer
Duty to inform (traffic stop) in California / Texas / Florida / New York
is duty to inform (traffic stop) legal while traveling

All 50 states

One-line traveler summary for each state. Open the map for the quoted rule and footnotes.

Alabama (AL): Alabama: no volunteer-first duty. If an officer asks whether you are armed with a concealed pistol/firearm, you must immediately say yes (§ 13A-11-95).
Alaska (AK): Alaska: when a peace officer contacts you, immediately say you have a concealed deadly weapon and let them secure it (§ 11.61.220). Class B misdemeanor: up to 90 days / $2,000.
Arizona (AZ): Arizona: no volunteer-first duty. show permit/ID on request; answer if asked about a firearm (A.R.S. § 13-3112).
Arkansas (AR): Arkansas: CHCL holders asked for ID while armed must show the license and say they hold a CHCL and have a handgun (5 CAR § 1-201(c)). Permitless — no volunteer-first duty.
California (CA): California: no statewide duty to volunteer that you are armed. If asked, answer truthfully.
Colorado (CO): Colorado: no statewide duty to volunteer that you are armed. If asked, answer truthfully.
Connecticut (CT): Connecticut: no statewide duty to volunteer that you are armed. If asked, answer truthfully.
Delaware (DE): Delaware: no statewide duty to volunteer that you are armed. If asked, answer truthfully.
Florida (FL): Florida: no duty to tell an officer you are armed. While carrying concealed, display valid photo ID on officer demand ($25 noncriminal if you fail) — CWFL and permitless (§ 790.06(1)(c); § 790.013).
Georgia (GA): Georgia: no statewide duty to volunteer that you are armed. If asked, answer truthfully.
Hawaii (HI): Hawaii: if you are carrying and are stopped — or are a driver/passenger in a stopped vehicle — immediately disclose that you are carrying (§ 134-9.2). Petty misdemeanor.
Idaho (ID): Idaho: no statewide duty to volunteer that you are armed. If asked, answer truthfully.
Illinois (IL): Illinois: no volunteer-first duty. present CCL on peace-officer request; answer if asked about the firearm (430 ILCS 66/10(h)).
Indiana (IN): Indiana: no statewide duty to volunteer that you are armed. If asked, answer truthfully.
Iowa (IA): Iowa: no statewide duty to volunteer that you are armed. If asked, answer truthfully.
Kansas (KS): Kansas: no statewide duty to volunteer that you are armed. If asked, answer truthfully.
Kentucky (KY): Kentucky: no volunteer-first duty. show CDWL on request; answer if asked about a firearm (KRS § 237.110).
Louisiana (LA): Louisiana: when an officer approaches in an official manner, say you have a weapon, submit to a pat-down, and allow temporary disarm (R.S. 40:1379.3(I)(2)). CHP and permitless (14:95(M)).
Maine (ME): Maine: permitless — immediately inform on arrest, detainment, or a routine traffic stop (§ 2003-A; civil ≤ $100). Permit holders — no volunteer duty; display the permit on demand (§ 2003).
Maryland (MD): Maryland: no statewide duty to volunteer that you are armed. If asked, answer truthfully.
Massachusetts (MA): Massachusetts: no statewide duty to volunteer that you are armed. If asked, answer truthfully.
Michigan (MI): Michigan: CPL while carrying a concealed pistol (or stun device) — immediately disclose when stopped (MCL 28.425f(3); civil infraction; CPL can be suspended). Open carry without a CPL — no statewide volunteer-first duty.
Minnesota (MN): Minnesota: no volunteer-first duty. display permit on demand; answer if asked about a firearm (Minn. Stat. § 624.714).
Mississippi (MS): Mississippi: no statewide duty to volunteer that you are armed. If asked, answer truthfully.
Missouri (MO): Missouri: no volunteer-first duty. show endorsement/ID on request; answer if asked about a firearm (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 571.121).
Montana (MT): Montana: no statewide duty to volunteer that you are armed. If asked, answer truthfully.
Nebraska (NE): Nebraska: immediately tell a peace officer or EMS you are carrying a concealed handgun (§ 28-1202.04). First offense: Class III misdemeanor. Permitless and CHP.
Nevada (NV): Nevada: no statewide duty to volunteer that you are armed. If asked, answer truthfully.
New Hampshire (NH): New Hampshire: no statewide duty to volunteer that you are armed. If asked, answer truthfully.
New Jersey (NJ): New Jersey: if stopped or detained while carrying (or with a handgun in the vehicle), immediately disclose and show your carry permit (§ 2C:58-4.4). Fail to disclose = 4th-degree crime.
New Mexico (NM): New Mexico: no statewide duty to volunteer that you are armed. If asked, answer truthfully.
New York (NY): New York: no volunteer-first duty. produce license on demand; answer if asked about a firearm (N.Y. Penal Law § 400.00(8)).
North Carolina (NC): North Carolina: CHP holders approached or addressed while carrying must disclose the permit and that they are carrying (§ 14-415.11(a)). Infraction. SB 50 (permitless + broader disclose) vetoed; House override still stalled — not law.
North Dakota (ND): North Dakota: permitless — tell the officer if they ask whether you have a concealed firearm (§ 62.1-04-04(2); HB 1588). License holders — produce the license on request; no volunteer-first duty.
Ohio (OH): Ohio: no volunteer-first duty. On a traffic/LE stop with a loaded handgun in the vehicle, disclose before or when the officer asks; keep hands in plain sight (§ 2923.16(E); also § 2923.12(B)).
Oklahoma (OK): Oklahoma: no volunteer-first duty. On arrest, detainment, or a routine traffic stop, identify that you have a firearm when the officer demands it (21 O.S. § 1290.8(D); citation ≤ $100).
Oregon (OR): Oregon: no volunteer-first duty. show CHL on demand; answer if asked about a firearm (Or. Rev. Stat. § 166.291).
Pennsylvania (PA): Pennsylvania: no volunteer-first duty. show LTCF on demand; answer if asked about a firearm (18 Pa.C.S. § 6109).
Rhode Island (RI): Rhode Island: no statewide duty to volunteer that you are armed. If asked, answer truthfully.
South Carolina (SC): South Carolina: no duty to notify an officer that you are carrying (SLED constitutional-carry guidance; 2024 Act 111 removed the old § 23-31-215 notify rule). Answer truthfully if asked.
South Dakota (SD): South Dakota: no statewide duty to volunteer that you are armed. If asked, answer truthfully.
Tennessee (TN): Tennessee: no volunteer-first duty. Answer if asked about a firearm (Tenn. Code § 39-17-1351).
Texas (TX): Texas: no volunteer-first “I have a gun” statute. LTC holders carrying — when ID is demanded, show DL/ID and the LTC together (§ 411.205). Permitless — no license-display duty.
Utah (UT): Utah: no statewide duty to volunteer that you are armed. If asked, answer truthfully.
Vermont (VT): Vermont: no statewide duty to volunteer that you are armed. If asked, answer truthfully.
Virginia (VA): Virginia: no volunteer-first duty. show CHP on demand; answer if asked about a firearm (Va. Code § 18.2-308.02).
Washington (WA): Washington: no volunteer-first duty. show CPL on demand; answer if asked about a firearm (RCW 9.41.050).
West Virginia (WV): West Virginia: no statewide duty to volunteer that you are armed. If asked, answer truthfully.
Wisconsin (WI): Wisconsin: no volunteer-first duty. show license document on request; answer if asked about a firearm (Wis. Stat. § 175.60).
Wyoming (WY): Wyoming: no volunteer-first duty. show permit on demand; answer if asked about a firearm (Wyo. Stat. § 6-8-104).

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Not legal advice. Confirm statutes before you travel. Disclaimer.