← North Carolina firearms laws›Duty to Inform Police
North Carolina Duty to Inform Police Laws (2026)
Conditional: North Carolina has a duty to inform. When an officer approaches or addresses you, you must disclose that you hold a valid permit and are carrying a concealed handgun.
North Carolina has a duty to inform. When an officer approaches or addresses you, you must disclose that you hold a valid permit and are carrying a concealed handgun. Carry your permit and valid identification at all times and show both when an officer asks. Treat this as applying to out-of-state permit holders too.
General legal information, not legal advice — verify important decisions with a licensed attorney.
Duty to Inform Police in states bordering North Carolina
The same rule in each neighboring state LawLert has verified, from that state’s own official source.
- GeorgiaInfo
Georgia has no duty to inform — no statute requires a carrier to tell an officer they are armed or to present a license on demand — and since SB 319 (effective April 12, 2022) any "lawful weapons carrier" may carry concealed without a license at all. Licenses remain available mainly for reciprocity travel.
Verified Jul 18, 2026 · Source: legis.ga.gov · Full Georgia rule →
- South CarolinaInfo
South Carolina has no current duty to inform — the 2024 permitless-carry law removed it. H.3594 (Act 111, effective March 7, 2024) rewrote § 23-31-215, and the former subsection (K) duty to inform and present the permit when an officer requests identification no longer exists; today's subsection (K) only requires reporting a lost or stolen permit card to South Carolina's SLED within 48 hours. Anyone 18 and older who is not prohibited may carry openly or concealed.
Verified Jul 18, 2026 · Source: scstatehouse.gov · Full South Carolina rule →
- TennesseeConditional
Tennessee law does not require you to tell an officer you are armed. A Tennessee permit holder must keep the permit on them and show it when an officer demands it. An out-of-state permit holder must also have the permit on them.
Verified Oct 12, 2026 · Source: tn.gov · Full Tennessee rule →
- VirginiaConditional
You do not have to tell an officer you are armed or have a permit. If you carry concealed on a permit, you must have it on you and show it, with a government photo ID, when an officer demands it. Out-of-state permit holders must likewise carry photo ID and show both on demand. Failing to show a Virginia permit is a $25 civil penalty, which a court may waive if you later show a valid permit.
Verified Oct 12, 2026 · Source: law.lis.virginia.gov · Full Virginia rule →
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