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Pennsylvania Duty to Inform Police Laws (2026)
Conditional: Pennsylvania has no proactive duty to inform, but when carrying a firearm concealed on the person or in a vehicle, a licensee must produce the license for inspection on the lawful demand of a law-enforcement officer (18 Pa.C.S. § 6122(a)); failure to produce it creates a rebuttable presumption of non-licensure.
Pennsylvania has no proactive duty to inform, but when carrying a firearm concealed on the person or in a vehicle, a licensee must produce the license for inspection on the lawful demand of a law-enforcement officer (18 Pa.C.S. § 6122(a)); failure to produce it creates a rebuttable presumption of non-licensure. The rule has been unchanged since 1997.
General legal information, not legal advice — verify important decisions with a licensed attorney.
Duty to Inform Police in states bordering Pennsylvania
The same rule in each neighboring state LawLert has verified, from that state’s own official source.
- DelawareInfo
Delaware has no duty to inform: its concealed-carry law (11 Del. C. §§ 1441-1442) contains no requirement to notify an officer or to present the license on demand (verified against the full weapons subchapter). A Delaware CCDW (Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon) license is still required to carry concealed at all.
Verified Jul 18, 2026 · Source: delcode.delaware.gov · Full Delaware rule →
- MarylandInfo
Maryland has no statutory duty to inform: its wear-and-carry statute (Pub. Safety § 5-308) only requires the permit holder to carry the permit whenever carrying, and the current text has no volunteer duty and no display-on-demand clause. A permit is still required to carry a handgun at all.
Verified Jul 18, 2026 · Source: mgaleg.maryland.gov · Full Maryland rule →
- New JerseyConditional
New Jersey has a proactive duty to inform, new as of December 2022: N.J.S.A. 2C:58-4.4(b) requires a permit holder who is stopped or detained while carrying in public, or traveling with a handgun in a vehicle, to immediately disclose that they are carrying — or that a handgun is stored in the vehicle — and to display the carry permit as well. Failing to disclose is a fourth-degree crime; failing to display starts as a disorderly-persons offense with a $100 fine.
Verified Jul 18, 2026 · Source: pub.njleg.state.nj.us · Full New Jersey rule →
- New YorkConditional
New York has no proactive duty to inform, but every licensee carrying a pistol or revolver must have the license on their person, and must exhibit it for inspection whenever a peace or police officer demands it (Penal Law § 400.00(8)). A license is required to carry a handgun in New York at all, so this presentment rule covers all lawful carriers; the 2022 CCIA added no volunteer duty.
Verified Jul 18, 2026 · Source: nysenate.gov · Full New York rule →
- OhioConditional
Ohio has had no proactive duty to inform since June 13, 2022 (SB 215), but you must still disclose truthfully when an officer asks: it is a second-degree misdemeanor to knowingly fail to disclose that you are carrying before or at the time an officer asks during a stop (ORC 2923.12(B)(1)). You must also keep your hands in plain sight, not touch the gun, and obey orders. Permitless carriers 21 and older have the identical duty via ORC 2923.111(C)(1)(c).
Verified Jul 18, 2026 · Source: codes.ohio.gov · Full Ohio rule →
- West VirginiaInfo
West Virginia law does not require you to tell an officer you are armed, and it does not require you to carry or show a license. A visitor who relies on an out-of-state permit, instead of permitless carry, must have the permit in immediate possession.
Verified Oct 12, 2026 · Source: code.wvlegislature.gov · Full West Virginia rule →
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