Tennessee Duty to Inform Police Laws (2026)

Duty to Inform Police in states bordering Tennessee

The same rule in each neighboring state LawLert has verified, from that state’s own official source.

• AlabamaConditional

  Alabama has no proactive duty to inform, but if an on-duty officer asks whether you are armed, anyone carrying a concealed pistol — on the person or in an occupied vehicle — must immediately answer that they possess it (Ala. Code § 13A-11-95, Act 2022-133). A vehicle occupant with a loaded handgun also may not touch it during a stop except as the officer directs (a Class A misdemeanor). The rule applies to permitless carriers and permit holders alike.

  Verified Jul 18, 2026 · Source: arc-sos.state.al.us · Full Alabama rule →

• ArkansasConditional

  No duty to tell an officer unprompted. If you carry on an Arkansas concealed handgun license and an officer asks for your ID, you must show the license and tell the officer you hold it and have a handgun. Whether this binds out-of-state license holders is not stated, so treat it as applying. No such duty is stated for people carrying without a license.

  Verified Oct 12, 2026 · Source: dps.arkansas.gov · Full Arkansas rule →

• 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 →

• KentuckyInfo

  No. Kentucky has no duty to tell an officer you are armed, and no permit is needed at 21 or older. A license holder must carry the license whenever carrying concealed and show it if an officer asks; a violation is a $25 noncriminal penalty. The statute does not say whether this reaches out-of-state licenses, so the cautious reading is that it does.

  Verified Oct 12, 2026 · Source: apps.legislature.ky.gov · Full Kentucky rule →

• MississippiConditional

  Mississippi has no proactive duty to inform, but a licensee must carry the license with a valid ID whenever armed and display both when an officer demands them (Miss. Code § 45-9-101(1)(b), a $25 noncriminal offense). Permitless carry in a holster or a case under § 45-9-101(24) carries no display duty. (Code text via the Legislature's official reprint; the Mississippi Code publishes only through LexisNexis.)

  Verified Jul 18, 2026 · Source: billstatus.ls.state.ms.us · Full Mississippi rule →

• MissouriConditional

  Missouri has no proactive duty to inform, but a permit holder must carry the permit whenever carrying concealed and display it with a photo ID at the request of any peace officer (RSMo 571.121.1); noncompliance is expressly noncriminal, with a citation of up to $35. The duty attaches only to permit holders — Missouri permitless carriers have no duty to inform or to display.

  Verified Jul 18, 2026 · Source: revisor.mo.gov · Full Missouri rule →

• North CarolinaConditional

  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.

  Verified Oct 12, 2026 · Source: ncleg.gov · Full North Carolina 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 →