Ammo in your car in CA
- Thread starter SanDiegan
- Start date
accordingtome
New member
no worries.. as long as the ammo and the gun are not touching your cool.. i keep my pistol unlocked in a range bag in the trunk with the ammo in the side pouches. I only got in trouble when i left the clip loaded in the bag. Although it was not with the pistol and was in a side pouch, it still can not be loaded. Metal touching metal or something. 
I keep my pistol in my car all the time. I did get pulled over once and i just told the cop i had a unloaded pistol in the trunk and its registered in my name. all he did was check to see if it was in fact unloaded. Then he asked me how it shoots as he was thinking of getting one too. xd-40 that is.
I keep my pistol in my car all the time. I did get pulled over once and i just told the cop i had a unloaded pistol in the trunk and its registered in my name. all he did was check to see if it was in fact unloaded. Then he asked me how it shoots as he was thinking of getting one too. xd-40 that is. Guy B. Meredith
New member
The ammo can be stored anywhere except in the container where the guns are. If they are in the same container the gun is considered loaded. 
I carry mine in the old fashioned flip top container.
We were told that the law requires the gun to be in a locked container. Doesn't say what kind of container and so a bag with padlocked zipper is probably sufficient. I carry mine in a plastic Sears toolbox with padlock--don't want to be a test case in court.
If the gun is in the trunk I don't know that it has to be in a locked container as the trunk probably qualifies there, but check it with local LE.
The law does say that it is illegal to keep the gun in the car except for a trip to the range or place of abode (motels qualify for trips) or gunsmith. No side trips for lunch or chores on the way home.
I carry mine in the old fashioned flip top container.We were told that the law requires the gun to be in a locked container. Doesn't say what kind of container and so a bag with padlocked zipper is probably sufficient. I carry mine in a plastic Sears toolbox with padlock--don't want to be a test case in court.
If the gun is in the trunk I don't know that it has to be in a locked container as the trunk probably qualifies there, but check it with local LE.
The law does say that it is illegal to keep the gun in the car except for a trip to the range or place of abode (motels qualify for trips) or gunsmith. No side trips for lunch or chores on the way home.
accordingtome
New member
Yup the trunk counts as a locked container .. but.. as i have a hatchback now i wonder if thats still legal.. hmm.. any cops on this board?
"any cops on this board?"
Cops may be able to tell you what their personal hot buttons are, or their department's policies, but after watching their postings on various gun boards over the years, I've come to the conclusion that many of them just don't know what they're talking about.
Free internet legal advice, even from a lawyer or LEO, is worth exactly what you pay for it. If you want to find out the straight skinny, hire yourself a lawyer, or do the research yourself. There are good internet legal resources out there. I used to use alllaw.com a lot, but they seem to be fubar now.
Tim
Cops may be able to tell you what their personal hot buttons are, or their department's policies, but after watching their postings on various gun boards over the years, I've come to the conclusion that many of them just don't know what they're talking about.
Free internet legal advice, even from a lawyer or LEO, is worth exactly what you pay for it. If you want to find out the straight skinny, hire yourself a lawyer, or do the research yourself. There are good internet legal resources out there. I used to use alllaw.com a lot, but they seem to be fubar now.
Tim
No offense folks, but am I glad I don't live in Cali. What a stupid law (as the others).
You folks really need to get rid of boxer, feinstein, and even arnold (ban the 50's) terminator dude.
Such a beautiful state, such a waste of "mind power".
Oregon is right above you, and we have less crime then you do, we have "assault weapons" (for now) and have less crime then you do. We have all (or most) of our gun rights and we have less crime then you do.
Will they every get the point that their laws aren't doing anything but allowing criminals the upper hand? If I were there, I think I would try for a class action suit against the state.
Wayne
You folks really need to get rid of boxer, feinstein, and even arnold (ban the 50's) terminator dude.
Such a beautiful state, such a waste of "mind power".
Oregon is right above you, and we have less crime then you do, we have "assault weapons" (for now) and have less crime then you do. We have all (or most) of our gun rights and we have less crime then you do.
Will they every get the point that their laws aren't doing anything but allowing criminals the upper hand? If I were there, I think I would try for a class action suit against the state.
Wayne
accordingtome
New member
tell us something we don't know .. sheesh..It's a bit strange but here goes:
1) an unloaded pistol locked in the trunk is OK.
Notice I didn't say it had to be in a locked container in the trunk -- just locked in the trunk. HOWEVER,
2) Now what? When you get where you are going, the handgun must be in a locked container as you transport it from your trunk to wherever you are going with it.
I'm also told that the idea that having ammunition in the vicinity of the weapon makes the weapon considered loaded ONLY applies when a felony is already involved. Otherwise not.
I Swear -- that's what I just read in the California book of gun laws.
Fud
1) an unloaded pistol locked in the trunk is OK.
Notice I didn't say it had to be in a locked container in the trunk -- just locked in the trunk. HOWEVER,
2) Now what? When you get where you are going, the handgun must be in a locked container as you transport it from your trunk to wherever you are going with it.
I'm also told that the idea that having ammunition in the vicinity of the weapon makes the weapon considered loaded ONLY applies when a felony is already involved. Otherwise not.
I Swear -- that's what I just read in the California book of gun laws.
Fud
Guy B. Meredith
New member
In searching through the California Dangerous Weapons code I see no definition of the term "loaded". Any definitions that require distance between the gun and ammo would probably be a result of case trials rather than law.
...but does not include the utility or glove compartment..
So would "utility" mean the area behind the rear seat of a SUV....the tool box in back of a pickup...????
I give up trying to figure it out along time ago. I figure just to be safe i'll carry it in a locked case in the tool box of my truck.
So would "utility" mean the area behind the rear seat of a SUV....the tool box in back of a pickup...????
I give up trying to figure it out along time ago. I figure just to be safe i'll carry it in a locked case in the tool box of my truck.
Samuel2001
New member
Hi Guys!
Keep in mind that if said trunk has a pass through or folding seats with trunk access, it's no longer considered a locked container!
The firearm should be in a "Locked Container" and separated from the ammunition!
The locked container can be a gun rug with a $1 padlock, in the range bag with the ammo sitting right next to it. As long as both are not in the same gun rug. Oh, and no loaded magazines in the firearm or in the gun rug with the firearm.
Hope that helps!
Keep in mind that if said trunk has a pass through or folding seats with trunk access, it's no longer considered a locked container!
The firearm should be in a "Locked Container" and separated from the ammunition!
The locked container can be a gun rug with a $1 padlock, in the range bag with the ammo sitting right next to it. As long as both are not in the same gun rug. Oh, and no loaded magazines in the firearm or in the gun rug with the firearm.
Hope that helps!