Traveling to California info needed

[Goathead]

Yes I am on calguns with the same username...but I do not frequent it as much as I used to.

I remenber your user name

 

[Coded-Dude]

You CAN legally concealed carry without a license at your temporary residence(hotel, rv, friends house, campsite, etc.) or any private property for which the owner of said property has given permission(homes or businesses).

Just to clarify on this so as to not get anyone in trouble....this means your campsite(not the entire campground), or your hotel/motel room(not the entire premises), your rv(not the entire trailer park), etc. We discussed vehicles at rest stops once on calguns, but the consensus was its not clear and probably should NOT be done(unless you want to be the test case).

 

[nofearfactor]

Transporting Guns in California

Department of Justice Approved Gun Safe Requirements for Transporting Firearms in California

Some of the most misunderstood (or even unknown) facts concern transporting firearms in motor vehicles in California. Basically, when you get right down to it, the use of a Department of Justice approved locking device is a must. This does not mean a trigger lock; this means a locked box separate from the glove compartment or utility compartment in your vehicle.

These types of gun safes are available in different sizes and shapes and are available at safe retail centers such as Dean Safe Co. in their stores and from their website. Dean Safe carries several different brands that are "DOJ" approved, including Gun Vault, Stack-On, V-Line, Sentry and others. While these manufacturers all produce gun safes, not all models are Department of Justice approved. Safe consultants at Dean Safe Co. can tell you which ones are approved and which are not.

First determine if the locked box will be a permanent fixture in your vehicle, or do you need something that is transportable? Transportable boxes usually come equipped with a cable that runs from inside the box around something permanent in the car (like a trunk hinge or seat bracket). Others are mounted permanently in the car under the seat, behind the passenger seat on the floor, or wherever you might decide. Once you know where the box will be mounted, you will know how the door needs to open (top opening, side, or front). Also note the dimensions available for placement. Armed with this information, the safe consultant can best determine what will work for you.

In an effort to de-mystify this situation, let us answer the following question for you:

How do I legally carry firearms in my car, truck or motor home in the state of California?

Under California law a concealed handgun can legally be transported with a motor vehicle without a permit only by carrying it: 1) unloaded; and 2) locked in the vehicle's trunk or in a separate locked container other than the utility or glove compartment. If the vehicle does not have a trunk, it must be carried in a "locked container" separate from the utility or glove compartment.
Penal Code Section 12026.1 defines "locked container" as a secure container that is fully enclosed and locked by a padlock, key lock, combination lock, or similar locking device. Locked container does not include the glove compartment or utility compartment.
Ammunition cannot be attached to the handgun in any manner. Under most circumstances, a firearm is considered loaded when there is a live round of ammunition "...in, or attached in any manner to, the firearm, including, but not limited to: in the firing chamber, magazine or clip thereof attached to the firearm..." For example, a semi-automatic handgun with an empty firing chamber and a loaded magazine inserted in the magazine well is considered loaded. There is no prohibition in the state codes against also carrying ammunition within the same motor vehicle or compartment in the vehicle, as long as the firearms are not loaded and ammunition is not attached in any manner to the firearm. - Penal Code Sections 12025, 12026, 12031.
"Utility compartment" is not defined in the Penal Code. A handgun should not be transported in the center console (even if locked) or in the storage area present behind the rear seat in most hatchback type automobiles. Because of the uncertainty in current California law, it is inadvisable to use the various storage compartments found in sport utility vehicles.

While it is legal in California to carry an unloaded handgun in plain sight in the passenger compartment, it is not advised. It can lead to unfavorable attention and an encounter with the police. If the gun slips between the seats or otherwise out of sight, it is no longer "in plain sight" and therefore illegal.
Penal Code Section 12026.2 states that carrying a handgun in your car even in a locked container is only for the purpose of transporting from one specific location to another (going to the range, going hunting, etc.). It is illegal to carry a firearm without a permit, even in a locked container in your car, for general purposes such as self-defense.
These requirements for handguns also apply to the transportation of "assault weapons" and .50 BMG rifles.
When driving a motor home, it is treated as a motor vehicle and all requirements listed above apply.
This information was obtained from the California Rifle and Pistol Association's Summary of California Gun Laws and Basic Safety Rules, 38th Revision - 2010, and from Attorney Bruce Colodny, GunLaw.com. Be prepared with transporting a firearm in California. It's serious business, and misunderstanding or not knowing the laws can land you in a spot you'd rather not be.

Go by this, this is about right.

I'm from there and still live there part time.

 

[n8thegr8]

Good lord, you couldn't pay me enough to go to that god forsaken place. CA, NY, and IL are all on my chit list.

 

[Parks 788]

Goat got it.

So where you going in CA?

 

[AKguy1985]

Good lord, you couldn't pay me enough to go to that god forsaken place. CA, NY, and IL are all on my chit list.

You n me both. I'll stop at the western arizona border. Thats as far west as i'll go.

 

[XDsooner]

all great info fella's thank you so very much, work has been crazy this week....

I plan at no time to carry on my person, its only for the road trip and will stay in the car until we reach my grandparents house, as i stated we'll be traveling through multi states and I know "things" could/can happen when on the road. I just want to make sure the fam is safe. I'm from Cali originally but I've never driven to it in my adult life that's why I just want to make sure they don't think I'm some Oklahoma boy trying to liberate their state with my gun tote'n ways, lol. Which at this point in life I do consider myself a proud "okie"

 

[XDsooner]

I do have a question, if i was stopped at the boarder or anywhere inside Cali and I do notify the officer that I do have a firearm in a locked box, do I/should I have to open that locked box containing my firearm?

 

[Coded-Dude]

I do have a question, if i was stopped at the boarder or anywhere inside Cali and I do notify the officer that I do have a firearm in a locked box, do I/should I have to open that locked box containing my firearm?

I could be wrong, but if I recall correctly......if you inform a CA police officer that yo do indeed have firearms in the car, they do have a right to ensure said firearms are stored/transported correctly/legally. Usually the question is: do you have any drugs or weapons in the car. Just answer No(there is no LAW or REQUIREMENT to inform officers that you are legally transporting locked, unloaded firearms - concealed carry is different but not relevant), and do not consent to a search if pushed on the subject(your probably being pulled over for a moving violation not suspicion of a crime in progress). A debatable answer is: there is nothing illegal in the car - so that you don't have to "lie," but some people don't recommend it as it may cause suspicion. Although I have used it in the past with no issue.

The AG checkpoints you stop at coming into CA will not ask you this question, they will only ask you if you have any fruits or vegetables. The only time someone would ask you is a police officer that pulled you over for a moving violation and they should have no probable cause to go on a fishing expedition(depends on what you were doing to get stopped.....).

 

[Goathead]

Most of all have fun