Driving with firearms in car - WA state

Feb 2013
2
0
Bothell, Wa
I was wondering if someone could help me out with Washington state laws when it comes to having a firearm in your vehicle. I saw alot of info on conceal pistols and what not, but nothing on rifle and shotguns.
I drive a Jeep, therefore no locking trunk compartment, just a open common cabin. I put the case in the back in rear cargo area (behind the rear seats).
Does the gun case must be locked? If I buy a hard case, locking not a problem since they have padlock holes, but do soft cases have to be locked?
Does the ammo have to be in a seperate case/bag or can I have some shells with my unloaded shotgun on the inside of the case? If down the road, I also decide to get a pistol, I would then get a conceal pistol permit. If so, can a pistol that is unloaded and locked be a range bag with varoius types of ammo?
Also, if for whatever reason I get pulled over while go to or from the range, do I tell the officer right away I have a firearm(s) in my vehicle or simpily wait for them to ask? Sorry for so many questions, just new to all this and want to do things right is all. Thanks again.

Chris
 
Jan 2009
1,684
0
s. greenlake *****
hmm I don't know the RCW.

But I usually keep rifles and pistols in their cases (not necessarily locked many are just fabric cases)

Magazines unloaded always.

No ammo in guns w/out removable mags.

Ammo usually boxed or in containers in a seperate bag (pistol bag could have both pistols in individual cases and ammo in containers)
 
Jan 2009
745
0
Dri-Shities
Way to many questions in no sort of organized order my head hurts from reading this.
 
Jun 2011
15
0
W. Richland, WA
RCW 9.41.050
Carrying firearms.

(1)(a) Except in the person's place of abode or fixed place of business, a person shall not carry a pistol concealed on his or her person without a license to carry a concealed pistol.

(b) Every licensee shall have his or her concealed pistol license in his or her immediate possession at all times that he or she is required by this section to have a concealed pistol license and shall display the same upon demand to any police officer or to any other person when and if required by law to do so. Any violation of this subsection (1)(b) shall be a class 1 civil infraction under chapter 7.80 RCW and shall be punished accordingly pursuant to chapter 7.80 RCW and the infraction rules for courts of limited jurisdiction.

(2)(a) A person shall not carry or place a loaded pistol in any vehicle unless the person has a license to carry a concealed pistol and: (i) The pistol is on the licensee's person, (ii) the licensee is within the vehicle at all times that the pistol is there, or (iii) the licensee is away from the vehicle and the pistol is locked within the vehicle and concealed from view from outside the vehicle.

(b) A violation of this subsection is a misdemeanor.

(3)(a) A person at least eighteen years of age who is in possession of an unloaded pistol shall not leave the unloaded pistol in a vehicle unless the unloaded pistol is locked within the vehicle and concealed from view from outside the vehicle.

(b) A violation of this subsection is a misdemeanor.

(4) Nothing in this section permits the possession of firearms illegal to possess under state or federal law.

See <http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9.41.050>
 
Nov 2009
463
0
WA
Maybe this?

RCW 77.15.460
Loaded rifle or shotgun in vehicle — Unlawful use or possession — Unlawful use of a loaded firearm — Penalty.

(1) A person is guilty of unlawful possession of a loaded rifle or shotgun in a motor vehicle, as defined in RCW 46.04.320, or upon an off-road vehicle, as defined in RCW 46.04.365, if:

(a) The person carries, transports, conveys, possesses, or controls a rifle or shotgun in a motor vehicle, or upon an off-road vehicle, except as allowed by department rule; and

(b) The rifle or shotgun contains shells or cartridges in the magazine or chamber, or is a muzzle-loading firearm that is loaded and capped or primed.

(2) A person is guilty of unlawful use of a loaded firearm if:

(a) The person negligently discharges a firearm from, across, or along the maintained portion of a public highway; or

(b) The person discharges a firearm from within a moving motor vehicle or from upon a moving off-road vehicle.

(3) Unlawful possession of a loaded rifle or shotgun in a motor vehicle or upon an off-road vehicle, and unlawful use of a loaded firearm are misdemeanors.

(4) This section does not apply if the person:

(a) Is a law enforcement officer who is authorized to carry a firearm and is on duty within the officer's respective jurisdiction;

(b) Possesses a disabled hunter's permit as provided by RCW 77.32.237 and complies with all rules of the department concerning hunting by persons with disabilities; or

(c) Discharges the rifle or shotgun from upon a nonmoving motor vehicle or a nonmoving off-road vehicle, as long as the engine is turned off and the motor vehicle or off-road vehicle is not parked on or beside the maintained portion of a public road, except as authorized by the commission by rule.

(5) For purposes of subsection (1) of this section, a rifle or shotgun shall not be considered loaded if the detachable clip or magazine is not inserted in or attached to the rifle or shotgun.
 
Jan 2013
18
0
Bellingham, WA
To summarize, unless you have a CCW, no loaded weapons in the car. If it's not loaded, and it's not "concealed" you're in the clear.
 
Jan 2009
745
0
Dri-Shities
Let me see if I have this correct. If I have my Washington CPL I can have a loaded long gun in my vehicle just as I can have my loaded pistol, am I right?
 
Jan 2009
227
0
Seattle
Let me see if I have this correct. If I have my Washington CPL I can have a loaded long gun in my vehicle just as I can have my loaded pistol, am I right?

No, you can not have a loaded long arm in your vehicle. CPL or not.
 
Feb 2013
2
0
Bothell, Wa
So if I have my shotgun unloaded in a soft case or hard case in the back of my Jeep I'm fine? The case doesn't have to be locked?
 
Jun 2011
60
0
Everett, WA
My understanding is the same as Damon and Wrench,

No loaded long gun in any motorized vehicle for any reason.

CPL in order to have loaded pistols.

P.S. Fairly certain this applies to boats as well. Which is sort of a grey area IMO depending on what sort of activity you are engaging in.
 
Jan 2010
371
0
Sherwood, OR
I don't think there is any requirement to have it locked or the ammo seperate. From all of the RCWs that I have read, you just have to have it unloaded. Long guns must always be unloaded in the car, even if you have a CPL. Mag can be loaded, just not inserted, and there is ne requirement to have the ammo in a seperate container.
 
Feb 2013
41
0
tacoma, WA
I don't think there is any requirement to have it locked or the ammo seperate. From all of the RCWs that I have read, you just have to have it unloaded. Long guns must always be unloaded in the car, even if you have a CPL. Mag can be loaded, just not inserted, and there is ne requirement to have the ammo in a seperate container.

This! ^
 
Dec 2012
266
1
Vancouver, WA
I don't think there is any requirement to have it locked or the ammo seperate. From all of the RCWs that I have read, you just have to have it unloaded. Long guns must always be unloaded in the car, even if you have a CPL. Mag can be loaded, just not inserted, and there is ne requirement to have the ammo in a seperate container.

*Mag can be loaded if you have a CPL and said mag is for Pistol. If it's for a long gun you cannot have it loaded or in the magazine.

In California, you need the gun, ammo, and mags locked and stowed. once you are in your hotel or parked in your motor home, it's your dwelling, they can come out.

Going into Oregon, You may without a CPL take your Pistol or long rifle to any firing range. It must be directly there and back, if they catch you at quizno's or Dick's sporting goods you're screwed.

This is stuffs I learn't in CPL class. it's handy info if you want to hunt wild pigs in Northern California.
 
Mar 2013
3
0
Wa
Washington State hunting regs reads as follows:

Loaded Firearms in a Vehicle
It is illegal to carry, convey, transport, possess,
or control a loaded shotgun or rifle in or on any
motor vehicle. A rifle or shotgun containing shells
or cartridges in either the chamber or magazine, or
a muzzleloading firearm that is loaded and capped
or primed is considered loaded.
 
Nov 2009
463
0
WA
Regs need to be backed up by rcw. Title 77 covers hunting law and is specific in a detachable mag being ok. So, either the regs are referring to a loaded internal or inserted mag or there is another rcw to contradict 77.15.460(5).
 
Dec 2012
266
1
Vancouver, WA
What RCW are you referring to?

77.15.460 (5) says you just can't insert loaded mags or have them attached to the weapon.

I have misinterpreted that then, I have been emptying my pistol mags to go to the range. I'm definely getting my CPL, one of the reasons is that I had read and interpreted that I needed to empty my mags and lock the gun down separate from my ammo. I feel a little silly.
 
Feb 2013
41
0
tacoma, WA
Brian IS right in this case. So long as the loaded external mags are not inserted in the weapon you are G2G.

If you break down the statute, If ) the rifle ...contains ...cartridges in the magazine.

This means if the loaded magazine is in the weapon.

It does not mean if the magazine contains cartridges, it says and means the rifle.

To put it another way, if the magazine is empty and in the rifle, the rifle is not considered loaded.

The section is clarified in #5:

(5) For purposes of subsection (1) of this section, a rifle or shotgun shall not be considered loaded if the detachable clip or magazine is not inserted in or attached to the rifle or shotgun

For all the effort they put into drafting laws you might expect clearer language but in reality most of these things are written by staff, not the legislators.
 
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