firearm transportation

[TDietz]

After reading GG thread about having the police called for having a gun in his vehicle I had question that needs answering. OK, here's the scenario: I have a pickup with an open back, no cap or toolbox, my unloaded 1100 is in a soft case on the backseat with 2 five round boxes of ammo in the zippered pouch of the case. There's another 3 rounds loose in the pocket of my hunting jacket that's in a backpack on the front seat. I'm going directly to my hunting property, I have the proper license and my FID card on my person. I get pulled over by a police officer for a traffic violation, can I be ticketed for not having my ammo secured in a locked box in the cargo area of my pickup?

[Axiom]

 

[Haskell_Hunter]

In NJ with an FID card, maybe not (no definites). Things need to be kept in storage with a “fastener”, not locked.

 

However, transporting across state lines you MUST have ammo locked. I put a plastic bin in the back of my pickup bed and put my ammo box in there, just to be on the safe side. I don’t have a locked box, and ammo cans don’t have a thing to attach a lock.

 

Ammo cans are cheap, usually less than $10-$20. Put your ammo in there, throw it in the bed. No problems.

[B B]

When in doubt call http://www.njsp.org/firearms/firearms-faqs.shtml.

 

1. Any information given here will not help you if you get jammed up.

2. There's no guarantee that the officer that pulls you over will know the correct way to handle your scenario so the end result, right, wrong or indifferent my not go in your favor.

 

As per NJSP website...

 

How do you transport firearms?

Firearms shall be carried unloaded and contained in a closed and fastened case, gunbox, securely tied package, or locked in the trunk of the automobile in which it is being transported.

Ammunition must be transported in a separate container and locked in the trunk of the automobile in which it is being transported. If the vehicle does not have a compartment separate from the passenger compartment, the firearm must be in a locked container other than the vehicle's glove compartment or console.

Edited December 8, 2017 by B B

[mightyhunter]

In NJ with an FID card, maybe not (no definites). Things need to be kept in storage with a “fastener”, not locked.

 

However, transporting across state lines you MUST have ammo locked. I put a plastic bin in the back of my pickup bed and put my ammo box in there, just to be on the safe side. I don’t have a locked box, and ammo cans don’t have a thing to attach a lock.

 

Ammo cans are cheap, usually less than $10-$20. Put your ammo in there, throw it in the bed. No problems.

 

I have a pickup also and do the same. Guns in the cab and ammo goes in a ammo can or zipped bag secured in the bed

[supr78nova]

How do you legally transport cases of target load shotgun shells and cased shotguns (unloaded and zippered gun cases) in the back of a jeep for instance? What do you put the cases (10 boxes of 25 rounds each) of ammo in?

 

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[Bucndoe]

Separate your ammo better. Get an ammo box from Harbor Freight and put a Master lock on it. Done and in compliance

[TDietz]

Thanks Guys, I can't be the only one that never realized ammo had to be that separated from the gun, unfreakinbelievable! I hope others read this. By the way, I have NappenII and he doesn't address this in the entire book. I have a lockable pistol case I can use tomorrow for the ammo, then I'll get the ammo can

[B B]

How do you legally transport cases of target load shotgun shells and cased shotguns (unloaded and zippered gun cases) in the back of a jeep for instance? What do you put the cases (10 boxes of 25 rounds each) of ammo in?

 

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https://www.zoro.com/stanley-rolling-tool-box-22-316-w-x-37-12-d-037025h/i/G2464271/

[supr78nova]

https://www.zoro.com/stanley-rolling-tool-box-22-316-w-x-37-12-d-037025h/i/G2464271/

Does it need to have a lock on it, or is latched acceptable? How about if the the lid is ziptied to the bottom in the case of a rubbermaid tote?

 

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[jerseyhunter]

I always had my gun in a locked case and my ammo in my hunting jacket which I kept in a locked HD tool box. They were both separate and locked behind my seat.

[mazzgolf]

Thanks Guys, I can't be the only one that never realized ammo had to be that separated from the gun, unfreakinbelievable! I hope others read this. By the way, I have NappenII and he doesn't address this in the entire book. I have a lockable pistol case I can use tomorrow for the ammo, then I'll get the ammo can

 

I scoured the laws when I first had this question - and honestly, I have no idea where that law is. Does anyone know where they get this from?

 

The state police on their website says the ammunition needs to be LOCKED IN THE TRUNK in a separate container - see Q&A #6 here: http://www.njsp.org/firearms/firearms-faqs.shtml

 

Firearms shall be carried unloaded and contained in a closed and fastened case, gunbox, securely tied package, or locked in the trunk of the automobile in which it is being transported.

Ammunition must be transported in a separate container and locked in the trunk of the automobile in which it is being transported. If the vehicle does not have a compartment separate from the passenger compartment, the firearm must be in a locked container other than the vehicle's glove compartment or console.

 

(BTW: read that Q&A answer closely - it doesn't say what happens to the ammunition if you don't have a trunk (i.e. you are in a truck with just a passenger cab). It just talks about what to do with the firearm if you don't have a trunk.)

 

Look on the right of this page - http://www.njsp.org/firearms/laws.shtml - where they link to all NJS and NJAC and guidelines. I search the laws (2C:39 and 58) and the admin code (Title 13 Chapter 54) and nothing talks about transporting ammunition locked in the trunk separately (in fact, nothing appears to talk about transporting ammunition at all that I could find).

 

It is not in 2C:58 anywhere, not in NJAC 13:54, nor can I find anything about transport in 2C:39 other than the infamous 2C:39-6(g) - "Any weapon being transported under paragraph (2) of subsection b., subsection e., or paragraph (1) or (3) of subsection f. of this section shall be carried unloaded and contained in a closed and fastened case, gunbox, securely tied package, or locked in the trunk of the automobile in which it is being transported, and in the course of travel shall include only deviations as are reasonably necessary under the circumstances." 

 

That says nothing about ammo at all (other than the firearm needs to be unloaded).

 

Anyone know where they get this that you have to LOCK your ammo up in the TRUNK separately?  Even the firearms don't need to be "locked", just in a "closed and fastened case" is all you need. And separately in the trunk?

 

The only thing I can think of is they are summarizing federal law for interstate transport "18 U.S. Code § 926A - Interstate transportation of firearms":

 

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/926A

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of any law or any rule or regulation of a State or any political subdivision thereof, any person who is not otherwise prohibited by this chapter from transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm shall be entitled to transport a firearm for any lawful purpose from any place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm to any other place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm if, during such transportation the firearm is unloaded, and neither the firearm nor any ammunition being transported is readily accessible or is directly accessible from the passenger compartment of such transporting vehicle: Provided, That in the case of a vehicle without a compartment separate from the driver’s compartment the firearm or ammunition shall be contained in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console.

 

So that does say "That in the case of a vehicle without a compartment separate from the driver’s compartment the firearm or ammunition shall be contained in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console."

 

Does the local/state police enforce federal law like that even if someone is just traveling intra-state? Suppose a local NJ police officer stops you, sees your ammo isn't locked or in your trunk - what statute or law does he write on the ticket that you violated? Or by what statute or law does he arrest and charge you under?

 

Confused...

[TDietz]

I think it's the fed law. Probably used when somebody commits a felony and law enforcement charges them with everything they can

[mattg1500]

When in doubt call http://www.njsp.org/firearms/firearms-faqs.shtml.

 

1. Any information given here will not help you if you get jammed up.

2. There's no guarantee that the officer that pulls you over will know the correct way to handle your scenario so the end result, right, wrong or indifferent my not go in your favor.

 

As per NJSP website...

 

How do you transport firearms?

Firearms shall be carried unloaded and contained in a closed and fastened case, gunbox, securely tied package, or locked in the trunk of the automobile in which it is being transported.

Ammunition must be transported in a separate container and locked in the trunk of the automobile in which it is being transported. If the vehicle does not have a compartment separate from the passenger compartment, the firearm must be in a locked container other than the vehicle's glove compartment or console.

my interpretation of this is that "firearm" is referring to a pistol. I have yet to see a long gun fit in a glovebox or console. It also says ammo kept in a seperate container locked in the trunk, not in a locked container. When I buy ammo it comes in a container, a box. Long gun in a zipped soft case and ammo in the box in your backpack or jacket is how I carry mine into that crooked state. The idea is so you can not easily access your firearm and ammunition easily while in your vehicle. Unless you get stopped by Hillary IMO your fine. The officer will see your hunting stuff and bases on your demeanour would probably pay no mind. If you drove across a lawn and give him an attitude because he will make you late to the stand then he may probe a bit more into how you should be transporting the firearm.

[jerseyhunter]

My thought is, If you lock up both ammo and gun separately you won't be in violation, why take a chance for a few dollars.