California/Arizona trip law questions

[Treylis]

Well, a friend of mine is driving to Blythe, California tomorrow, and then immediately back to Arizona to perform a little tax jiggery-pokery with a car, and she's recruited me at the last minute to ride along and safeguard her on this trip. Needless to say, I'm going to be strapping on my 1911, but then I realized: "Curses... we're going to be entering enemy territory. The People's Republic of California."

I've checked packing.org, and it seems to me that just prior to entering California, since I'm not lucky enough to have a Cali CCW, I'm going to have to unholster and put it in a locked box in the trunk, ammo separately. The gun must be CA-legal--and so I'm hoping that a Springfield 1911 is? The model is PX9152L.

So... am I going to have to rush out and buy a lockable hard case tonight, or can I just put a lock on one of my soft ones to get around this ridiculous law? I haven't traveled between states by car in so long that I was a little kid when I did it last--am I going to be harassed at the state border by some goon asking if I have guns in the car? Also, I'm not 21 yet, and if I recall correctly, she isn't either... does that make a difference? Any other advice folks could give me?

 

[Telperion]

It doesn't have to be a hard case; anything with a lock will do. Don't worry about if the gun is on the approved list -- it doesn't matter in this case. Make sure you download your mags before entering. It's one of those gray areas and some have interpreted "loaded weapon" to include a loaded magazine.

 

[Dbl0Kevin]

Wow you can really tell you haven't traveled in a long while LOL. There are no gestapo checkpoints at state borders.....heck you'll be lucky if there is even a sign that hasn't been knocked down letting you know you're in another state. When I used to live in northwestern AZ I accidently drove into Cali once without even knowing it till I saw some road signs. Seeing as how I had my 1911 on my hip too I made a U-turn right quick out of the land of the commies.

 

[railroader]

It just needs to be locked in the trunk unloaded. I use a locked case in my pickup here in cali because I have no trunk. One thing is you are suppose to carry it to the trunk in a locked container(lame huh). Just lock your gun in the trunk at the border then take it back out when you get back into arizona. Mark

 

[Kevlarman]

Nowhere in California law does it say the gun must be in the trunk. It just can't be in the glovebox or center console (locked or not). And the ammunition doesn't have to be locked seperately either, just not in a position of loading (mag inserted in pistol, for example). The law also doesn't state if loaded mags have to be locked up too, but that's really at the discretion of the officer that pulls you over and finds a loaded mag next to your handgun.

I use a gun rug with a padlock through the zipper. Funny thing is that I use those locks with a three digit combination and I set the numbers to be one number off the unlock code. For instance, if the code to unlock it was 1-2-3, I'd set it to 1-2-4 for quicker access.

 

[gunsmith]

You are allowed to carry long guns

Concealed long guns are legal if they are unloaded.
I would say a double barrel in the backseat with a blanket over it and some shells in the front would be legal.
There is a good book I used to have "How to own a gun in California and stay out of jail" I got it from that.
Also the "legal gun" thing is when you buy a gun in CA or move here. Move here and you must register your handgun with DOJ (even though they don't tell you at all,even @ DMV)When you buy one it is automatically put in a data base.
An unregistered handgun is a felony to carry!
So maybe a shotgun is the way to go....IANAL btw and am not sure about visitors and handguns.
try our CA know it all and general hero Jim March

He knows everything and everybody

 

[Treylis]

Wow you can really tell you haven't traveled in a long while LOL. There are no gestapo checkpoints at state borders.

Actually, I've traveled quite a bit, but almost never by car since I was a little kid. It's all been via plane and I'm already somewhat conversant with the rules insofar as that.

There is a good book I used to have "How to own a gun in California and stay out of jail"

Haha, I'm probably not even going to be in California for more than an hour, much less move there and have to worry about the legality of my guns.

It's really funny how on one side of an invisible line I'm a law-abiding citizen with a loaded gun on my hip, and on the other I'm a multiple felon, isn't it?

 

[316SS]

It's really funny how on one side of an invisible line I'm a law-abiding citizen with a loaded gun on my hip, and on the other I'm a multiple felon, isn't it?

Funny? Not if you live on the wrong side of that invisible line!

Safe travels.

316SS

 

[Valkman]

I would say a double barrel in the backseat with a blanket over it and some shells in the front would be legal.

I doubt very much that it would be legal if the ammo was in reach and readily available. I think to most cops in CA that would be the same as a loaded gun.

 

[Treylis]

There are no gestapo checkpoints at state borders.....heck you'll be lucky if there is even a sign that hasn't been knocked down letting you know you're in another state.

Just an update... there actually were Gestapo checkpoint booths at the state border, but the non-semi/cargo lanes were all closed with "no inspections today" signs, so we just drove through.

 

[TimRB]

"Just an update... there actually were Gestapo checkpoint booths at the state border, but the non-semi/cargo lanes were all closed with "no inspections today" signs, so we just drove through."

Those are agricultural inspection checkpoints. You're not allowed to bring certain fresh vegetables into the state because we don't want any diseases or pests to get into our fruits and nuts. If you do get stopped at one, all they want to know is if you are carrying any fresh produce.

Once you are in the state you may stop and buy whatever produce you want, and even carry it concealed.

Tim

 

[Dave P]

"Once you are in the state you may stop and buy whatever produce you want, and even carry it concealed."

So any Tom/Dick/Harry can just walk into any fruit-stand and purchase anything he wants? And then walk out with it that same day? Concealed in his pocket? You don't have that fruit-stand loophole law do ya?

Oh the humanity -- Do it for the children!