Flying to SeaTac, Driving to AZ

[AlaskaErik]

I'm going to be flying to SeaTac from Alaska and then picking up my crewcab pickup at the Port of Tacoma and driving to Tucson, AZ by way of 90-82-84 to Twin Falls and then US 93 into AZ. My concern is having my Ruger LCP in my luggage at SeaTac and then in my truck while in WA and OR. I have a lockbox that's tethered underneath the back seat of the truck. Does that meet WA and OR standards for securing the firearm? I would just keep the ammo in my luggage, which would be in the bed of the truck, which does have a Leer canopy shell. I will have to spend the night in WA due to our arrival time. I know my Alaska CCW is not recognized in WA or OR, but is there any issue with locking and loading in the motel parking lot and keeping the pistol in the room? I would separate the ammo and firearm in the morning as I'm getting ready to depart. Once I'm in Idaho I know I'm just fine carrying, but WA and OR make me very uncomfortable as far as their laws. One more thing...I will also have the original receipt for my LCP. Thanks for any advice.

 

[Ifishsum]

As far as I understand, at least as far as a vehicle in Oregon you should be OK as long as it isn't 'readily accessible' (generally meaning in the passenger compartment). Since a pickup doesn't have a trunk, it would appear (from subsection 4) that a locked box or other locked compartment meets that requirement: https://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/166.250

 

[Ohen Cepel]

Hotels are usually equal to your home, so if legal in a home there you should be good in a room. I wouldn't load it till in the room though to be safe. Someone see you with it in the parking lot could be bad.

IANAL but cleared and under the seat locked should be fine till you can get to Idaho.

 

[Highland Lofts]

In washington state you can legally open carry, oregon I have no idea.

 

[mjsdwash]

in WA you cannot open carry inside a vehicle. Should be fine to have it "unloaded and out of reach".. Only state law applies to firearms, for now so wa state law is what you have to worry about. Generally follow the FOPA rules and if you have to stop, keep it in its case. WA has gone stupid the last few years, but call the state patrol and ask ahead for their suggestions, they will usually help
https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9.41.050

https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9.41

as far as your rout, I would recommend 5-90-93, those small state highways are full of speedcops, The whole region half-asses road clearing during winter, but keeps 90 clear to cater to the commercial trucking and skiers. WA has a huge deficit to make up, and the Hwy Patrol will always be happy to come after you, police here, like anywhere frequently make up their own gun laws, and leave it for the courts. Best way to avoid is Interstate hwy's, carry insurance, don't speed too much, and have chains if your truck is not FWD. While its not common, this time of year you have mandatory chain up in some passes, and you have to either have chains, or FWD/snow tires depending on severity. If not, fines, and attention. Good luck, either rout is a nice trip.

 

[mjsdwash]

I wanted to add, while referring people to state laws is generally flakey, WA was once a well governed logically driven state, and our laws are well written out in a way normal people can at least stumble through, and are published on the WA.gov website I linked above.

 

[Old Dog]

WA has gone stupid the last few years, but call the state patrol and ask ahead for their suggestions, they will usually help

No, sorry, please don't call them. No need. And frankly, the person you might reach might not be the subject matter expert.

In any case, the RCWs are readily available on the internet and pretty clear. https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9.41

You can keep the pistol separate from the ammo in the vehicle, and so long as the pistol isn't available to any other occupant of the vehicle you're GTG with the pistol in a lockbox. You certainly can keep the pistol loaded in a motel or hotel room. Highly recommended if you're spending the night in the Sea-Tac/Burien/Des Moines/Federal Way/Renton areas.

but is there any issue with locking and loading in the motel parking lot and keeping the pistol in the room?

If done discreetly in the cover of your vehicle, there should be no issue. Situational awareness applies.

Open carry IS legal for non-residents, but strangely, just not in your vehicle without a WA CPL or other license recognized by WA. In almost every city or town outside of Seattle, Tacoma or Bellingham, OC is unremarkable. And any LE that might have occasion to perform a traffic stop on your vehicle is going to assume there's at least one firearm in the vehicle but you typically won't be asked unless it's in the wee hours of the morning or in an insolated location. NO duty to inform in WA.

This website is your friend:
https://handgunlaw.us/

While our politics here have gone off the rails, most of our law enforcement is pretty enlightened and not out to burn law-abiding citizens. I cannot speak for my brothers in Oregon, but I can tell you that Idaho is a great American state.

 

[AlaskaErik]

as far as your rout, I would recommend 5-90-93, those small state highways are full of speedcops, The whole region half-asses road clearing during winter, but keeps 90 clear to cater to the commercial trucking and skiers. WA has a huge deficit to make up, and the Hwy Patrol will always be happy to come after you, police here, like anywhere frequently make up their own gun laws, and leave it for the courts. Best way to avoid is Interstate hwy's, carry insurance, don't speed too much, and have chains if your truck is not FWD. While its not common, this time of year you have mandatory chain up in some passes, and you have to either have chains, or FWD/snow tires depending on severity. If not, fines, and attention. Good luck, either rout is a nice trip.

That routing would take me way out of the way. I don't do chains, but my truck is 4WD and has good winter tires on it. I'm not worried about cops, I've done this route before and had no problems. The speed limits are such that they are no problem for me.

 

[Old Dog]

When you leaving? Talk of four or five more feet of snow in the passes by Sunday...

 

[AlaskaErik]

When you leaving? Talk of four or five more feet of snow in the passes by Sunday...

I should be driving through WA and OR around the 11th and 12th.

 

[david58]

Cannot talk to WA, but in OR you need to have the gun locked up (not readily accessible) and separate from ammo. It cannot be loaded.

 

[vintovka]

I should be driving through WA and OR around the 11th and 12th.

Cannot talk to WA, but in OR you need to have the gun locked up (not readily accessible) and separate from ammo. It cannot be loaded.

Weather here has been very unpredictable with heavy rain and strong wind at times so heads up also bad stuff is happening again in cities like Portland so consider bypassing it.

 

[NMexJim]

Peaceable Journey Law (gunlaws101.com)

This might help. I drive a crew cab as well. I've run across mention of "out of reach of driver or passengers". Except in the four states mentioned, I wonder if the lockable compartment under the back seat would suffice? Oh, but for a set of National Laws. But Denver and Santa Fe would just ignore it anyway.

I like the suggestion to carry a copy of 18 USC § 926A - Interstate transportation of firearms law with you. Probably won't help but at least you can give it a try.