Screwball,
I can't agree that it's even similar to an apple. Despite your looking up NJ statutes, having even a single piece of rifle brass on the floor of your vehicle may not in itself be illegal. However, it may prompt a law enforcement officer to question and possibly detain an individual. An apple would excite only a customs official who is worried about certain pesticides and/or diseases.
Just like having a SINGLE carton of cigarettes for personal consumption while driving North of I95 may be “legal”, I would not put it in plain view from outside the vehicle. Likewise, I would not drive around town with my beer can collection on Saturday night. ... What I am saying is: Even if it's legal, be discrete.
Chuck
Chuck, the law itself was asked... which there is not any other point in 2C (Criminal Code for NJ) that defines a case as ammunition.
Now, if it was seen in a traffic stop, how exactly would I put my view on that? Is the person in question going to leave it out in the open? Is he going to sit there when the officer comes up and wave the case in front of his face? Is there a reason for the officer to search whatever bag the single case is in? At that point, would walking with a case in his bag cause a higher likelihood of the person being stuck by lightning? These are all great questions, but that doesn't change the fact that it is not illegal within the context of the law.
I did not touch on flying with it, as I don't know that. I'm not TSA, but working in this state for a few years as L/E, I'll say that a single case wouldn't turn my attention anymore than to make sure the person isn't going to pull a gun out and shoot me (but that judgement would be made by a lot of other variables that could only be looked at during that situation... and I'd still be watching it until the end of the stop either way).
Having an empty case could be suspicion to look further, but unless he is breaking another specific law (having weed in the bag next to the case, for example) it isn't going to send him to jail. If, in the unlikelihood that a question was ask, "I went shooting with a friend out of state and he gave me it for a souvenir" would probably be good enough. I'll say it would if it was my traffic stop...
If you are hiding your cigarette pack when driving anywhere in NJ because of worrying about getting locked up, you really must think that L/E here is that bored. We are not all mimicking the Gestapo, looking for a reason to arrest civilians that have guns in legal/morally right applications. Does it happen? Yes, because if someone that is carrying from out of state was let go, and someone from the media or AG office finds out, that officer is likely losing their job. Just as some people say about pimping, being in L/E "ain't easy." Do the wrong thing and your entire career, even everything you worked hard for throughout your life, can be taken away from you.