Gun law questions while traveling in California.

[toratiger]

I Live in Washington state, and have a concealed weapons permit issued by my local sherrif's office. I have a couple of questions regarding driving through California. Some of the questions are very generalized, so I fully realize some of the answers will be very general.



The CWP is tied to my drivers license, so if I get pulled over, the fact that I have a CWP is given to the officer who called in my license.

1. If I get pulled over in California, how likely is it that my truck will be searched?
2. Can I keep a loaded handgun or at least a loaded magazine in my vehicle while traveling?
3. I have a scope mounted Rugar Mini-14; is this considered an illegal "assult rifle, and if it isn't, would a high-cap mag be illegal?

Thanks in advance!
I'm in the very early stage of planning a road trip to the SouthWest.

[Blackwater OPS]

First, you should know that your CCW permit is NOT valid here. At all.



1. If I get pulled over in California, how likely is it that my truck will be searched?


We still have the BOR here for the most part, so unless you give the officer that pulls you over some reason to suspect you are commiting a crime, or your vehicle is not legal to drive, or that you have guns in the car, your car will not will not (at least legally) be searched.



2. Can I keep a loaded handgun or at least a loaded magazine in my vehicle while traveling?


Loaded handgun no, loaded magazine-MAYBE(gray area). In either case you must have any HANDGUN (not longgun) locked up or in plain sight (not consealed). If you are going to carry loaded mags leave an unloaded mag in the magwell so no one can say the loaded one is "a part of the gun":rolleyes:.



3. I have a scope mounted Rugar Mini-14; is this considered an illegal "assult rifle, and if it isn't, would a high-cap mag be illegal?


A high cap mag is illegal, don't bring em, period. Your ruger is ok if it does not have any of the following: pistol grip, telescoping stock, thumbhole stock, folding stock, grenade launcher or flare launcher, forward grip, or a flash hider.

[jmlivingston]

. In either case you must have any HANDGUN (not longgun) locked up or in plain sight (not consealed).

Let me add one small bit to that, locking a handgun up in the glovebox or console does not count!

John

[M. Sage]

Here's where I look up gun laws for whenever I travel interstate with a gun:

http://www.nraila.org/GunLaws/

A clickable map with gun laws state to state.

[Yankee Clipper]

Here's where I look up gun laws for whenever I travel interstate with a gun:

http://www.nraila.org/GunLaws/

A clickable map with gun laws state to state.
And the following link pertains to how the CA-DOJ views the same subject. It also references pertinent CA statutes. If there's any conflict between the two links, I believe the federal laws contained in M. Sage's link would prevail.
http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/travel.php

[toratiger]

Thanks for all of the quick replies; they're very helpful.

One more question:
Can I bring a hi-cap handgun magazine to California, or is a 10 rounder the way to go?

[Fjold]

Thanks for all of the quick replies; they're very helpful.

One more question:
Can I bring a hi-cap handgun magazine to California, or is a 10 rounder the way to go?


You may not import any magazines that hold more than 10 rounds.