Bill Text: VA SB901 | 2023 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: Firearm in unattended motor vehicle; civil penalty.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 18-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2023-02-22 - Left in Public Safety [SB901 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2023-SB901-Engrossed.html
Patrons Prior to Engrossment--Senators Marsden, Barker, Bell, Boysko, Deeds, Ebbin, Edwards, Favola, Hashmi, Howell, Locke, Lucas, Mason, McPike, Petersen, Saslaw, Spruill and Surovell
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 2 of Chapter 12 of Title 46.2 a section numbered 46.2-1215.1 as follows:
§46.2-1215.1. Firearm in unattended motor vehicle; civil penalty.
A. For purposes of this section, an "unattended motor
vehicle" means a motor vehicle [ , trailer, semitrailer, or part
or combination thereof ] that is left unattended on a public highway
or other public property and the owner, operator, or any passenger of such
motor vehicle [ , trailer, semitrailer, or part or combination
thereof ] is unable to observe such motor vehicle [ ,
trailer, semitrailer, or part or combination thereof ] .
B. No person shall leave, place, or store any handgun, as
defined in §18.2-307.1, in any unattended motor vehicle unless such vehicle is
locked [ and such handgun is secured in a locked container or locked
compartment of such vehicle ] .
C. Any person convicted of a violation of this section is subject to a civil penalty of no more than $500.
All penalties collected under this section shall be paid into the state treasury to be credited to the Literary Fund as provided in § 46.2-114.
D. For purposes of §46.2-1213, any violation of this section deems the vehicle as illegally parked and such unattended motor vehicle may be subject to removal.
