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.