An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 18.2-308.7:1, relating to handguns in unattended motor vehicles.
HB110 adds a new section to the Code of Virginia governing how handguns may be stored in unattended motor vehicles. The bill makes it unlawful for a person to knowingly leave a handgun in an unattended vehicle or trunk unless the handgun is out of plain view and secured in a locked hard-sided container. The bill expressly allows certain locked containers affixed to the vehicle’s interior, including a locked glove compartment or center console, and defines “unattended” to cover vehicles left on public highways, public property, or in commercial or retail parking areas when the owner, operator, or any passenger cannot observe the vehicle.
The measure also defines key terms such as “handgun,” “vehicle,” and “boat,” and clarifies that bicycles, e-bikes, scooters, skateboards, and mopeds are not vehicles for purposes of the section. It creates a Class 4 misdemeanor for violations. The law excludes antique firearms, law-enforcement officers, and persons who report a firearm theft or loss as required by existing law.
This bill creates a new firearm-storage requirement in Virginia law and adds a criminal penalty for noncompliance. It affects handgun owners, vehicle owners, and anyone transporting or storing firearms in cars, trucks, trunks, or boats that are left unattended in public or commercial settings. It also interacts with existing firearm definitions and theft-reporting provisions in the Code of Virginia, while carving out exceptions for antique firearms and law-enforcement personnel.
The available record shows the bill was enacted as Chapter 560, indicating it received sufficient support to become law. No committee transcripts or vote details are provided, so there is no direct record here of debate or opposition. Based on the enacted status, the overall legislative outcome was favorable to the bill’s sponsors and supporters.
The main policy issue likely concerns balancing firearm safety and theft prevention against burdens on lawful gun owners who leave firearms in vehicles. Potential points of contention include the requirement that the handgun be stored in a locked hard-sided container, the inclusion of glove compartments and center consoles as acceptable locked storage, and the scope of the definition of “unattended” in public and commercial parking areas. The exceptions for law-enforcement officers and antique firearms may also have been relevant, but no transcript evidence is available to identify specific arguments or opponents.