Driving up the east coast with two handguns and two rifles

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Maui19

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We are lucky enough to live in the south while having a cabin in Vermont where we spend summers. The last couple summers, I've been traveling over to NH to take some courses at the Sig Sauer Academy. Mostly I have used their equipment, but now I would like to do some more advanced training with my own gear. This year, I would like to bring two of my handguns (10 and 17 capacity mags), my shotgun (8 round capacity), and my AR-15 (30 round capacity). All the guns would be locked in a separate compartment in the car and separate from any ammo.

I would be basically going up I-95 through the Carolinas, VA, MD, NJ, NY, CT and MA before getting to VT. I am a little worried about doing this, particularly NY and MA.

One possibility would be to ship all my high capacity mags via FedEx if that would help.

Is this a risky thing to do, our would I be ok since I would simply be passing through some of the thornier jurisdictions?
 
Depends. Is your car plastered with pro 2A stickers? That's a great way to get the wrong kind of attention here in NY, especially going through NYC and the surrounding counties.
 
Legally, Federal Safe Passage provides positive defense if you comply with the conditions. Note that I did not say it protects you. . . you may still be arrested, towed, fined, and otherwise abused until you've exercised your right to hire a lawyer and spent your own money defending yourself.

I'm sure that 99.99% of the people who drive through the hell-hole that is southern New England get away just fine; the 0.01% who don't probably regret trying. I have done it, and probably would do it again.

I would USPS the magazines to myself, and drive carefully. You might check with Sig and see if they have a means to receive some/all of the weapons for you, let you use them on their property during training, and then send them back to you in your home state when you're done.
 
Unless time is critical, get off the Interstate, enjoy the rural scenery and you will also avoid a lot of the Interstate hoopla folks throw out as being factual regarding out of state plates.

I drove from FL to ME (wife wanted a lobstah roll); Meandered out way to places like the Flight 93 memorial, Blue Ridge Parkway, etc. and had a wonderful time with ZERO issues, even coming back through parts of MA, RI, CT, NYC (G-W bridge) and NJ. I didn't throw empty beer bottles out of the window, cut off police cars at high rates of speed, or anything that called any attention to me. I never have ANY stickers of any kind on the car, and especially never anything gun related like NRA or Elk Foundation, etc.
 
I would pack up my guns IAW FOPA and not worry about it. I wouldn't spend the night in MD, NJ, NY, or MA. I grew a city boy and don't leave anything in my car overnight that I don't want to lose.

There have been horror stories about people getting caught with guns in unfriendly states. They really are few and far between.

Enjoy your trip.
 
You might check with Sig and see if they have a means to receive some/all of the weapons for you, let you use them on their property during training, and then send them back to you in your home state when you're done.

If you are sending your guns on for repair (assuming they are all SIG). Stop overthinking this, MILLIONS of people travel the roads in the East and do not get arrested for driving through one state with out of state plates. Follow the laws of the states you will be traveling through and have a nice time at the SIG Academy
 
I wouldn't do it but as has been mentioned I'm sure lots of folks get away with it.

Just be aware that in a few of the states youd be passing through, IF you are pulled over and found out, you will likely be going to jail.

Ive been told by more than a few people that you don't even want to get caught with brass or an empty ammo box in some of the aforementioned states if you're from out of town. Now imagine your AR, even without mags.


Hope you make it and enjoy your trip.
 
I'm thinking I will probably ship the hi-cap mags and AR lower, and travel with the rest of the stuff. No ammo--I'll buy that up north.

I disagree that if caught I will be going to jail. It might be a legal hassle, but I would be within the law. I think. Lol.
 
I'm thinking I will probably ship the hi-cap mags and AR lower, and travel with the rest of the stuff. No ammo--I'll buy that up north.

I disagree that if caught I will be going to jail. It might be a legal hassle, but I would be within the law. I think. Lol.
Just so you know...
If you have a ccw some states add that info to your driver's license info, so if you're stopped for ANYTHING and the cop runs a check on your DRIVER'S license, it will show you have a ccw.
Happened to me in OR with a Florida ccw and driver's license.
Why? Florida interstate 75 mph...OR interstate 55mph EVERYWHERE (at the time)
1st question when the cop came back to my truck from running my license was "do you have any guns with you today?".
So there's that,
:)
 
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Maui19 writes:

I disagree that if caught I will be going to jail. It might be a legal hassle, but I would be within the law. I think. Lol.

Just remember that "legal hassles" tend to be financial ones, too. There's a reason for the old adage of "You might beat the rap, but you won't beat the ride."

Call me paranoid, but I won't ever plan to travel into or through some of the states mentioned with anything more than a revolver or shotgun, and I won't "stay" in any of them with any firearm if I can help it. My concern is more being found out if I'm involved in an accident than by being pulled over.
 
I live in DE right on the border with MD (the creek in my back yard is literally the separation between New Castle County, DE and Cecil County, MD). In MD just pass through. Do not stop for any reason. As for NJ and NY, they're more of a hassle. I can't speak for NJ, but the last time that transport came up in a CLE seminar, a recently retired Delaware judge took a little bit of a left turn during his presentation to lament what a royal pain it was to be able to transport one of his handguns from Delaware to Vermont. Of particular note was a NY requirement to pay the state a few bucks to get a license to transport a firearm through New York. Other horror stories abound around NY and NJ where folks who have had flights diverted overnight have gone to check their firearm with TSA the next day only to be arrested by local authorities.
 
I am in New York, Since the Safe Act was passed, possession of a magazine with a capacity of more than 10 rounds is a class A misdemeanor. In New Jersey, You may not possess hollowpoint ammo. I would ship the mags, it's not worth the trouble if you get caught.
 
Is an AR upper considered a firearm these days?

Probably in NJ it is. Washington DC too.
Avoid NJ by going thru PA. Go as far north in VA so MD is just a few miles. Stop at the NY border on the PA for an overnight stay and full gas tank avoiding every way that goes toward NYC. NY borders VT.
And the scenery is better than the interstates.
 
If possible I would avoid I95 as much as possible.

The last time I did a round trip tothe Poconos in PA I took I95, to I26, to I77, to I81. That route follows the west sides of the east coast states. You avoid DC totally and spend about 15 min in MD. This route only added only 30 or 40 mintues to my trip.

From I81 you can connect to I84 or other interstates which head east and are located in more rural areas
 
If it were me, I'd box it all up and ship it a day or two before you leave... so it arrives at your cabin or Post Office a day or two after you do.

It's not worth the risk, and you'll have more room for stuff in your car.
 
If it were me, I'd box it all up and ship it a day or two before you leave... so it arrives at your cabin or Post Office a day or two after you do.

It's not worth the risk, and you'll have more room for stuff in your car.

That's the way I'm leaning right now.
 
"MD, NJ, NY, or MA"
I wouldn't even stop for a meal in any of the above states. Get gas, stay in your car, and that's about it.
Sorry, that's just silly; those states are not only beautiful (especially in the Fall), but they have some great places to eat. You are allowed to stop and eat, just like you are allowed to stop and gas up or use a rest stop restroom.
 
I wonder if the license plate readers will be used to signal a gun permit owner.
And how would that be? MY CWFL is NOT tied to my DL; there's no way for a cop in my state to know unless he asks and I tell him - and most don't.
 
Just so you know...
If you have a ccw some states add that info to your driver's license info, so if you're stopped for ANYTHING and the cop runs a check on your DRIVER'S license, it will show you have a ccw.
Happened to me in OR with a Florida ccw and driver's license.
Why? Florida interstate 75 mph...OR interstate 55mph EVERYWHERE (at the time)
1st question when the cop came back to my truck from running my license was "do you have any guns with you today?".
So there's that,
:)
Sorry, FL's CWFL are NOT tied to your D/L; not even the FL cops can tell.
 
Sorry, that's just silly; those states are not only beautiful (especially in the Fall), but they have some great places to eat. You are allowed to stop and eat, just like you are allowed to stop and gas up or use a rest stop restroom.

I have heard the opposite, that you are allowed to travel through a state but might have trouble if you stop
 
I have heard the opposite, that you are allowed to travel through a state but might have trouble if you stop
Not if you stop temporarily to have a meal, get gas, etc. Now, IF you stop to go visit some park or other attraction, that is something altogether.
 
Not if you stop temporarily to have a meal, get gas, etc. Now, IF you stop to go visit some park or other attraction, that is something altogether.

Not even NJ residents are allowed to stop and have a meal with a firearm in the car. I would not do this.

Also, hollow point ammo IS legal in NJ. Hollow point ammunition is an add on penalty if it is used in the commission of a crime, but HP most certainly is legal for lawful purposes. For some reason people (even NJ residents) think it is illegal.
 
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