South Dakota:handguns may be loaded and carried in plain view or unloaded and carried in the trunk or other closed compartment.A recent opinion from the Attorney General states that a permit is not rquired to carry a loaded handgun in a vehicle"if any part of the firearm is capable of being seen".
Handguns can be hidden from view if they are unloaded and secured in the trunk or other closed compartment.That would include glove box or console box.
.
Loaded rifles and shotguns may be in the passenger area or trunk.
Have a safe trip!
Aquila Blanca,I was typing while you were posting.Obviously one of us is wrong.
My info comes from firearms attorney J.Scott Kappas' Travelers Guide to the 50 states,2007
I hope Kappa's is right.It makes travelers lives in SD a lot easier.
http://www.handgunlaw.us
South Dakota Must be in plain view.
22-14-9 Carrying pistol or revolver without a permit as misdemeanor.
Any person, other than a law enforcement officer when acting as such, is guilty of a Class 1
misdemeanor if he:
2) Carries a pistol or revolver, loaded or unloaded, concealed in any vehicle operated by him,
without a permit as provided in chapter § 23-7.
The Attorney General gave an Unofficial Opinion on Car Carry on September 17, 2004. The
Attorney General Stated that South Dakota Law allowed anyone to carry a loaded Firearm inside
vehicle without a permit as long as the firearm was visible. You can read the Attorney Generals
Opinion at:
http://www.sdsos.gov/adminservices/adminpdfs/scan.pdf