Florida Senate - 2024 SB 1250



By Senator Berman





26-01284-24 20241250__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to safe storage of firearms and
3 ammunition within motor vehicles and vessels; creating
4 s. 790.176, F.S.; defining the terms “motor vehicle,”
5 “trunk,” and “vessel”; requiring persons who store or
6 leave firearms or ammunition in motor vehicles or
7 vessels under their control to keep the firearms or
8 ammunition locked within specified locations within
9 the motor vehicles or vessels; providing criminal
10 penalties; providing an effective date.
11
12 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
13
14 Section 1. Section 790.176, Florida Statutes, is created to
15 read:
16 790.176 Requirements for safe storage of firearms and
17 ammunition within motor vehicles and vessels.—
18 (1) As used in this section, the term:
19 (a) “Motor vehicle” has the same meaning as in s.
20 320.01(1).
21 (b) “Trunk” means the fully enclosed and locked main
22 storage compartment of a motor vehicle which is not accessible
23 from the passenger compartment. The term does not include a
24 compartment that has a window, the bed of a pickup truck, or the
25 rear area of a hatchback, station wagon-type motor vehicle, or
26 sport utility motor vehicle.
27 (c) “Vessel” has the same meaning as in s. 327.02.
28 (2) A person who stores or leaves a firearm, whether loaded
29 or unloaded, or ammunition within a motor vehicle or vessel
30 under his or her control while the person is not within the
31 motor vehicle or vessel must keep the firearm or ammunition
32 locked within the trunk, locked within a utility or glove box,
33 or locked within a container securely affixed to the motor
34 vehicle or vessel.
35 (3) A person who violates subsection (2) commits a
36 misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.
37 775.082 or s. 775.083.
38 Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.