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.