Carrying in vehicle in Ohio - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

Exmasonite · 04-22-2006, 06:12 AM

Hey everybody-

i have occasion to go visit ohio in the near future. Ohio recognizes my michigan CPL but i was trying to figure out the car carry regulations. It either has to be in a locked glove box or in a holster READILY VISIBLE on my person. Packing.org says this is very vague... wondering what people had figured out about this.
I'm thinking of taking my wrap around ankle holster and putting it on my upper thigh so it is easily visible... My one concern is that it's very close to my hands even if they're calmly on the steering wheel and that could spook a cop. (basically, the gun would be in my lap). either that or just sticking it in the glovebox but i'd rather not do that.

i have the number for the OH AG and will try to call monday but just looking for some thoughts/ideas... i'm not holding anybody to these. thanks!

mcb · 04-22-2006, 06:37 AM

I have my Ohio CCL and the open carry in a car is a real pain in the the butt. If I am carrying IWB then I usually end up putting it in the glove box. So far I usually carry my XD-40 in a belt slide of some type (Galco Matrix, DeSantis Speed Scabbard) and just take my jacket off when I get in my car and slide the holster around from the 4 O'clock position to the 2 O'clock position.

I have a friend that carries IWB and simply tucks his shirt behind it while in his vehicle so the grip and top of the slide shows. From my reading over at http://ohioccwforums.org/ it seem many people do this with their IWB holster and there has even been several encounters with LEO and this passed most LEO definition of open carry. There has also been one or two encounters where the LEO gave them grief for tucking the shirt behind the IWB as not open enough. To much of the present law is left to LEO interpretation.

Hopefully after this summer session HB 347 will get passed and this silly open carry in the vehicle will go away.

Hope that helps
mcb

Exmasonite · 04-22-2006, 06:53 AM

thanks for the info, mcb!

what do you think of my idea of turning my ankle carry into a "thigh" carry?

i think it follows the law but i'd be worried about a touchy cop who doesn't like my gun being THAT accessible to me... i'll probably go w/ the glove box.

mcb · 04-22-2006, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exmasonite

thanks for the info, mcb!

what do you think of my idea of turning my ankle carry into a "thigh" carry?

i think it follows the law but i'd be worried about a touchy cop who doesn't like my gun being THAT accessible to me... i'll probably go w/ the glove box.

I think the thigh carry is actually probably a really good way to follow the law. I have considered it and even have rig for it but have not tryied it as I do not like the fact that I have to unholster and reholster my weapon.

It is very clearly open carry and the likelihood of a shirt or jacket accidentally covering it up is slim. The only draw back as you pointed out is how accessible it is, but not so much for the concern of the officer, but the fact that an unauthorized touching of your weapon during a traffic stop is a felony and that sucks.

They make us carry in a vehicle openly but can charge us with a felony if touch the weapon. Either of these laws are OK alone but putting them together it gets very tough on the average CCL holder.

If you do choose the thigh carry make sure you can get out of you car without your gun falling down your leg. You want to be able to get out of the car without your gun sliding down which may induce a reflexive felony touch.

good luck
mcb

Jettubby · 04-22-2006, 09:09 AM

First of all yes OH has the "visible" carry law whilst in a car however that law is currently in a bill for amendment. Depending on where you are in Ohio, that law is inforced or not; but it's hit or miss. In the Northern areas it's very much enforced. In the south more toward Cincinnati it is not. This was told to me by several Cinci cops. My Kentucky firearms instructor says that you should not have a problem concealing around Cinci, but you take your own chance. Best thing to do is before you cross into OH, pull out your shirt so that your gun is visible. That's not legal advice but just what hear from many around and other LEOs.

I sure hope this ridiculous law gets changed soon as it's such a pain and it's not heavily enforced in the south at least.

kpsks · 04-22-2006, 07:04 PM

Things will change when we get a new Governor here in Ohio, our current one is the reason the ccw law is so motarded as far as carry in a vehicle, IMO. I will be glad when we have a new one, maybe they won't buy so many baseball cards and coins for investment purposes. Next Democrat or Republican will be better than what we currently have In My Opinion.

Exmasonite · 04-23-2006, 02:47 PM

i think i'll just put it in the glovebox as the majority of my driving is going to be on highway... i don't think i'll be going into any heavily urban areas. i'll just wear my holster and pop it in when i have to stop for gas, etc.

thanks everybody!

aiformula · 04-23-2006, 09:08 PM

One last little bit of fyi...

If you want to carry and still have it readily accessible, you can get one of those LifeJacket gun sleeves and it qualifies as a "locked compartment" and has been held as a precedent in montgomery county.

crazyelece · 04-23-2006, 09:46 PM

Just remember it has to be in a locked glove box not just in a glove box. It has to have the ability to lock and be locked. Also if you have minor children you must have it in a locked glove box or a locked case in plain sight. Also from what I've heard the thigh carry is the best most accepted option of carrying in a vehicle. Although locally I know of one case where an off duty officer was pulled over and ticketed for riding his motorcycle while open carrying. He was doing the correct thing but he still had to fight the citation. I'd say they'd be more inclined to give out of staters even more grief than residents so be wary.

mst3kguy · 04-24-2006, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazyelece

Also if you have minor children you must have it in a locked glove box or a locked case in plain sight.

would you mind providing a link to confirm the above, as i am not aware of any such statement addressing minor children changing how you can carry in your vehicle. i thought it was three ways to carry, regardless of who's in the vehicle.

thanks,

dean
cincinnati
xd40service
xd9sc

04-22-2006, 06:12 AM	#1
Exmasonite XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 812	Carrying in vehicle in Ohio Hey everybody- i have occasion to go visit ohio in the near future. Ohio recognizes my michigan CPL but i was trying to figure out the car carry regulations. It either has to be in a locked glove box or in a holster READILY VISIBLE on my person. Packing.org says this is very vague... wondering what people had figured out about this. I'm thinking of taking my wrap around ankle holster and putting it on my upper thigh so it is easily visible... My one concern is that it's very close to my hands even if they're calmly on the steering wheel and that could spook a cop. (basically, the gun would be in my lap). either that or just sticking it in the glovebox but i'd rather not do that. i have the number for the OH AG and will try to call monday but just looking for some thoughts/ideas... i'm not holding anybody to these. thanks!

04-22-2006, 06:37 AM	#2
mcb XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: North East Ohio Posts: 2,076	I have my Ohio CCL and the open carry in a car is a real pain in the the butt. If I am carrying IWB then I usually end up putting it in the glove box. So far I usually carry my XD-40 in a belt slide of some type (Galco Matrix, DeSantis Speed Scabbard) and just take my jacket off when I get in my car and slide the holster around from the 4 O'clock position to the 2 O'clock position. I have a friend that carries IWB and simply tucks his shirt behind it while in his vehicle so the grip and top of the slide shows. From my reading over at http://ohioccwforums.org/ it seem many people do this with their IWB holster and there has even been several encounters with LEO and this passed most LEO definition of open carry. There has also been one or two encounters where the LEO gave them grief for tucking the shirt behind the IWB as not open enough. To much of the present law is left to LEO interpretation. Hopefully after this summer session HB 347 will get passed and this silly open carry in the vehicle will go away. Hope that helps mcb __________________ If at first you don't succeed; RELOAD _ _ _ _ My web site

04-22-2006, 09:09 AM	#5
Jettubby XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: "Blink...and you're mine!" Posts: 2,035	First of all yes OH has the "visible" carry law whilst in a car however that law is currently in a bill for amendment. Depending on where you are in Ohio, that law is inforced or not; but it's hit or miss. In the Northern areas it's very much enforced. In the south more toward Cincinnati it is not. This was told to me by several Cinci cops. My Kentucky firearms instructor says that you should not have a problem concealing around Cinci, but you take your own chance. Best thing to do is before you cross into OH, pull out your shirt so that your gun is visible. That's not legal advice but just what hear from many around and other LEOs. I sure hope this ridiculous law gets changed soon as it's such a pain and it's not heavily enforced in the south at least. __________________ T "You can come along peacefully or you don't have to come along at all". - Sonny Crockett "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." - Abraham Lincoln And Jesus said, “He that hath no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one.” (Luke, 22:36)

04-22-2006, 07:04 PM	#6
kpsks XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: sw ohio Posts: 149	Things will change when we get a new Governor here in Ohio, our current one is the reason the ccw law is so motarded as far as carry in a vehicle, IMO. I will be glad when we have a new one, maybe they won't buy so many baseball cards and coins for investment purposes. Next Democrat or Republican will be better than what we currently have In My Opinion. __________________ Old school to the core. PC=petty crap

04-23-2006, 09:08 PM	#8
aiformula XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: sw ohio Posts: 3,117	One last little bit of fyi... If you want to carry and still have it readily accessible, you can get one of those LifeJacket gun sleeves and it qualifies as a "locked compartment" and has been held as a precedent in montgomery county. __________________ Tony Obama '08... change we can bereave in. Guns are like orgasms.......you just can't have enough good ones!

04-22-2006, 06:53 AM	#3
Exmasonite XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 812	thanks for the info, mcb! what do you think of my idea of turning my ankle carry into a "thigh" carry? i think it follows the law but i'd be worried about a touchy cop who doesn't like my gun being THAT accessible to me... i'll probably go w/ the glove box.

04-23-2006, 02:47 PM	#7
Exmasonite XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 812	i think i'll just put it in the glovebox as the majority of my driving is going to be on highway... i don't think i'll be going into any heavily urban areas. i'll just wear my holster and pop it in when i have to stop for gas, etc. thanks everybody!

04-23-2006, 09:46 PM	#9
crazyelece XDTalk Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Maineville, Cincinnati, OH Posts: 73	Just remember it has to be in a locked glove box not just in a glove box. It has to have the ability to lock and be locked. Also if you have minor children you must have it in a locked glove box or a locked case in plain sight. Also from what I've heard the thigh carry is the best most accepted option of carrying in a vehicle. Although locally I know of one case where an off duty officer was pulled over and ticketed for riding his motorcycle while open carrying. He was doing the correct thing but he still had to fight the citation. I'd say they'd be more inclined to give out of staters even more grief than residents so be wary.

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