Newbie with question about carry across State Lines

[Spydergirl]

I apologize if this question has been addressed multiple times, but I'm not sure where to look for threads on this topic. I am a female newbie to firearms and am completely bewildered by the plethora of information, terms, and details about gun ownership, rules, laws, etc. So I'm starting at the VERY VERY beginning !! :-/

My question is about conceal carry across state lines. I understand that VA and WVA recognize permits from PA, but not MD. (Correct?) I often travel to VA and have to hit a small portion of MD on Highway 81 South. How do you handle carrying through states that do not recognize our PA permits? Do we first check to see if they have OPEN-CARRY laws and then make sure the firearm and ammunition are separate from each other in the car in the event of interaction with law enforcement? And, if stopped by law enforcement in a state that does not accept our PA permits, what do you say and how do you handle it?

Thanks so much for any information and your patience with my bewilderment. There are SO many laws, regulations, and difficulties faced even by the most law-abiding citizens, that it is very unnerving and I want to make sure I follow the laws (fair or not - another topic *wink*).

[JonEMTP]

Having MADE that trip, it's simple.

You pull over before leaving the Commonwealth of PA. Secure your firearm(s) as per FOPA safe-transport rules, proceed through the People's Republic of Maryland without making unnecessary stops, then once you cross the border into the Commonwealth of VA, you reverse the process.

[ungawa]

You cannot have a handgun (mostly) or Open Carry in MD. You can travel through the state without stopping (unless absolutely nec.) under federal law (Firearm Owner's Protection Act).

Pull off in PA on the way south on 81. There are threads in this forum section about good spots if you want to search. I usually get scared and pull off around exit 15 I think and dissarm in a fast food parking lot.

Keep everything in the trunk. Handguns unloaded. I unload detachable magazines but I forget if that is required. You do not need to keep guns in the trunk and ammo in the passenger compartment.

There is a Welcome Center in WV right over the border. Pull in and descretely get your sidearm and rearm. See if you can spot anybody else doing the same for fun.

WARNING: On your way back, I suggest you rearm at the Welcome Center in PA as well. Exit 1 on Route 81 in PA actually takes you back into MD. Not a good place to rearm.

[gnbrotz]

WARNING: On your way back, I suggest you rearm at the Welcome Center in PA as well. Exit 1 on Route 81 in PA actually takes you back into MD. Not a good place to rearm.

Not quite. Going south, you must enter MD to use Exit 1, which returns you back to PA. "State Line Rd" runs the border in that area, with the actual border being on the south edge of the road.

Going north, Exit 1 is inside of PA, and using it will keep you in PA, so long as you don't actually exit your vehicle and step just south of the border as you are on State Line Rd.

[ungawa]

Not quite. Going south, you must enter MD to use Exit 1, which returns you back to PA. "State Line Rd" runs the border in that area, with the actual border being on the south edge of the road.

Going north, Exit 1 is inside of PA, and using it will keep you in PA, so long as you don't actually exit your vehicle and step just south of the border as you are on State Line Rd.

Even if you are right, that sounds like a distinction that doesn't change the value of my warning one bit.

Where is the border, the southern edge of the macadam?

Sounds like an issue that people that don't live around your parts shouldn't bother to try to figure out for the purpose of interstate travel.

[Curmudgeon]

Spydergirl, in case you want a reference for the information already posted above...

18 USC § 926A - Interstate transportation of firearms


Notwithstanding any other provision of any law or any rule or regulation of a State or any political subdivision thereof, any person who is not otherwise prohibited by this chapter from transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm shall be entitled to transport a firearm for any lawful purpose from any place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm to any other place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm if, during such transportation the firearm is unloaded, and neither the firearm nor any ammunition being transported is readily accessible or is directly accessible from the passenger compartment of such transporting vehicle: Provided, That in the case of a vehicle without a compartment separate from the driver’s compartment the firearm or ammunition shall be contained in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console.

Link to source: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/926A

[gnbrotz]

Where is the border, the southern edge of the macadam?

Pretty much. Because of the unique nature of this border (Mason-Dixon line), you can actually see one of the crown stones on the south edge of the road when you arrive at the end of the north-bound exit ramp (you will be facing south). This is at the east end of State Line Rd. If you travel the road to the west, the line actually falls away further to the south, lying in farm fields. At not point does any part of that road become MD.

I do understand that unfamiliarity with the area could cause some apprehension.

[ray h]

Not quite. Going south, you must enter MD to use Exit 1, which returns you back to PA. "State Line Rd" runs the border in that area, with the actual border being on the south edge of the road.

Going north, Exit 1 is inside of PA, and using it will keep you in PA, so long as you don't actually exit your vehicle and step just south of the border as you are on State Line Rd.

This is correct concerning the state line. The road is in PA, the south side shoulder of the road is MD.
I make the trip up and down 81 fairly often as I own a rental property in WV. I usually take MD exit 9 and head over to MD60 and go north. At the state line there is a bus turnaround that I stop at to reload. If the dumbasses who made up these rules for the sake of public safety knew there were people stopping along the roads and in rest areas loading and unloading firearms, they would have a cow.

[streaker69]

Question about the "unnecessary stops" part of FOPA. Is stopping and getting gas considered necessary?

[WVneighbor]

I live in Martinsburg and my father lives outside of Waynesboro in Rouzerville. I go up to his house several times a month. My standard procedure is this:

Traveling north on I-81:

Take Exit 23 (Marlowe / Falling Waters), turn left at the end of the ramp, then immediately right into the park-n-ride. Disarm, unload & secure. In the day time the lot has maybe 20 vehicles, in the night it is lit, although not extremely well. This is the LAST exit before you enter MD. Disarming & securing a handgun along the side of a busy interstate highway is, imo, not worth the risk when there is a perfectly good place to do it.

If you turn left and continue north on Route 11, you will find a Texaco on the right, then a 7-11 on the left. Both are lit well after dark, but both tend to be busy, not that most West Virginians would bat an eye, but I'd rather disarm in a place devoid of people.

Rearming: Do it at the first PA rest stop. It is simply the easiest, most well lit place to do so without running the risk of accidentally getting dumped back into MD for 1/2 mile or so. Just keep on trucking until you hit the rest stop.

Traveling south on I-81: The best, most well lit and "secure" place I've found is in front of the truck stop at Exit 5 (Old exit 3). It is well lit, but there tends to be a fair bit of traffic. There is also a McDonalds, Arbys, and two gas stations that might provide a bit of solitude while you disarm. Again, I'd rather not pull off to the side of a busy interstate to disarm, too many people driving too fast for me to be sitting there trying to unload & properly secure my firearm.

Reloading in WV: The rest area is near the top of the hill just after you cross the Potomac. Typically it is well lit, and if you go to the far end of the parking lot, there is usually not many people around. This is the first and most convenient place to stop and begin exercising the right endowed to us by our Creator.

You will, obviously, reverse this as you are coming down from PA not starting in WV.

Drive the speed limit through MD, even that ridiculous 60mph zone around the mall. I've never been stopped, never been looked at weirdly when arming/disarming, no problems at all.

Others have already given you the federal code that covers you as you travel through MD.