Texas Penal Code section 46.02(a-1), the Motorist Protection Act expanded by HB 1927, lets any adult legally entitled to possess a firearm carry a handgun inside their motor vehicle or watercraft. No permit is required, and the handgun may be loaded.
Texas Penal Code 46.02(a-1) lets adults legally entitled to possess a firearm keep a handgun in a vehicle or watercraft they own or control anywhere in Dallas County. The handgun may be loaded and within reach. It cannot be in plain view if the carrier is engaged in non-traffic criminal activity, belongs to a criminal street gang, or is otherwise federally or state-barred from firearms. Long guns may also be transported without a permit. Dallas County Sheriff deputies and constables follow state law during traffic stops; drivers should keep hands visible and answer questions honestly. Sensitive-place limits in Penal Code 46.03 still apply at destinations like the courthouse or schools.
Unlawful carrying in a vehicle by a prohibited person, gang member, or person committing a non-traffic crime is a Class A misdemeanor under Penal Code 46.02, with fines up to four thousand dollars and up to one year in jail.
See how Garland's firearms in vehicles rules stack up against other locations.
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