Jax Firearms & Stops: Know Your Rights

Florida is a "No Duty to Inform" state. This means that by law, you are not required to tell an officer that you have a firearm in your vehicle unless they specifically ask you. However, safety and common sense should always guide your actions.

1. Prioritize Immediate Safety

Keep Your Hands Visible: This is the most important step. Place both hands on the steering wheel at the "10 and 2" position.



Don't Reach: If your registration or insurance is in the glove box or center console where the firearm is also located, do not reach for it. Wait for the officer to approach and explain the situation first.

2. To Disclose or Not?

Since Florida does not require disclosure, you have two main options:


  • Quiet Compliance: If the firearm is securely concealed and you can reach your documents without moving near it, you may choose to say nothing.



  • Proactive Disclosure (Recommended for Safety): If you know the officer will see the firearm or if you have to reach near it, calmly state: "Officer, for your safety and mine, I want to inform you that I have a lawful firearm in the [location, e.g., center console/holster]. How would you like me to proceed?"


3. The "Constitutional Carry" Law

As of 2023, if you are 21 or older and not otherwise prohibited from owning a firearm, you can carry a concealed weapon in your vehicle in Florida without a permit.



  • The Rule: The firearm must be concealed (not in plain view). If it is sitting on the passenger seat uncovered, you could be cited for "Open Carrying," which is still generally illegal in Florida.

4. If an Officer Asks to Secure the Weapon

In some cases, for "officer safety," a policeman may ask to temporarily take possession of the firearm during the stop.


  • Do not hand the weapon to them. * Follow their instructions exactly. They may ask you to step out of the vehicle while they retrieve it.



  • Note: This is a "seizure" of property. While courts often allow this for safety, if you feel your rights were overstepped, document the officer's name and badge number for your attorney.

Checklist for Jacksonville Gun Owners



  • Is it concealed? Ensure the weapon is not visible through the window to a passerby.


  • Is it in a "secure" location? Keeping it in a holster, a snapped case, or a glove box is best.



  • Do you have ID? Even without a permit, you must carry a valid ID while carrying a concealed weapon.
| Legal Warning: If you are a "prohibited person" (due to a felony conviction, certain domestic violence injunctions, or other legal bars), having a firearm in the car is a serious crime.