Is it legal to pass through MA if...

[Len-2A Training]

Rt119 bounces between Ma and NH, all the from Groton Ma, to Keene NH. I remember seeing Ma staties sitting on the side of the road at border crossings. I've heard of folks getting popped, regardless of FOPA, if for no other reason than to make a point "stay outta ma' state wit dem gunz".

I have not heard of this. Also if guns are in locked case in trunk (ammo in separate case per FOPA), no legal way that any officer can search the trunk in a fishing expedition (lack of probable cause). People stupidly AGREE to a voluntary search and then deserve what they get (and it is never good). KNOW your rights, keep them out of sight, be polite and you won't have that problem.

 

[Brewer]

I have not heard of this. Also if guns are in locked case in trunk (ammo in separate case per FOPA), no legal way that any officer can search the trunk in a fishing expedition (lack of probable cause). People stupidly AGREE to a voluntary search and then deserve what they get (and it is never good). KNOW your rights, keep them out of sight, be polite and you won't have that problem.

Three "know your rights" scenarios:

 

[Qwikdraw45]

If you pack your shit up per FOPA and don't stop, that's one thing... but not sure why anyone would ever do this... maybe in eastern nh, but the rest of the border is pretty "flat."

-Mike

The P&R license is absolutely meaningless. I don't recall if FOPA covers you if your departure and destination states are the same. If so, you'd want a locked container in the trunk.

That said, other than maybe 495 in the eastern areas, I'm having a hard time imagining a route you couldn't easily modify just to avoid MA. It's not like the state is a jigsaw puzzle and it's going to save you 3 hours of driving.

But, do go out of your way to drive through the sound end of the Pheasant Lane Mall... just because.

I've ended up in MA twice by accident, while carrying. Fortunately, I have a MA Non-Res LTC. Both times, I didn't even know it until in MA. I'm used to most states having either a sign saying "Welcome to ..." or at least a town sign letting you know. The first time I only found out because I hit a place for coffee, and the receipt said "whatever town, MA". No idea where exactly the border was. The second time, I only knew I was getting near the border since I drove past Gun & Sport North. When I crossed into MA, once again there was no sign. I feel sorry for anyone who carries in NH and doesn't have a MA LTC. Probably not likely getting stopped, but with "Murphy" that would be the one time when someone had a fender bender or "just over" the speed limit stop.

 

[W.E.C]

I've ended up in MA twice by accident, while carrying. Fortunately, I have a MA Non-Res LTC. Both times, I didn't even know it until in MA. I'm used to most states having either a sign saying "Welcome to ..." or at least a town sign letting you know. The first time I only found out because I hit a place for coffee, and the receipt said "whatever town, MA". No idea where exactly the border was. The second time, I only knew I was getting near the border since I drove past Gun & Sport North. When I crossed into MA, once again there was no sign. I feel sorry for anyone who carries in NH and doesn't have a MA LTC. Probably not likely getting stopped, but with "Murphy" that would be the one time when someone had a fender bender or "just over" the speed limit stop.

I pulled in to a d.d. off the first 93 south exit this summer, and at the light a biker stops beside me with n.h. Plates and no helmet on.

Told him he was in MA. With no lid.
The oh,shi# look on his face was priceless.

 

[cockpitbob]

However, all of the FOPA restrictions must be met. Gun must be unloaded. I don't believe that FOPA covers large capacity magazines, but IANAL.

Correct.
FOPA says nothing about magazines or ammo! It talks about "firearms" only. There is no mention of magazines, so that high capacity mag is a felony in MA. The only mention of ammo in FOPA is with regards to storage.

I mention ammo because hollow point bullets are basically illegal in NJ and can get you 18 months.. You can own HPs for sporting purposes, but the transportation and storage requirements are just nuts.

The text of title-18 USC 926A (FOPA)is pretty short and simple:

§ 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.

(Added Pub. L. 99–360, § 1(a), July 8, 1986, 100 Stat. 766.)

 

[Qwikdraw45]

I pulled in to a d.d. off the first 93 south exit this summer, and at the light a biker stops beside me with n.h. Plates and no helmet on.

Told him he was in MA. With no lid.
The oh,shi# look on his face was priceless.

After reading this story, I went pulled up Mapquest to look for that exit. It looks like the last exit on I-93 is in NH, unless you were talking the last exit out of MA, going north. Strange how they did the border. Most states, if there is a major river, they use that, so NH should have a little more territory. Of course, that would have meant having Lawrence in NH instead. Ugggh.

 

[Prepper]

Correct.
FOPA says nothing about magazines or ammo! It talks about "firearms" only. There is no mention of magazines, so that high capacity mag is a felony in MA. The only mention of ammo in FOPA is with regards to storage.

I mention ammo because hollow point bullets are basically illegal in NJ and can get you 18 months.. You can own HPs for sporting purposes, but the transportation and storage requirements are just nuts.

The text of title-18 USC 926A (FOPA)is pretty short and simple:

I never gave this aspect of FOPA much thought before. So, it doesn't protect you from magazines and ammo that may be "illegal" in the state being passed through? How exactly is someone supposed to do a move between states then? I know at least 2 people who moved to Texas, and then moved back again... all their guns and ammo had to be personally driven because movers won't touch it.

 

[Racenet]

I've ended up in MA twice by accident, while carrying. Fortunately, I have a MA Non-Res LTC. Both times, I didn't even know it until in MA. I'm used to most states having either a sign saying "Welcome to ..." or at least a town sign letting you know. The first time I only found out because I hit a place for coffee, and the receipt said "whatever town, MA". No idea where exactly the border was. The second time, I only knew I was getting near the border since I drove past Gun & Sport North. When I crossed into MA, once again there was no sign. I feel sorry for anyone who carries in NH and doesn't have a MA LTC. Probably not likely getting stopped, but with "Murphy" that would be the one time when someone had a fender bender or "just over" the speed limit stop.

I can never understand this line of thinking. What in the world does this have to do with guns? In my long life, never once have I ever been searched for being pulled over for speeding or if having a fender bender. NEVER, EVER! You make it seem like your firearms simply pop out of where ever they are and wave at the police, "Hey, look at me!".

I carry in NH every day and couldn't care less about a MA LTC. Why you may ask? I simply do not need one.

 

[Racenet]

Correct.
FOPA says nothing about magazines or ammo! It talks about "firearms" only. There is no mention of magazines, so that high capacity mag is a felony in MA. The only mention of ammo in FOPA is with regards to storage.

I mention ammo because hollow point bullets are basically illegal in NJ and can get you 18 months.. You can own HPs for sporting purposes, but the transportation and storage requirements are just nuts.

The text of title-18 USC 926A (FOPA)is pretty short and simple:

Also keep in mind, that is 18 months PER ROUND.

 

[MachineHead]

Get two of these for a cheap solution if just a pistol or two.
SnapSafe Combination Lockbox, X-Large 75240, Portable Metal Handgun Safe & Case, TSA & CA DOJ Approved, Measures 10” x 7” x 2”

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015RNNMOA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_vhB5BbDSMWNT4

Do one for the pistols and the other for mags or a couple boxes of ammo.

 

[n1bsbri]

I can never understand this line of thinking. What in the world does this have to do with guns? In my long life, never once have I ever been searched for being pulled over for speeding or if having a fender bender. NEVER, EVER! You make it seem like your firearms simply pop out of where ever they are and wave at the police, "Hey, look at me!".

I carry in NH every day and couldn't care less about a MA LTC. Why you may ask? I simply do not need one.

If the fender bender situation is serious enough that you get arrested and your car towed, the PoPo will do an inventory search of the vehicle and your person.

ETA, also applies if you are injured and taken away by ambulance.

 

[W.E.C]

After reading this story, I went pulled up Mapquest to look for that exit. It looks like the last exit on I-93 is in NH, unless you were talking the last exit out of MA, going north. Strange how they did the border. Most states, if there is a major river, they use that, so NH should have a little more territory. Of course, that would have meant having Lawrence in NH instead. Ugggh.

Correct, he was tooling around on the side roads, didn’t know he was in MA.

 

[Len-2A Training]

I've ended up in MA twice by accident, while carrying. Fortunately, I have a MA Non-Res LTC. Both times, I didn't even know it until in MA. I'm used to most states having either a sign saying "Welcome to ..." or at least a town sign letting you know. The first time I only found out because I hit a place for coffee, and the receipt said "whatever town, MA". No idea where exactly the border was. The second time, I only knew I was getting near the border since I drove past Gun & Sport North. When I crossed into MA, once again there was no sign. I feel sorry for anyone who carries in NH and doesn't have a MA LTC. Probably not likely getting stopped, but with "Murphy" that would be the one time when someone had a fender bender or "just over" the speed limit stop.

I was rear-ended probably 5 yrs ago on the connector exit ramp from Hudson to the DW in Nashua. Nashua PD responded, asked both for DL & Reg and did the paperwork. NEVER asked about guns, I was carrying and you needed a NH PP to carry back then. Not an issue, no question about guns. In my years on the PD, I responded to accidents, stopped people, etc. and never asked about guns.

I pulled in to a d.d. off the first 93 south exit this summer, and at the light a biker stops beside me with n.h. Plates and no helmet on.

Told him he was in MA. With no lid.
The oh,shi# look on his face was priceless.

Folks don't realize it but it is easy to do and most of what I'll call secondary roads on the SE NH border don't have signs (now entering/leaving).

After reading this story, I went pulled up Mapquest to look for that exit. It looks like the last exit on I-93 is in NH, unless you were talking the last exit out of MA, going north. Strange how they did the border. Most states, if there is a major river, they use that, so NH should have a little more territory. Of course, that would have meant having Lawrence in NH instead. Ugggh.

Probably explains why it's a crooked line.

If the fender bender situation is serious enough that you get arrested and your car towed, the PoPo will do an inventory search of the vehicle and your person.

ETA, also applies if you are injured and taken away by ambulance.

Yes, so don't get arrested. Injured people don't get strip searched unless required to treat the injuries and even then it isn't automatically assumed that you are a criminal. If a police tow, yes the contents will be inventoried (see swatgig's comments above, use a combo lock and it gets listed as a "locked case").

 

[mothybee]

If you don’t put the I’m from New Hampshire and carrying a gun sign on your car you’ll probably be ok. Don’t drive like an a**h*** either.

Why? He'll stand out like a sore thumb.

 

[rcoolbaugh]

Of course, that would have meant having Lawrence in NH instead. Ugggh.

SOLD!

 

[rcoolbaugh]

How I wish we could just extend the straight border across to the atlantic. I live about as far north in MA as you can live without being in NH (near the red dot).
I made the mistake of moving a few hundred feet too far south in 84.

 

[Racenet]

If the fender bender situation is serious enough that you get arrested and your car towed, the PoPo will do an inventory search of the vehicle and your person.

ETA, also applies if you are injured and taken away by ambulance.

Then it sure as hell isn't a fender bender!

 

[ns939393]

How I wish we could just extend the straight border across to the atlantic. I live about as far north in MA as you can live without being in NH (near the red dot).
I made the mistake of moving a few hundred feet too far south in 84.

Most people in NH want it the other way around.
MA can have everything south of Concord with the agreement no more Ma socialists are allowed to move north and vote.
Have fun with Manchester that place is a mess.

 

[KBCraig]

no legal way that any officer can search the trunk in a fishing expedition

It's a well established truism that criminals don't care about the law.

 

[KBCraig]

Correct, he was tooling around on the side roads, didn’t know he was in MA.

My fellow Cold Warriors will recall these signs. I did have the special card that let me pass through to OP Alpha.