# C.R.S. § 18-12-114.5: 18-12-114.5. Secure firearm storage in a vehicle - penalty - definition > Colorado · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T18_A12_P1_S18-12-114.5 ## Section - **Citation:** C.R.S. § 18-12-114.5 - **Heading:** 18-12-114.5. Secure firearm storage in a vehicle - penalty - definition - **Jurisdiction:** Colorado - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** CO Code / Title 18 / Article 12 / Part 1 / Section 18-12-114.5 ## Text 18-12-114.5. Secure firearm storage in a vehicle - penalty - definition. [Editor's note: This section is effective January 1, 2025.] (1) (a) A person shall not knowingly leave a handgun in an unattended vehicle unless the handgun is in a locked hard-sided container that is placed out of plain view, including a locked container that is permanently affixed to the vehicle's interior, and the container is in any of the following: (I) A locked vehicle; (II) The locked trunk of a locked vehicle; or (III) A locked recreational vehicle, as defined in section 24-32-902. (b) A person shall not knowingly leave a firearm that is not a handgun in an unattended vehicle unless the firearm is in a locked hard-sided or locked soft-sided container, including a locked container that is permanently affixed to the vehicle's interior, and the container is in any of the following: (I) A locked vehicle; (II) The locked trunk of a locked vehicle; or (III) A locked recreational vehicle, as defined in section 24-32-902. (c) A firearm that is not a handgun that is stored in a soft-sided container must have a locking device installed on the firearm while the firearm is stored in the soft-sided container. (d) For the purposes of this subsection (1), a locked glove compartment or the locked center console of a vehicle is a locked hard-sided container. (2) A person who violates subsection (1) of this section commits unlawful storage of a firearm in a vehicle. Unlawful storage of a firearm in a vehicle is a civil infraction. (3) This section does not apply to: (a) Storing an antique firearm, as defined in 18 U.S.C. sec. 921 (a)(16), as amended; (b) Storing a firearm that is a not a handgun in a vehicle that is being used for farm or ranch operations that is on the person's private farm or ranch, including a leased farm or ranch. As used in this subsection (3)(b), "farm" and "ranch" have the same meanings as set forth in section 39-1-102. (c) A person who lives in a vehicle or in a recreational vehicle, as defined in section 24-32-902, in which the firearm is stored. A person who lives in a vehicle or recreational vehicle must store firearms in the vehicle or recreational vehicle in accordance with the storage requirement described in section 18-12-114. (d) A peace officer; (e) A person who holds a valid resident or out-of-state hunting license who is engaged in lawful hunting activities; (f) A person engaged in the instruction of hunter education courses and outreach offered by the division of parks and wildlife; and (g) An active member of the United States armed forces while on duty. (4) Notwithstanding the requirement in subsection (1) of this section to store a firearm in a locked hard-sided container, a person who is considered to have a disability, as defined in 42 U.S.C. sec. 12102, who stores a firearm in a locked soft-sided container does not violate this section with respect to the storage of the firearm that is in the locked soft-sided container. (5) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires, "vehicle" has the same meaning as set forth in section 42-1-102. ## Nearby sections - [C.R.S. § 18-12-101 18-12-101. Peace officer affirmative defense - definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T18_A12_P1_S18-12-101.md) - [C.R.S. § 18-12-102 18-12-102. Possessing a dangerous or illegal weapon - affirmative defense - definition](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T18_A12_P1_S18-12-102.md) - [C.R.S. § 18-12-103 18-12-103. Possession of a defaced firearm](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T18_A12_P1_S18-12-103.md) - [C.R.S. § 18-12-103.5 18-12-103.5. Defaced firearms - contraband - destruction](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T18_A12_P1_S18-12-103.5.md) - [C.R.S. § 18-12-104 18-12-104. Defacing a firearm](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T18_A12_P1_S18-12-104.md) - [C.R.S. § 18-12-105 18-12-105. Unlawfully carrying a concealed weapon - unlawful possession of weapons](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T18_A12_P1_S18-12-105.md) - [C.R.S. § 18-12-105.1 18-12-105.1. Permits for concealed weapons - liability](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T18_A12_P1_S18-12-105.1.md) - [C.R.S. § 18-12-105.3 18-12-105.3. Unlawful carrying of a firearm in government buildings - penalty - definitions -](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T18_A12_P1_S18-12-105.3.md) - [C.R.S. § 18-12-105.5 18-12-105.5. Unlawfully carrying a weapon - unlawful possession of weapons - school, college,](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T18_A12_P1_S18-12-105.5.md) - [C.R.S. § 18-12-105.6 18-12-105.6. Limitation on local ordinances regarding firearms in private vehicles](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T18_A12_P1_S18-12-105.6.md) - [C.R.S. § 18-12-106 18-12-106. Prohibited use of weapons - definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T18_A12_P1_S18-12-106.md) - [C.R.S. § 18-12-106.5 18-12-106.5. Use of stun guns](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T18_A12_P1_S18-12-106.5.md) - [C.R.S. § 18-12-107 18-12-107. Penalty for second offense](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T18_A12_P1_S18-12-107.md) - [C.R.S. § 18-12-107.5 18-12-107.5. Illegal discharge of a firearm - penalty](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T18_A12_P1_S18-12-107.5.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T18_A12_P1_S18-12-114.5. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.