Vallejo cops are cracking down on illegal firearms, nabbing two drivers in separate incidents this past January, each found with a loaded weapon in their car. In one case, Vallejo PD pulled over a Ford Fusion with tinted windows and expired registration on Sonoma Boulevard, uncovering an unregistered firearm tucked behind the driver's seat, as reported on the department's Facebook page.
The first bust went down on January 16, when an eagle-eyed patrol officer spotted the Ford's violations, leading to the discovery the driver had no valid license and the unregistered loaded gun; said driver ended up in handcuffs and their ride got towed, on the 16th of January arrest, Vallejo PD said in a statement posted on their social media account. The second arrest occurred at the tail end of the month, on January 31, when another driver in a 2013 Dodge Challenger was stopped—this time on Amador Street for suspended registration—unearthed by officers was another loaded firearm snuggled between the seat and console.
California law says adults who aren't banned from owning guns can transport handguns in their vehicles as long as the weapons are stashed unloaded in a locked container or the trunk, per the California Penal Code sections 25610 and 16850. Vallejo Police reminded the public in their post that a "locked container" refers to a secure box that is fully enclosed and locked by a padlock, key lock, combination lock, or similar device, stressing that the glove compartment doesn't count.
The two January stops by Vallejo officers highlighted ongoing efforts to enforce California's strict gun laws; both individuals, lacking a proper license and failing to comply with vehicle registration guidelines, saw their cars impounded and now face charges for possession of the discovered firearms, according to details shared on the Vallejo PD Facebook page.
