Yes. Carrying ammunition in a vehicle is generally legal in Texas if the person is legally permitted to possess the ammunition and is not violating another state or federal law. Texas does not generally prohibit a person from transporting ordinary ammunition in a privately owned vehicle. However, restrictions can apply to prohibited persons, certain types of ammunition, restricted locations, and circumstances involving unlawful possession of a firearm.
Does Texas Law Allow Ammunition in a Vehicle?
Texas law generally allows a person who may lawfully possess ammunition to transport it in a vehicle. The Texas Penal Code does not establish a broad prohibition against simply having ordinary ammunition inside a privately owned car.
Texas law also contains protections concerning the transportation and storage of firearms and ammunition in certain private vehicles. For example, Texas Labor Code Section 52.061 generally prevents public and private employers from prohibiting an employee who lawfully possesses ammunition from transporting or storing it in a locked, privately owned motor vehicle in an employer-provided parking area, subject to statutory exceptions.
This does not mean that ammunition can be carried everywhere or by everyone. Other state and federal restrictions continue to apply.
Does Ammunition Have to Be Stored Separately From a Firearm?
Texas law does not generally impose a requirement that ordinary ammunition must be stored separately from a lawfully possessed firearm merely because both are inside a private vehicle.
The legal issue is often less about the physical presence of ammunition and more about whether the person is legally allowed to possess the firearm and ammunition and whether the location or circumstances create another legal restriction.
Texas Department of Public Safety guidance addresses vehicle transportation of handguns and emphasizes that firearm laws continue to apply when a firearm is transported in a vehicle.
Can a Person Carry Ammunition Without a Firearm?
Generally, yes. Ammunition possession is not automatically unlawful simply because the person is not carrying a firearm.
However, federal law prohibits certain individuals from receiving or possessing ammunition. These restrictions can apply to people in specified prohibited categories under federal firearms law. Therefore, the legality of ammunition in a vehicle depends partly on the legal status of the person possessing it.
A person who is prohibited from possessing ammunition cannot avoid that restriction by keeping it inside a vehicle.
Are There Restrictions on Certain Ammunition?
Yes. Texas law regulates certain types of ammunition. Texas Penal Code Section 46.06, for example, addresses armor-piercing ammunition and restricts specified conduct involving covered ammunition, including possession, manufacture, sale, transportation, or repair under circumstances described by the statute.
Therefore, the general rule allowing ammunition in a vehicle should not be interpreted as authorizing the possession or transportation of every type of ammunition under every circumstance.
What About a Vehicle Carrying Both a Firearm and Ammunition?
A person who lawfully possesses both a firearm and ammunition may generally transport them in a vehicle, but the firearm itself must comply with Texas carry laws.
Texas Penal Code Section 46.02 contains rules concerning the carrying of a handgun in a person’s own vehicle or a vehicle under the person’s control. The statute includes circumstances in which carrying a handgun can become unlawful, including when the person is engaged in certain criminal activity or is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm.
Texas also generally allows eligible adults to carry a handgun without first obtaining a license, although statutory restrictions and location-based prohibitions still apply.
Thus, the legality of the ammunition does not automatically make the accompanying firearm lawful.
Can Ammunition Be Kept in a Workplace Parking Lot?
In many circumstances, Texas law provides protections for employees who lawfully possess ammunition and keep it in a locked, privately owned vehicle in an employer-provided parking area. Texas Labor Code Section 52.061 restricts employers from prohibiting such transportation or storage, although Section 52.062 establishes important exceptions.
Certain workplaces involving schools, chemical manufacturing, oil and gas refining, secured areas, and other specified circumstances may be treated differently. Therefore, the specific property and employment situation should be considered before relying on this protection.
Are School Parking Areas Different?
Yes. Texas has specific statutory provisions concerning firearms and ammunition stored or transported in vehicles at school parking areas.
For example, Texas law generally restricts a school district or open-enrollment charter school from prohibiting certain licensed individuals from transporting or storing a handgun, firearm, or ammunition in a locked, privately owned or leased vehicle in a designated school parking area, provided statutory conditions are met. The law also requires that the firearm or ammunition not be in plain view.
These provisions contain exceptions, so the precise circumstances matter.
Conclusion
Carrying ordinary ammunition in a vehicle is generally legal in Texas when the person is legally permitted to possess it. Texas does not impose a blanket prohibition on transporting ammunition in a private vehicle. However, federal restrictions, Texas rules concerning prohibited persons and certain ammunition, location-specific laws, and firearm-carry regulations can affect the legality of a particular situation.
Because firearm and ammunition laws can involve significant criminal penalties and exceptions, anyone facing a specific legal question should review the applicable statutes and consult a Texas-licensed attorney for advice based on the facts of the situation.
