The Parking Area Exception (430 ILCS 66/65(b))
Section 65(b) of the Firearm Concealed Carry Act creates an important carve-out for CCL holders who drive to locations where concealed carry is otherwise prohibited.[1] Under this exception, a licensee may carry a concealed firearm in their vehicle into the parking area of most prohibited locations, provided the firearm is stored properly before the licensee exits the vehicle.
Storage Requirements
To lawfully store a firearm under the parking area exception, the CCL holder must meet all of the following conditions:[1]
- The firearm must be concealed in a case
- The case must be placed within a locked vehicle or a locked container within the vehicle
- The firearm must be out of plain view
All three conditions must be satisfied simultaneously. A firearm that is in a case but visible through the window, or concealed but in an unlocked vehicle, does not comply with the exception.[2]
Scope of the Exception
The parking area exception applies to most -- but not all -- of the prohibited locations listed in Section 65. The exception is designed to prevent a CCL holder from being forced to leave their firearm at home simply because their daily route passes through a prohibited-location parking area.[3]
Practical Applications
Common scenarios where the parking area exception is relevant include:[2]
- Driving to a school to drop off or pick up a child
- Parking at a hospital or medical facility for an appointment
- Attending an event at a government building or courthouse
- Visiting a public library, museum, or park
- Commuting through a college or university campus parking lot
In each case, the CCL holder may drive into the parking area with their firearm but must secure it in the vehicle before exiting. The holder must not carry the firearm on their person into the prohibited building or area.
Key Limitations
The parking area exception does not authorize the CCL holder to handle or display the firearm outside the vehicle while in the parking area. The exception is solely for storage purposes -- carrying the firearm on one's person while walking through the parking area of a prohibited location is a violation of the Act.[1]
Employer Parking Areas
The Act includes a provision protecting employees who store firearms in their vehicles in employer parking areas. An employer may not prohibit a CCL holder from storing a concealed firearm in a locked vehicle in the employer's parking area, provided the firearm meets the same storage requirements (concealed in a case, in a locked vehicle, out of plain view).[3] This provision prevents employers from conditioning employment on a licensee's surrender of their right to keep a firearm secured in their vehicle during working hours.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
A CCL holder who fails to properly secure a firearm under the parking area exception -- or who carries on their person into the prohibited building -- is subject to the same penalties as any other violation of Section 65. A first offense is a Class B misdemeanor, and a second or subsequent offense is a Class A misdemeanor.[3]
See also: Vehicle Carry With and Without a CCL