Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 2 of Chapter 12 of Title 46.2 a section numbered 46.2-1215.1 as follows:
§46.2-1215.1. Firearm in unattended motor vehicle; civil penalty.
A. For purposes of this section, an "unattended motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or part or combination thereof that is left unattended on a public highway or other public property and the owner, operator, or any passenger of such motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or part or combination thereof is unable to observe such motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or part or combination thereof.
B. No person shall leave, place, or store any handgun, as defined in §18.2-307.1, in any unattended motor vehicle unless such vehicle is locked and such handgun is secured in a locked container or locked compartment of such vehicle.
C. Any person convicted of a violation of this section is subject to a civil penalty of no more than $500.
All penalties collected under this section shall be paid into the state treasury to be credited to the Literary Fund as provided in §46.2-114.
D. For purposes of §46.2-1213, any violation of this section deems the vehicle as illegally parked and such unattended motor vehicle may be subject to removal.