imported post
Docschroeder wrote:
I was wondering if someone could post a map to all the areas in San Diego County that Open Carry is allowed.
Doc,
Welcome to the forum.
It is legal to carry anywhere in San Diego County, except in places you "know, or reasonably should know" are school zones.
While there is no legal requirement for you to try to figure out where these school zones are, it is prudent to put some good faith effort into this, at least in areas you frequent.
Remember, it is NEVER a good idea to carry a map with school zones highlighted on it.
First, if you accidentally violate 626.9 - let's say you are driving and forget to check your map and enter a school zone - you'd be carrying evidence you reasonably should have known where that school zone is. This would make it infinitely easier on the prosecuting attorney to prove the hardest part of a 626.9 conviction.
Second, if a LEO finds you carrying a firearm and a map marking a bunch of schools, it may easily be used as an excuse to investigate you further. It's not legal, and we know it's not reasonable, but it's a golden defense if you ever decide to sue the officer: "I found a guy carrying a 'high-powered' handgun and a map of a bunch of schools; for the sake of the children, I was not going to take any chances."
My recommendation is to use Google Earth to map out your beginning and ending destination, and any stops on the way. At each stop/destination, plug in the address and "search nearby" for "schools". If there are any, simply don't carry there, and travel with your handgun in a locked case.
(Though I believe 626.9 exempts you while on private property, at least one DA is prosecuting despite this exemption. The DA's claim is that the exemption does not apply to private property that is open to the public. IMO, it's just not worth the potential hassle, until we get some case law in our favor.)