Great answers everyone, thanks!
SouthernBoy:
I've been told in the past by a few people I've known to OC that if you carry in your car in VA, it has to be in "plain view" or stored away. I was told a cop might not see the firearm inside the holster and when he finally does, he could consider it concealed and thus your screwed(i don't have a CC permit). I was told put it on the passenger seat or between the seats and the center console, just not ON you. Ok so you're saying not so?
Code of Va. describing "concealed":
A. If any person carries about his person,
hidden from common observation, (i) any pistol, revolver,...............
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+18.2-308
Therefore a gun NOT "hidden from common observation" is NOT concealed - make sense? Nothing says that said gun must be viewable 100% or from all 360 degrees. Just as an OCd handgun while on foot is only fully seen from your strong side and if nothing is between you and the viewer, so the condition is the same when you are in a vehicle - whether as the driver or as a passenger.
Further, carrying in a holster is does NOT make such concealed carry - in fact it is THE recommended way to OC. IHO - a loose gun on the seat or dash is just a missle at rest, waiting for you to hit the brakes before being launched.
We cannot make up the law and neither can LEOs.