For me id rather be safe than sorry, but with regards to guns...
Last year i was still on me N stage of my drivers license. (For those of you outside bc one of the restrictions is not using an electronic device while driving) i was on my way to school and got pulled over, the officer asked for the usual documents, and went to his cruiser. He never told me why i was pulled over but he said that he noticed my ipod sitting on my passengers seat, and that i could get a ticket for having it there. Apparently it is "intent to use".
What i find funny is that a week later i went to my gun club, while i was there my case broke and i had to drive back with my rifle sitting in my passengers seat in full view(right where my ipod was) about half way home there was a check stop. The officer asked where i was going and coming from and if i had had anything to drink. Before he said i could go he said that he liked my rifle and have a nice day.
Like Surrey said my rifle only has to be unload when transporting it, also i was 17 at the time and had my minors firearms license.
I kove how police flip about an ipod on my seat and not a rifle... Ipod=intent to use, rifle=nothing unusual