Michigan Airport Gun Charge Lawyer

A Michigan airport gun charge usually starts with a simple mistake. A licensed gun owner rushes to catch a flight to an out-of-state wedding, a funeral, or a vacation and forgets the pistol is still in a carry-on bag or on their person. TSA finds it at the checkpoint, airport police are called, and a routine trip turns into a criminal case. Attorney Christopher Brown, a former Detroit police officer, has handled dozens of gun cases from Detroit Metro Airport (DTW), and he knows how these cases are charged and how they can be resolved.

This page focuses on gun charges at Michigan airports. For carrying a concealed weapon, felony firearm, and other gun charges, visit our Oakland County gun crime lawyer page.

Recent Airport and Gun Charge Results

Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Airport Gun Charge Reduced to a Civil Infraction for a Destination Wedding Traveler — Romulus

Our client, a CPL holder, was flying to a destination wedding. He packed his unloaded pistol in a locked case in his checked luggage, believing that was all the law required. It is not: a firearm in checked baggage must also be declared to the airline. The pistol was discovered in his checked bag. He was charged with a misdemeanor city ordinance violation, prosecuted by the city attorney. We resolved the case as a non-criminal civil infraction with a small fine.

34th District Court — Romulus, Wayne County

Forgotten Concealed Pistol at DTW Reduced to a Civil Infraction — Romulus

Our client, a CPL holder, was traveling for the holidays and running late for his flight. He forgot to remove the pistol he was carrying concealed, and it was found at the security checkpoint. He was charged with a misdemeanor. We resolved the case as a non-criminal civil infraction.

34th District Court — Romulus, Wayne County

Felony CCW Dismissed Through Gun Board Diversion — Wayne County Circuit Court

We convinced the Wayne County Gun Board to accept our diversion proposal. The felony concealed weapon charge was dismissed, and our client pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for possessing an unregistered firearm.

3rd Circuit Court — Wayne County

See more weapons and firearm case results.

How a Michigan Airport Gun Charge Is Charged

What you are charged with depends mostly on one question: do you have a valid concealed pistol license (CPL)?

• With a CPL: the case is usually charged as a misdemeanor city ordinance violation, prosecuted by the city attorney rather than the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office. The Wayne County Airport Authority’s ordinance allows carrying under a valid CPL from Michigan or another state only until the screening process begins, and the city’s ordinance adopts it.
• Without a CPL: the charge can be carrying a concealed weapon (CCW), a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison, prosecuted by the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office. MCL 750.227.

Michigan’s Airport Weapons Law

Michigan also has a separate law against possessing or carrying a firearm or other weapon in the secured area of a commercial airport past screening. A violation is usually a misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year in jail and a $1,000 fine. It becomes a 10-year felony only in more serious situations, such as boarding or trying to board a plane with the weapon. A gun found at the checkpoint should not automatically be treated as that felony. MCL 259.80f.

Where DTW Gun Cases Are Heard

Detroit Metro Airport is in Romulus, so gun cases from DTW start in the 34th District Court. Misdemeanors stay there. Felony CCW cases begin there and, if they are not resolved, move to Wayne County Circuit Court.

The Wayne County Gun Board

In Wayne County, a felony CCW charge brought by the prosecutor’s office usually cannot be reduced without approval from the prosecutor’s gun board. The board reviews requests to reduce CCW charges and votes on whether the circumstances justify a deviation. A strong request explains who the client is, how the mistake happened, and why a felony conviction would be unjust. Attorney Brown is very familiar with this process, and our results include a felony CCW dismissed through gun board diversion.

TSA Fines Are a Separate Case

Separate from any criminal charge, TSA can bring its own civil case and impose a fine. Under federal rules, the violation can occur once screening begins, so a gun stopped at the X-ray machine can still lead to a TSA penalty. 49 CFR 1540.111.

According to TSA’s published penalty ranges:

• Loaded firearm, or unloaded with accessible ammunition: $3,000 to $12,210
• Unloaded firearm: $1,500 to $6,130
• Repeat violations: higher penalties

A TSA case can also affect PreCheck and other trusted traveler eligibility. We help clients navigate TSA fines and travel program issues along with the criminal case.

How Michigan Airport Gun Charges Are Resolved

Most people charged with an airport gun misdemeanor had no bad intent. They were in a rush, and it slipped their mind. When these cases are handled properly, the misdemeanor is typically dismissed through diversion or amended to a non-criminal civil infraction. Depending on the facts, Michigan’s CPL laws include civil infractions that may fit, such as failing to carry your license. MCL 28.425f.

What makes the difference:

• Painting the full picture for the prosecutor: who you are, why you were traveling, and how the mistake happened
• The facts: a valid CPL, a clean record, and lawful ownership of the gun
• Your conduct: how you treated TSA officers and police at the checkpoint goes a long way

For felony CCW cases without a CPL, the path usually runs through the gun board, and early preparation matters.

What to Do If a Gun Is Found in Your Bag at the Airport

• Be cooperative and calm with TSA and police. Your conduct at the checkpoint can affect how the case is resolved.
• Understand that you do not have the same Fourth Amendment protections at an airport. You and your bags can be searched as part of screening.
• Be polite, but don’t try to explain away the charge on the spot. Talk to a lawyer before you give a detailed statement.
• Keep every document you receive, including the citation, any TSA notice, and property receipts.
• Call a lawyer before your first court date, especially if you live out of state.

How to Travel With a Gun Legally

If you need to fly with a firearm, it must go in checked baggage, unloaded, in a locked hard-sided container that only you can open, and you must declare it to the airline before checking the bag. If you have a CPL, make checking where your gun is part of your packing checklist before you leave home.

Michigan Airport Gun Charge FAQ

I have a CPL. Can I still be charged for a gun at the airport?

Yes. A CPL does not allow you to carry a gun through airport screening. For CPL holders, the charge is usually a local ordinance misdemeanor, which can often be resolved through diversion or reduced to a civil infraction.

Is a gun at the airport a felony in Michigan?

It can be. Without a CPL, you may be charged with carrying a concealed weapon, a 5-year felony. For CPL holders, the charge is usually a misdemeanor.

TSA stopped the gun before I got through security. Is that still a violation?

It can be. Under federal rules, the TSA violation can occur once screening begins, and local charges can still apply.

Will I have to pay a TSA fine even if my criminal case is dismissed?

The TSA case is separate from the criminal case, so a dismissal does not automatically end it. We can help you respond to TSA as well.

Which court handles gun charges from Detroit Metro Airport?

DTW cases start in the 34th District Court in Romulus. Misdemeanors stay there, and felony cases that are not resolved move to Wayne County Circuit Court.

I live out of state. What should I do?

Call a Michigan lawyer as soon as possible after you receive the charge. A local lawyer who knows the 34th District Court and the Wayne County process can explain your options before your first court date. Attorney Brown can often handle the case without requiring your court appearance, especially for out-of-state clients.

Talk to a Michigan Airport Gun Charge Lawyer

If a gun was found in your bag or on you at Detroit Metro Airport or another Michigan airport, talk to a lawyer before your court date. Attorney Christopher Brown offers free consultations 24/7, in person at our Troy office or virtually, and out-of-state clients can often resolve their case without returning to Michigan for court. Call (248) 468-1468 or contact us online. We defend gun charges throughout Oakland, Macomb, and Wayne Counties.