Busted for carrying a switchblade.

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Just something to think about...

My brother-in-law was a paramedic for nearly 30 years. He saw many people busted for possessing illegal items (weapons, contraband, etc) at accident scenes. If you have an illegal weapon on your person, the medics will bag/tag it and law enforcement will be informed. The vast majority of these people probably would never have been caught if the accident hadn't occurred.

The chances of having an accident are minute, but it's still a risk you take.
 
I can buy them at local gun shows and there's a few guys in my State that sell them - one who has a switchblade website that sells them. I have no idea where they get them from. :confused:

Like I said I own a few and don't really care for them now that I've had a taste of some good flipper and AO action. :)
 
00ChevyScott said:
Wouldn't the FBI or CIA have to track you down on that since it's a Federal crime? Somehow I don't see them wasting their time on that.
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CIA can't legally operate domestically, and they're not actually an enforcement agency anyway. At least that's what they tell us :D

Any local law enforcement agency can remand you to federal authorities if they suspect you have violated a federal law. Think about a local sheriff pulling over a truckload of illegal aliens. Most likely you state doesn't have a state law against being in the country illegally, since it's already a federal crime. All the sheriff does is detain them on suspicion of violating the federal law and alerts the appropriate federal authorities.

I agree that the feds probably have better things to do, but I can see a state or local prosecutor holding that over your head if you should happen to run afoul of state or local laws somehow. Something like "we'll turn you over to the Federal Marshalls unless you..."

I'll pass on that if I can avoid it. And as it happens, I can
 
00ChevyScott said:
Depends on the officer, as well as your actions. If he's cool he might just let it slide, or he could be one of the guys that goes by the book, then you're basically screwed.
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Screwed as in what in the state of Ca. What's the worst they could do?
 
BadHabit said:
Screwed as in what in the state of Ca. What's the worst they could do?
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I'd imagine you'd be detained, and have to post bail. You'd be wise to get a lawyer and hope to plea bargain down the offense to a fine. All depends on the opposition really. They might let you slide a lot if you have no prior offenses. I'm not familiar with CA law, but it definitely wouldn't a good experience to go through.
 
BadHabit said:
Screwed as in what in the state of Ca. What's the worst they could do?
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Better a switchblade than a belt buckle knife it would seem...

653k. Every person who possesses in the passenger's or driver's
area of any motor vehicle in any public place or place open to the
public, carries upon his or her person, and every person who sells,
offers for sale, exposes for sale, loans, transfers, or gives to any
other person a switchblade knife having a blade two or more inches in
length is guilty of a misdemeanor.

12020. (a) Any person in this state who does any of the following
is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year
or in the state prison:

(1) Manufactures or causes to be manufactured, imports into the
state, keeps for sale, or offers or exposes for sale, or who gives,
lends, or possesses... any ballistic knife, any nunchaku, any metal
knuckles, any belt buckle knife, any leaded cane, any shuriken,
any lipstick case knife, any cane sword, any shobi-zue, any air gauge
knife, any writing pen knife, or any instrument or weapon
of the kind commonly known as a blackjack, slungshot, billy,
sandclub, sap, or sandbag... [see below for definitions]

From here: http://pweb.netcom.com/~brlevine/ca.txt
 
-Lucky- said:
First off no I didn't get busted, because I don't carry one. But what I'm asking is really what are the chances? (I've owned them before and I'll own them again, and unless I can legally I won't carry one)

But if you aren't waving it around in public or something of that sort nobody is going to know that pocket clip is from an auto...so as long as you are an average law abiding citizen (minus that auto in your jeans of course :rolleyes:) I don't see any ways you could get "busted" for having it on you..

Please point out where my logic is flawed.
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Makes sense to me...go ahead and carry it. Let us know the outcome if ever you are caught, then well all know what happens.
 
Well i highlighted the part on the original post that everyone seems to be missing...I don't carry autos BECAUSE they are illegal in my area....I was just curious...holy crap...
 
How are we expected to know the chances of getting caught? Maybe ask if anyone here has been caught in that situation.
 
My 2 cents:

1. A felony weapons conviction is serious.

2. There is a chance of getting caught.

3.Losing your freedom is a real possibility.

To the average citizen jail does not exist as a real consequence.

I am familiar enough with the prison system to know of many cases of "average law abiding citizens" being sentenced to real time for weapons violations.

And those who do not lead a life where violence is a day to day event are in for a bit of culture shock when they enter the prison system.
 
if you want to carry one go for it..when was the last time a cop asked you to empty your pockets anyway? never happened to me. As long as you're not stupid with it I'd say its fine, some laws are silly anyway.
 
If you flip a coin, there is a 50% chance of it turning up heads and a 50% chance of it turning up tails.
Over a very large # of coin flips (say a million), there should be an equal # of heads-tails results.
If you carry a switchblade or run a red light once, there is a minimal chance of a negative results. If you do this on a daily basis, then the chances of something negative happening goes up. Something negative may never happen, but the more chances you take, over time the likelihood of something bad goes up.
Example:
I have zero chance of falling off a trapeze or a tight rope, because the closest I get to a trapeze or a tight rope, is watching someone else do it in a circus.
Tight rope walkers or trapeze artists on the other hand of an almost !00% chance of falling simply because the occasional fall is part of the trip. It's why they have nets.:)
 
What is stupid is in Ca u can have a sub- 2 inch auto on u and there is no problem... But larger then 2 inch there is a problem. I don't care if it's sub 2 inch blade it still hurts and cuts.
Like u said. (Silly)

LONG LIVE......AUTOS/SWITCHBLADES!!
 
Regardless of how idiotic or nonsensical a law may be, they will still charge and convict you regardless. So knowing that, if you still carry an auto knife, then you're taking a gamble. How likely it is that you will be caught is a different question. I have never had an LEO take an interest in my pocket knives yet, but I've also never given them a reason to do so. I personally do not own or carry an auto, but that's just personal preference.

No LEO, magistrate (in VA), or judge is interested in arguing the law with you. All that will do is mark you as a pain in the ass. The only realistic way to change the law is to contact your state congressman and the organizations in your state that oppose idiotic knife/gun laws.
 
A close family member of mine carries an auto everyday in California, and not one of legal size. He's a Marine though and works closely with local LEOs and due to his job he could talk himself out of trouble if he got caught. He also lives in a place where eveyone, not just military, has a clip sticking out of thier pocket. Cops don't generally go around searching people for no reason. If you're an otherwise law abiding, polite and respectfull person you probably won't have a problem IMO. But you can never know for sure until you get caught.
 
we hate to see you get in trouble. Just don't carry one in public. California law says you can carry at home.
 
I live in Washington State, Switch blades are illegal here as well. That does not keep me from having 3 =) However That does not mean I am not willing to deal with the consequences of being caught with one. I do carry them from time to time (they call to me some times, like all of my knifes) However I do keep the thought of "what if " in the back of my mind whenever i grab for a switchblade. But that is just how I feel. I know if I get caught it will suck (More so to loose my knife than anything)
 
Is just having a knife in general clipped inside your pocket considered concealed?
 
You better hope you stay lucky, -Lucky-. If you won't take the law's advice, why ask for ours?
 
-Lucky- said:
Is just having a knife in general clipped inside your pocket considered concealed?
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In NYC, having a visible clip is considered NOT concealed, and NYC law mandates knives be carried completely concealed.

Every jurisdiction has its own rules.
 
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