Carrying knives in Ocean City MD

[silenthunterstudios]

Found while doing a search for a story about a man imprisoned for 6 months for possessing a balisong. Thought anyone going on vacation in Ocean Sh**ty would want to read this.

MARTIAL ARTS WEAPONS

Sec. 58-121. Definitions.

As used in this division, the following words or phrases have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:

Baton. A police style baton, which is either expandable or fixed in length.

Butterfly knife. A pocketknife having a blade connected to a two-piece handle, in which the blade is activated by spreading the handle pieces in a butterfly type motion.

Fighting ax. A weapon with a bladed head mounted on a handle, which is not a tool ordinarily used to fell or split lumber.

Fighting knife. A multiple bladed knife, which either opens or is fixed at multiple ends or along the radial or shaft of the knife and which blades are more than one inch in length, or a knife with a single blade with a spiked hilt or other jagged or claw like sharpened parts or edges capable of piercing the skin. A multiple tooled knife containing more than one blade known as a "Swiss Army Knife" or similar generic knives are not a fighting knives.

Fighting sword. A weapon with a sharpened blade in excess of six inches used for thrusting or cutting. A sword commonly used in the sport of fencing is not a fighting sword.

Flail mace. A device consisting of a geometric shaped object, spiked or otherwise, connected by any chain, rope, leather or other flexible material and attached to a handheld object.

Metal knuckles. A metal device with holes for fingers for placement around the knuckles on the hand.

Nunchaku. A device consisting of two pieces of wood, metal, plastic or other like substance, connected by any chain, rope, leather or other flexible material not exceeding 24 inches in length.

Pistol crossbow. A crossbow with a pistol type grip and trigger release capable of projecting an arrow, dart or other projectiles.

Spike ring. A metal studded band worn on the finger.

Spiked belt. A metal studded strap capable of being placed around the waist.

Spiked fistband. A metal studded strap capable of being placed on the hand or fingers or fastened around the wrist covering the top of the hand extending from the wrist to the knuckles of the fingers.

Spiked glove. A metal studded glove capable of being placed on the hand to cover the top of the hand and knuckles.

Spiked wristband. A metal studded strap capable of being attached around the wrist.

Stun weapon. A tazer gun or baton with ability to cause an electric shock or stimulation.

Throwing star. A metal, star-shaped object with thin tapered points capable of being propelled by throwing.

(Code 1972, § 103-5; Ord. No. 2003-20, 7-21-2003; Ord. No. 2004-9, 5-17-2004)

Sec. 58-122. Violations and penalties.

Any violator of any of the provisions of this division, upon conviction thereof, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and be subject to a fine of up to $1,000.00 or to imprisonment of up to six months, or to both fine and imprisonment. In addition to such penalties, the Mayor and City Council of Ocean City shall have the right to pursue all other legal and equitable remedies in the appropriate courts.

(Code 1972, § 103-7)

State Law References: Penalty for ordinance violations, Ann. Code of Md. art. 23A, § 3.

Sec. 58-123. Prohibited acts.

It shall be unlawful for any person to display, possess, sell, barter, offer to sell, distribute, manufacture, give away, transfer or dispose of nunchaku, a fighting knife, a throwing star, a spiked wristband, a spiked fistband, a spiked glove, a flail mace, a butterfly knife, a spiked belt, a spike ring, metal knuckles, baton, fighting ax, fighting sword, pistol crossbow, stun weapon or any part thereof, assembled or unassembled. As used herein, "person" includes individual, partnership, corporation or any other entity. The prohibition relative to baton and stun weapon does not apply to officers of the Ocean City Police Department.

 

[AFCadetSteele]

God. I hate living in Maryland.

The knife laws all around Maryland suck and they are not very detailed.
For example,

According to Maryland state law, you can carry a folded pocket knife because it falls into the class of penknives without switchblades. The thing is, there is no blade size listed in MD Law, so it is pretty much up to the officers discretion whether or not it is legal to carry. My friend was once arrested for carrying a 3" folding knife with a semi-serrated blade. About a year after he got out he was searched for suspicious behavior and the officer found his 7" blade folding knife and released him without saying anything.

MD really needs to be more detailed in their laws dealing with knives.