Chicago knife laws

trout #2

trout #2

Joined
Jul 22, 2004
Messages
527
I'm headed up to Chicago around Christmas and want to try and stay legal. It looks like Illinois law sets length at under 3" and has the usual "dagger, dirk, stiletto" wording. Does anyone know if Chicago has any stricter regulations than the basic state ones? thanks
 
Illinois doesn't actually have a length limit. You would have to present your knife as a weapon for it to be illegal here. Watch out though as some cops know this and most don't. The balis, daggers, and autos are illegal though.

later,

Oily
 
Illinios laws are weird. They mention a 3" length limit, but length only seems to matter when you're commiting a crime. Something like it's OK to have a <3" knife if you're robbing a gas station with a gun, but they tack on additional charges if the knife is >3". Go figure.

Balisongs aren't illegal in IL, and it would appear that gravity knives (like the German paratrooper) are legal as well. Autos are illegal BYO "spring mechanism". This unfortuanately also includes Kershaw's Speedsafe knives, and other "assisted" knives.

Additionally, Chicago limits the blade length to 2.5" on any knife. 2" if you're under 18. Chicago's ordinances seem to supercede Illinios' "unlawful intent" ambiguity with >3" blades.

Draconian to be sure, but at least you can use this as an excuse to buy a new knife if you don't already have one under 2.5". :cool: Be sure to eat some Lou Malnati's pizza for me while you're there. ;)

Sources:
http://pw1.netcom.com/~brlevine/sta-law.htm#A-H
http://www.thehighroad.org/library/blades/knifelaws.html
http://www.thehighroad.org/library/blades/ordinances.html (Chicago specific)
 
I guess I'll have to leave my deadly Chive at home :rolleyes: Thanks for the links. I'll a little confused though about what a "commando" knife is (in the muni codes) Is that like some mystical ninja assault cleaver? I must admit that I never really even thought about knife laws until I started hanging around here. I always sort of had a rosey outlook on the whole topic coming from a perspective of what "reasonable and rational" people would think and legislate (or not even waste the time to legislate) I guess I was a bit off on that......

It seems like Chicago is more concerned with the regulation of utility knives than other "deadly knives;" I think it said the fine for that violation was even more than a regular weapon violation. From the wording it looks like all the utility knives at Lowes and Home Depot are under lock and key in security cages :eek: Can any natives confirm this silliness? Ok, so I'm starting to wander off into a rant here.... stupid laws and societal ignorance/foolishness/over-reaction alway get me riled up
 
Trout, you should be fine.

There is not really a >3" prohibition here (it's pretty much a myth), although as indicated above, there are some limitations based on age, and *intent* of the knife. If you wear it outside your belt, and it isn't some egregious Bowie (you didn't say what type it was), no one will think twice.

Where are you going? Note that if you'll be in the Loop, a number of buildings (notably the Sears Tower) will confiscate it at the security gates. As it happens, a colleague of mine forgot that he had his folder in a pocket, and they "held on to it." He got it promptly returned as he was exiting the Tower.

Now if you take any blade of any length out and start waving it at people, you'll be very sorry.

But weaing one in a belt or popping a folder in a pocket is not illegal. As said, balisongs are all right, too. I carry one in my car... but again, it's what you do with it. If you use it as a weapon in any way, it's illegal.
 
I have a little story about a knife in Chicago. I was going to hear a band play at the Aragon and they were patting down people entering, mainly trying to stop people from bringing cameras and audio recording gear.

I forgot I had my Spyderco Paramilitary on me. I even thought of it in the car, and how I should leave it in there, but for some reason I never actually did it. Anyways as I was being pat down it was found. I had like 3 cops surrounding me asking me questions about it. I told them that I use a knife at work, and carry one out of habit. They told me that I could not bring it in to the Aragon, which I figured was fine, better than being confiscated or having some legal action against me. I just put it back in my car and that was that. The Paramilitary would be over the blade laws, but I think the cops have bigger fish to fry. I suppose if I made a big deal about it things would have been different.

THE END
 
Chicago really is a cool city...CPD are mostly friendly if you act appropriately and respectful. BUT...it also depends on what neighborhood you are in. Aragon Ballroom is not the best neighborhood but it is not as bad as the westside or parts of southside. you are right they worry more about your real criminals like drug dealers, robbers, and gangbangers.

so just don't attract any attention to yourself... :)
 
Having worked at a Home Depot, in the hardware department (where all the utility knives are held), I can personally tell you that the knives are not kept under lock and key. If I am not mistaken, the law states that this is to prevent anyone under the age of 18 from purchasing a knife (or something along those lines). I can tell you that at our HD, individuals were carded as religiously as possible when purchasing a knife like that.

As far as your other questions go, I have carried a knife in the City for years and have never had a problem. In fact, I even had a cop (at the Field Museum) ask me what the model was (it was only a Gerber Paraframe) because he like the model so much. All in all, you should be fine carrying whatever you want (withing the normal limits) as long as you don't wave it around screaming or something. Stay inconspicuous and stay out of trouble.
 
Unless you look "shady" or do something stupid, there won't be a problem. I'd stick close to the 2.5" limit at museum's, etc. I have knife clipped in my pocket 24/7 and I have never once been asked about it. However, if entering a govt. building where a metal detector/security may be present, I'll take a 2.5 incher that day.Better safe than sorry.
 
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