getting pulled over with more than one knife?

J

Jay_Wyatt

Joined
Dec 12, 2004
Messages
339
Have any of you people been questioned by law enforcement as to why you carry more than one knife? I haven't been pulled over or had a ticket since 97. but just wanted some thoughts on the subject? I am a 38 year old white male with short hair and no body art. I carry more than one knife so I don't have to lend out my favorite to be dammaged and like to carry a beater in case I know their might be possible dammage to the knife. I know I might have just answered my own question, but was interested to see how you guys would answer the question if it ever comes up?
thanks again,
Jay
 
Well frankly, how visable are your knives when sitting in your car? I keep mine in various pockets. Some are out of view from the window because either I'm sitting on them or they are on the other side of me and the seatbelt covers them.

If you did get pulled over and dragged from the car for a search.. I don't think you really need any reason to explain yourself assuming both knives are within the limits of the law. It wouldn't take much to tell the officer that you keep two knives for different utility purposes.
 
Your logic seems rational to me but I am a knife collector. As a former LEO I may think your "beater" knife is there any number of other reasons. As long as you are polite and follow all directions from the officer, the fact you even have a knife should never be raised. There is little right to search someone during a normal traffic stop. If asked if you have any weapons, the answer is no, unless you consider your knife a weapon and not a tool. As long as the knives are leagl then I would not worry at all......
 
My EDC is usually a Vic Classic and a Manix or Opinel. If asked why I carry a large folder, it's because the longer blade aids me in food chores primarily. The Classic I'd refer to at my toothpick and nail groomer, but I doubt that would raise any questions. I keep some junk folders and a mora in my car. Mora for camping type of things, the junk knife just as a utility tool for scraping or cutting harsh materials.
 
I think that the "best" answer to this question - what to say in this kind of situation - would come from knowledgable lawyers who practice criminal law. They are the experts with this stuff. Only ones who know better, maybe, are the criminal court judges. ;)
 
tom19176 said:
If asked if you have any weapons, the answer is no, unless you consider your knife a weapon and not a tool. As long as the knives are leagl then I would not worry at all......
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Would answering the question with a (no) be considered as being deceptive in any way ? The knives I carry are a Native, small sebbie, and a SAK on my keychain?
 
if the knives are legal and you're not being a peckerhead you should have no problem. later, ahgar
 
ahgar said:
if the knives are legal and you're not being a peckerhead you should have no problem. later, ahgar
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I am a lawyer, practicing in civil trial work for the past 22 years, but I would largely defer to ahgar's very sound advice: don't be a peckerhead.

I almost always have at least two knives on me (except when I go into a courthouse) in addition to a pistol (I have a Michigan CPL), and I'm really not worried about a traffic officer ever even knowing about the knives. Under Michigan law, I would be required to disclose the fact that I am carrying a pistol pursuant to my license, but I don't have to - and wouldn't - disclose the knives. Best bet is not to do anything that will get you pulled over.
 
ahgar said:
if the knives are legal and you're not being a peckerhead you should have no problem. later, ahgar
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exactly. It's like people worrying all the time about sheeple. If you carry legally and responsibly, there's no problem.

The only LEO that's ever said anything to me about a knife was a fellow knife knut who noticed the pocket clip. I showed him my knife and he let me play with his auto Benchmade.
 
It would not be deceptive unless you truly believe them to be weapons. Unless there is a local law otherwise, statements made to police in response to an officer questions are not considered perjury ( since you are not sworn in) and are mostly inadmissable in court since you most likely weren't read your rights during a traffic stop. Be honest, but do not give away your rights. Once you admit to having a weapon, a limited search is always with in a officer's rights. If you allow a search of your car, then you have totally given away one of your basic rights.
 
moving-van.jpg
 
tom19176 said:
As a former LEO I may think your "beater" knife is there any number of other reasons. As long as you are polite and follow all directions from the officer, the fact you even have a knife should never be raised.
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What, you didn't like a little friendly banter? Like, "Why aren't you out catching criminals instead of pulling me over?" Or questioning everything you ask? "Hey, man, why do you want me to get out of the car...I didn't do nuthin?" Or the very popular reminder, "Hey, my tax dollars go to pay your salary!" I always thought cops liked a little banter like that. Did you hear what Rush Limbaugh said to the Customs officer? He told her that he'd just had dinner with her boss (President Bush). I hear cops also love that line, regardless of who their boss is. ;)

.
 
Confederate! Troublemaker!
As long as all the knives are legal you can have a trunkload of them and have them hanging out of your ears.... It even makes it more believeable that you are a collector!

not that I keep any in MY ears.....but you can. I think it is legal unless your earhairs conceal the knife.
 
In regards to dealing with police, please check out this article. I find it very informative. It does have a bit of an anti-cop slant, but it details a lot how you should conduct yourself when you are in the presence of the a cop, ranger, game warden, inspector, auditor, etc.

To those who are LEO, or lawyer, I'd love to hear your feedback about this article.

***EDIT***
Just want to add that I normally carry 3 knives. All of which are legal carry. If I ever get pulled over, I'm legally carrying tools not weapons. If the officer asks about weapons I'll tell him about the pepper gel, which is my only defensive weapon. I wouldn't say anything about my knives.
 
Carrying 2, or 7 legal knives is no less illegal than carrying one legal knife. Yeah, you might get some weird reactions from a LEO, but legally, there's nothing wrong with what you're doing. When I got pulled over and had to remove 3 different pocket knives and was asked "why so many knives?" I responded "I'm a collector". Which in retrospect doesn't make a lot of sense (a collector of Picassos doesn't carry 3 paintings around, does he?), and if I'm in a similar sitiuation, I'll reply "Different blades for different uses, I use them for my job" or soemthing like that.
 
i was stopped on a suspected dui, and when the officer asked me if i had any sharp objects on my person, i politely told him yes. i then informed him that in my left pocket i had a tanto butterfly, clipped on the rim of my left pocket i had my s&w extreme ops lockback, and clipped on my right pocket i had a one handed assist gerber lockback that i had modified to a double edged blade.... after being asked if i was kidding, he proceeded to search me and removed my knives. he then explained to me that it was illegal in the state of california to be in possession of a switchblade. i politely explained to him that none of the knives in his hand were of the switchblade variety, however he confiscated my knives and i am now pending a hearing for a misdemeanor switchblade charge only, even though he kept all three of my knives and never gave me an inventory of them when i was released. any suggestions? my court date is in three days. the one handed assist was the gerber f.a.s.t. design if anyone is familiar with it. thanks guys!!
 
there is a guy name Clark on this formum who is a expert in Cal. Law and an Expert witness....I suggest emailing him
 
sloassrex said:
i was stopped on a suspected dui, and when the officer asked me if i had any sharp objects on my person, i politely told him yes. i then informed him that in my left pocket i had a tanto butterfly, clipped on the rim of my left pocket i had my s&w extreme ops lockback, and clipped on my right pocket i had a one handed assist gerber lockback that i had modified to a double edged blade.... after being asked if i was kidding, he proceeded to search me and removed my knives. he then explained to me that it was illegal in the state of california to be in possession of a switchblade. i politely explained to him that none of the knives in his hand were of the switchblade variety, however he confiscated my knives and i am now pending a hearing for a misdemeanor switchblade charge only, even though he kept all three of my knives and never gave me an inventory of them when i was released. any suggestions? my court date is in three days. the one handed assist was the gerber f.a.s.t. design if anyone is familiar with it. thanks guys!!
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Please keep us updated as to how this progresses. Per CA PC 653k the assisted opener is not a switchblade, but the butterfly could be considered to be one.
 
As has been stated before, traffic stops very rarely raise to the level of a consent search. However, if I asked an individual if they are carrying any weapons, received a negative response, and then found a knife or multiples there of I would not be happy. Although I agree with the "It's a tool" line of thought, the intention of the question is clear. Maybe that's why my line is usually something like "Do you have any weapons, guns, knives, needles, grenades, ballistic missiles?" The last often draws a smile and puts people at ease. Or I'll use "Is there anything in your pocket that might hurt me?" That line only gets used when a frisk is definitely on the way.

These are only my personal style. Nothing more.
 
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