Is this illegal?

B

bama_lou

Joined
Jun 15, 2004
Messages
710
DSC00359.jpg


*(California -> Los Angeles county)

Now please, don't heckle my imperfect midsection... :p

The knife in question, on the left of the belt buckle, is a Spyderco Harpy. 2.75 inches blade length and safely behind the legal (if existent) limit.

Concealed? I think so. Illegal? Help me answer. If for any obscure reason, a LEO comes upon this knife on my person at this particular spot, can I be held liable for any listed offense?

Answers and comments are immensely appreciated.
 
In Los Angeles that's illegal. The entire knife must be concealed and not directly visible in a any way.

BTW, in Los Angeles there's no length limit on legal folders I'm aware of.
 
I *HEARD* LA has blade limits of 3" in some places, 4" in others. Might need a lawyer on this one.

Once when I was in LA, a cop asked about my CS Voyager, I handed it to him, he gave it back saying it can't be showing. The cop said just to put it *in* my pocket, not *on* the pocket. You see, the pocket clip was visible and LA has a "no open carry of dangerous objects" law in the belief in may "incite voilence."

I recomend this link to everyone.
http://www.equipped.org/us_primer.htm

Especially this part:
Your Laws Matter Most

Every country, state, county, city and town has laws, as well as policies, both written and un-written, that can affect your options. It is absolutely vital that you understand how these affect your personal situation. We suggest that you speak to a criminal defense attorney where you live to find out what your rights and responsibilities are, what's legal and what's not. Don't ask a generalist, ask a specialist. Do not ask the cop on the corner, do not ask your friend who "knows a lot," and please don't ask us. We're not attorneys, we don't claim to be attorneys. The difference in the law between Peoria, Arizona and Chandler, Arizona is significant. The difference in law between Peoria, Arizona, and Peoria, Illinois, is huge. The difference in law between Paris, Texas, U.S.A. and Paris, France is simply mind-boggling. Don't just assume; ask a competent source.
 
Just goes to show you that you have to really watch your p's and q's on knife laws. It is illegal in many places to carry concealed, but in L.A. you have to.
 
shootist16 said:
Just goes to show you that you have to really watch your p's and q's on knife laws. It is illegal in many places to carry concealed, but in L.A. you have to.
Click to expand...
Exactly. In fact, I began carrying a concealed Crawford KFF in Los Angeles thinking at the time that it was illegal to do so. I did so, nevertheless, because [cliche alert] I'd rather be tried by a jurry of twelve than carried by six pallbearers...or however than saying goes.
 
I have gone through a lot of trouble to dig through all of the laws in the LA area. In short, your carry of a sub 3" knife is completely legal. If the knife was longer than three inches you would have to conceal it. The only places that you can not carry is in a court room, on a plane, in a k-12 school, or any federaly owned land that has a posted sign informing you of the 2.5" restriction.

I have compiled this law guide to carry with me in my wallet. If you want, you can print the two pages on the front and back of the same sheet. (That's what I do)

Have fun carrying!

-Duffin

Edit: Updated link

Edit: The yellow is highlighting what I find to be important. Since I am a folding knife carrier, I have highlighted only the parts that pertain to folding knives. The gray are notes to myself paraphrasing the law directly above it.
 
Nicely done, Duffin444. I am saving a copy for reference.

Best regards,

Argyll
 
Thanks for that Duffin, I am printing a copy for my self. The biggest problem here is the term "in plain view" I think many courts and LEO's have differing opinions on that. In my mind, a clip sticking out of a pocket isn't really palin view, but I'm sure some would think it is. Very confusing. :confused:
 
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