Knife confiscated, returned

[Coldwood]

I'm glad to see that the wheels of justice prevailed with common sense in this case. However, I think the man was a little numb in the head for walking into a courthouse with this knife:

From the Plattsburgh (NY) Press-Republican:

Charge against man with knife dismissed

ELIZABETHTOWN -- A man charged with trying to take a knife into the Essex Courthouse was cleared when the charge against him was dropped.

Elizabethtown Town Justice William Garrison dismissed a misdemeanor charge of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon against Dennis L. Arthur, 37, of 476 Moss Road, Lewis.

State Office of Court Administration security personnel at the courthouse entrance checkpoint said they discovered an illegal "gravity knife" when Arthur tried to enter on Aug. 2 and called sheriff's deputies.

Gravity knives, or knives which can be quickly opened with one hand, are illegal in New York.

Arthur said what he actually had was a legal assisted-opening knife, purchased from a Plattsburgh store for $37. The District Attorney's Office did not oppose dismissal of the charge.

Arthur said his knife was returned.

 

[tom19176]

Coldwood, thanks for sharing the article. Interesting that the DA and court actually understood this is a legal knife. I would bet it could be flicked open, but the court/DA actually looked at the way the knife was designed to open and seemed to have ruled on that.......Once in a while things go the way they should always go !!!! Wish NYC had this understanding !!!

 

[reconranger]

This is something you have to be very careful of! Here in Calif. I can carry a 4" folder almost everywhere (3" in some localities) except a courthouse or school grounds. But, you better not forget you have a knife in your pocket when entering a coutrhouse!

 

[Coldwood]

This is something you have to be very careful of! Here in Calif. I can carry a 4" folder almost everywhere (3" in some localities) except a courthouse or school grounds. But, you better not forget you have a knife in your pocket when entering a coutrhouse!

Right-o, sometimes I have to go into the county building to the property tax office which is on the same floor as the court rooms. I have to walk through a metal detector, with a couple of sheriff's deputies on hand. I just automatically dump everything out of my pockets and leave them in the car before entering the building. The first time, I had a scout/utility knife in my pocket, they just made me leave it with them, I picked it up on the way out. They're reasonable up here.

This incident had a happy ending, but I know from experience that this guy probably had to file a bunch of paperwork with the DA's office. It didn't say so in the article, but I bet he had to pay some kind of minor fine or court cost, they don't let you go for nothing