knife in cars

[a deadly fart]

Is there any law prohibiting having a knife on you while in your car or within easy reach? paricularly in California? just one of those odd questions that popped up before I slept last night.

 

[Merek]

Here in Texas, only if it is 'nomally' legal, or if you are travelling to or from to a legitimate activity such as camping or hunting (Bowies or large fixed blades).
Most cops tend to frown on anything weapon-ish in a vehicle.
Usually best if carried in the trunk out of easy access, but what is the point there? Nice thing about vehicles is that they have a greater ability to carry seemingly innocuous items which may make an excellent weapon. Unless your vehicle is inoperable the best defense is a heavy gas pedal.
Despite all this I have my Blackjack 1-7 under my seat on most trips.
In Texas, it is also apparently legal to carry a (non CCW) pistol when travelling though I wouldn't test this...since having had my walking stick being declared as a 'club' by a State Trooper once.....butthead.
I also have a very nasty looking tree saw on my floorboard. :barf:

 

[Duffin444]

In California:

653k:
Every person who possesses in the passenger's or driver's area of any motor vehicle in any public place or place open to the public, carries upon his or her person,...a switchblade knife having a blade two or more inches in length is guilty of a misdemeanor.
[...]
"Switchblade knife" does not include a knife that opens with one hand utilizing thumb pressure applied solely to the blade of the knife or a thumb stud attached to the blade, provided that the knife has a detent or other mechanism that provides resistance that must be overcome in opening the blade, or that biases the blade back toward its closed position.
For purposes of this section, "passenger's or driver's area" means that part of a motor vehicle which is designed to carry the driver and passengers, including any interior compartment or space therein.


So, anything that you can EDC you can drive with. I would stay away from fixed blades though, as I am not sure if it being in your car would be considered concealed or not.

-Duffin

 

[a deadly fart]

Thanks for the clarification fellas.

 

[Stormdrane]

A friend of mine was pulled over by a Georgia State Trooper and got a tongue lashing because he had a fixed blade hunting knive in the center console. Initially the trooper said he pulled him over because he was 'weaving' within the lines, then he said his window tint was too dark. When asked if he had any weapons in the vehicle, my friend mentioned the hunting knife. That's when the trooper called for backup and when it arrived, they did a search. My friend has a Georgia issued firearms license, though he didn't have his weapon on him at the time. After about a half an hour, the trooper's supervisor arrived, now 2 troopers and a 2 local officers at location, the super asks what's going on, my friend now thoroughly pissed off since he's done nothing wrong, explains, & the super tells my friend he can keep the knife in the vehicle as long as it's 'out of reach' and lets him go. No ticket, no apology. So outside of doing an intensive search into your local/state laws involving knives in a vehicle, I'd just keep it out of reach, and stay away from schools/churches/govt property and so on. My friend is a 'redneck' and hates the 'government'. I don't always agree with him, but I accept him for who he is. I'm an army brat, I've worked for the govt in the past and even considered a job in law enforcement. I was just turned down for a Homeland Security position last year because I have 'high frequency' hearing loss.