Knife Inspection by LEO?

[DaCheez]

I've been wondering recently under what circumstances I would be required to allow a LEO to take a look at or measure the blade of a knife I am carrying on my person. More specifically, I carry a folding knife clipped to my pocket (tip up) so that only the bottom part of the handle and the clip itself are visible. If a LEO asked to see the knife, would I be legally obligated to let him see the knife or would I be justified in not consenting to such an inspection, since it would seem to constitute a form of search/seizure? Or since the knife is partially in plain sight, would it not count as an unreasonable search for the LEO to inspect my knife? What about in the case of a traffic stop, or if I were carrying a knife which was fully visible (eg, a fixed blade in a belt sheath)?

Any ideas?

 

[tom19176]

It an item is visible to any extent that it can be identified for what it is ( a knife, a crack pipe, a stun gun), then there is a valid legal reason for the officer to request to see it and dtermine if it is legal under the laws of the jurisdication you are in. The courts have made that pretty clear in all 50 states.