I did some research and I still wasn't able to determine if my CQC 12 that is over 3 inches is legal in LA county or not. I will be visiting LA for thanksgiving break. If I have the clip visible, is that still concealed? What if I have it in my pocket without the clip visible? Is that still legal? What are your advice? If I have a 2.7 inch folder concealed, is that legal? I understand that the CA laws do not apply since LA has their own laws. Thanks.
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Knife laws in LA
- Thread starter AfterDark
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here is the relevant section from the los angeles municipal code:
SEC. 55.10. CARRY KNIVES OR DAGGERS IN PLAIN VIEW PROHIBITED.
(Added by Ord. No. 162,995, Eff. 1/7/88.)
(a) As used in this section, the term “knife” or “dagger” shall include any knife, dirk or dagger having a blade 3 inches or more in length, any ice pick or similar sharp tool, any straight edge razor or any razor blade fitted to a handle.
(b) No person shall wear or carry in plain view any knife or dagger upon any public street or other public place or in any place open to the public.
(c) The prohibitions of this section shall not apply where a person is wearing or carrying a knife or dagger for use in a lawful occupation, for lawful recreational purposes, or as a recognized religious practice, or while the person is traveling to or returning from participation in such activity.
note it must be in plain view, ie open carry. a folder in your pocket is fine. if the clip is visible, it is arguably in violation.
here is the relevant county code:
13.62.010 Knives and daggers defined.
As used in this chapter, the terms “knives and daggers” shall include any knife having a blade of three inches or more in length; any spring-blade, switch-blade or snap-blade knife; any knife any blade of which is automatically released by a spring mechanism or other mechanical device; any ice pick or similar sharp stabbing tool; any straight-edge razor or any razor blade fitted to a handle. (Ord. 11915 § 1, 1979.)
13.62.020 Carrying knives and daggers in plain view prohibited.
It is unlawful for any person to carry on his person, in plain view, any knife or dagger. (Ord. 11915 § 2, 1979.)
13.62.030 Exemptions to chapter applicability.
The foregoing restrictions shall not be deemed to prohibit the carrying of ordinary tools or equipment for use in a lawful occupation or for the purpose of lawful recreation, or where the carrying of a knife or dagger is a recognized religious practice. (Ord. 11915 § 3, 1979.)
13.62.040 Violation--Penalty.
Any person violating this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not exceeding $500.00 or by imprisonment in the County Jail for a period not exceeding six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. (Ord. 11915 § 4, 1979.)
the california penal code sections always apply as well. laws in cities and counties must comply with the state laws, but may be more restrictive.
your folder is perfectly legal provided you are an adult and it is carried concealed.
SEC. 55.10. CARRY KNIVES OR DAGGERS IN PLAIN VIEW PROHIBITED.
(Added by Ord. No. 162,995, Eff. 1/7/88.)
(a) As used in this section, the term “knife” or “dagger” shall include any knife, dirk or dagger having a blade 3 inches or more in length, any ice pick or similar sharp tool, any straight edge razor or any razor blade fitted to a handle.
(b) No person shall wear or carry in plain view any knife or dagger upon any public street or other public place or in any place open to the public.
(c) The prohibitions of this section shall not apply where a person is wearing or carrying a knife or dagger for use in a lawful occupation, for lawful recreational purposes, or as a recognized religious practice, or while the person is traveling to or returning from participation in such activity.
note it must be in plain view, ie open carry. a folder in your pocket is fine. if the clip is visible, it is arguably in violation.
here is the relevant county code:
13.62.010 Knives and daggers defined.
As used in this chapter, the terms “knives and daggers” shall include any knife having a blade of three inches or more in length; any spring-blade, switch-blade or snap-blade knife; any knife any blade of which is automatically released by a spring mechanism or other mechanical device; any ice pick or similar sharp stabbing tool; any straight-edge razor or any razor blade fitted to a handle. (Ord. 11915 § 1, 1979.)
13.62.020 Carrying knives and daggers in plain view prohibited.
It is unlawful for any person to carry on his person, in plain view, any knife or dagger. (Ord. 11915 § 2, 1979.)
13.62.030 Exemptions to chapter applicability.
The foregoing restrictions shall not be deemed to prohibit the carrying of ordinary tools or equipment for use in a lawful occupation or for the purpose of lawful recreation, or where the carrying of a knife or dagger is a recognized religious practice. (Ord. 11915 § 3, 1979.)
13.62.040 Violation--Penalty.
Any person violating this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not exceeding $500.00 or by imprisonment in the County Jail for a period not exceeding six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. (Ord. 11915 § 4, 1979.)
the california penal code sections always apply as well. laws in cities and counties must comply with the state laws, but may be more restrictive.
your folder is perfectly legal provided you are an adult and it is carried concealed.
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http://pweb.netcom.com/~brlevine/ca.txt
Urban EDC: I carry a 2.6" Emerson Karambit clipped on the pocket in LA (where I very rarely go!), and a 3.4" Super Karambit (or occasionally a CQC-10) everywhere else. Outdoors: it's the CQC-12.
You can legally carry a 4" folder almost anywhere , except a few localities.
Urban EDC: I carry a 2.6" Emerson Karambit clipped on the pocket in LA (where I very rarely go!), and a 3.4" Super Karambit (or occasionally a CQC-10) everywhere else. Outdoors: it's the CQC-12.
You can legally carry a 4" folder almost anywhere , except a few localities.
So if my folder is 3.9 inches, it is illegal in LA county? I guess I will need to pick up a CQC 14 then or a Combat Karambit.
Will a 3.9 inch folder in LA be legal if I use it for work related purposes? like cutting open boxes? Or is a 3.9 inch folder blade illegal no matter what? If anyone can clarify, thanks.
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It is actually LA city that has the 3" ordinance, not the county! Some other localities may have ordinances as well, but LA gets all the attention. So yes, find something under 3" if you are in LA. I would read the statute carefully to see if a legitimate work knife over 3" could squeze by....
Emerson is based in So. Calif., and you can tell that from his designs! Note that his folders are just under 4", which makes them legal (concealed or unconcealed) almost everywhere in the state. A 4" folder is all I ever care to carry in a populated area, so that works out real sweet for me!
Emerson is based in So. Calif., and you can tell that from his designs! Note that his folders are just under 4", which makes them legal (concealed or unconcealed) almost everywhere in the state. A 4" folder is all I ever care to carry in a populated area, so that works out real sweet for me!
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both the city and county have almost identical laws on the books. both set the limit at 3". see above post which includes both laws.
the state penal code has no length restriction except for autos, which is 2".
So my cqc 12 is basically not legal in LA county even if it's for work? Thanks again.
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perfectly legal as long as it is concealed. in plain view, which could include the clip showing, is illegal.
ok. thanks for the prompt reply. So to clarify, it is illegal if it's not for work related purposes? But if it is for work related purposes, then it's legal? Since my blade is 3.9 inches.
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i know the way the law reads can be a bit confusing, but ill try and simplify it a bit.
per the definition of a knife/dagger/dirk, one of the requirements is that the blade be three inches or shorter.
per the letter of the law, it is legal to carry ANY knife so long as it is not in plain view, ie it is concealed.
the exemption regarding work related knives simply implies that if it is for lawful business purposes, it may be carried in plain view during work hours, and generally to and from.
got it. Thanks Morimotom. Do you mean three inches or shorter? So as long as my folder is concealed, the three inch law does not apply? Thank you so much for clarifying things.
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yes, sorry, 3 inches is the limit.
and just to be clear, we are only talking about folders. fixed blade carry is illegal in the city/county, unless for legal occupation.
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Morimotom and Clark.....you each disagree on whether there is an LA city only ordinance or an LA city/LA county ordinance!!!
Either of you care to quote the relevant portions of the ordinances????
Either of you care to quote the relevant portions of the ordinances????
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if you had read the whole thread, you would have seen i posted both the municipal code AND the county code some time ago.
here they are again:
here is the relevant section from the los angeles municipal code:
SEC. 55.10. CARRY KNIVES OR DAGGERS IN PLAIN VIEW PROHIBITED.
(Added by Ord. No. 162,995, Eff. 1/7/88.)
(a) As used in this section, the term “knife” or “dagger” shall include any knife, dirk or dagger having a blade 3 inches or more in length, any ice pick or similar sharp tool, any straight edge razor or any razor blade fitted to a handle.
(b) No person shall wear or carry in plain view any knife or dagger upon any public street or other public place or in any place open to the public.
(c) The prohibitions of this section shall not apply where a person is wearing or carrying a knife or dagger for use in a lawful occupation, for lawful recreational purposes, or as a recognized religious practice, or while the person is traveling to or returning from participation in such activity.
note it must be in plain view, ie open carry. a folder in your pocket is fine. if the clip is visible, it is arguably in violation.
here is the relevant county code:
13.62.010 Knives and daggers defined.
As used in this chapter, the terms “knives and daggers” shall include any knife having a blade of three inches or more in length; any spring-blade, switch-blade or snap-blade knife; any knife any blade of which is automatically released by a spring mechanism or other mechanical device; any ice pick or similar sharp stabbing tool; any straight-edge razor or any razor blade fitted to a handle. (Ord. 11915 § 1, 1979.)
13.62.020 Carrying knives and daggers in plain view prohibited.
It is unlawful for any person to carry on his person, in plain view, any knife or dagger. (Ord. 11915 § 2, 1979.)
13.62.030 Exemptions to chapter applicability.
The foregoing restrictions shall not be deemed to prohibit the carrying of ordinary tools or equipment for use in a lawful occupation or for the purpose of lawful recreation, or where the carrying of a knife or dagger is a recognized religious practice. (Ord. 11915 § 3, 1979.)
13.62.040 Violation--Penalty.
Any person violating this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not exceeding $500.00 or by imprisonment in the County Jail for a period not exceeding six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. (Ord. 11915 § 4, 1979.)
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Sorry, I had forgotten your pervious post! I asked more for the other reading, not myself. When I (rarely) go to LA, one can't be sure where one city ends and another begins, so down there I would just carry an LA city legal knife everywhere anyway.....
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if you are in la city, or any area patroled by lapd, they will refer to the municipal code, or the penal code.
in any county, unincorporated area, or any area patroled by the sheriff's department, they will refer to the county code, or the penal code.
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Looks like county and city pretty much copied eachother anyway....
I avoid the big cities whenever possible anyway. Use to be that out in the Inland Empire we were in the country. Unfortunately, the city has moved out here now, and the formerly empty hills are getting full of housing developments.....
I avoid the big cities whenever possible anyway. Use to be that out in the Inland Empire we were in the country. Unfortunately, the city has moved out here now, and the formerly empty hills are getting full of housing developments.....