Law on carrying folders on college campuses?

Joined
Jan 1, 2006
Messages
219
Hi guys, I live in California and have tried looking upt he knife laws in this state but was a bit confused. I know that it's illegal to carry any knives on campus from grades K-12, but am not too sure about on college campuses. I currently attend University of California Irvine and was wondering if anyone out there could tell me if it's legal or not for me to carry a folder in my pocket, and if so, is there a restriction the blade length?

Thanks,

Gary
 
626.10. (a) Any person, except a duly appointed peace officer as
defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of
Part 2, a full-time paid peace officer of another state or the
federal government who is carrying out official duties while in this
state, a person summoned by any officer to assist in making arrests
or preserving the peace while the person is actually engaged in
assisting any officer, or a member of the military forces of this
state or the United States who is engaged in the performance of his
or her duties, who brings or possesses any dirk, dagger, ice pick,
knife having a blade longer than 21/2 inches, folding knife with a
blade that locks into place, a razor with an unguarded blade, a
taser, or a stun gun, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 244.5,
any instrument that expels a metallic projectile such as a BB or a
pellet, through the force of air pressure, CO2 pressure, or spring
action, or any spot marker gun, upon the grounds of, or within, any
public or private school providing instruction in kindergarten or any
of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, is guilty of a public offense,
punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year,
or by imprisonment in the state prison.
(b) Any person, except a duly appointed peace officer as defined
in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2, a
full-time paid peace officer of another state or the federal
government who is carrying out official duties while in this state, a
person summoned by any officer to assist in making arrests or
preserving the peace while the person is actually engaged in
assisting any officer, or a member of the military forces of this
state or the United States who is engaged in the performance of his
or her duties, who brings or possesses any dirk, dagger, ice pick, or
knife having a fixed blade longer than 21/2 inches upon the grounds
of, or within, any private university, the University of California,
the California State University, or the California Community Colleges
is guilty of a public offense, punishable by imprisonment in a
county jail not exceeding one year, or by imprisonment in the state
prison.
(c) Subdivisions (a) and (b) do not apply to any person who brings
or possesses a knife having a blade longer than 21/2 inches or a
razor with an unguarded blade upon the grounds of, or within, a
public or private school providing instruction in kindergarten or any
of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, or any private university, state
university, or community college at the direction of a faculty member
of the private university, state university, or community college,
or a certificated or classified employee of the school for use in a
private university, state university, community college, or
school-sponsored activity or class.
(d) Subdivisions (a) and (b) do not apply to any person who brings
or possesses an ice pick, a knife having a blade longer than 21/2
inches, or a razor with an unguarded blade upon the grounds of, or
within, a public or private school providing instruction in
kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, or any private
university, state university, or community college for a lawful
purpose within the scope of the person's employment.
(e) Subdivision (b) does not apply to any person who brings or
possesses an ice pick or a knife having a fixed blade longer than
21/2 inches upon the grounds of, or within, any private university,
state university, or community college for lawful use in or around a
residence or residential facility located upon those grounds or for
lawful use in food preparation or consumption.
(f) Subdivision (a) does not apply to any person who brings an
instrument that expels a metallic projectile such as a BB or a
pellet, through the force of air pressure, CO2 pressure, or spring
action, or any spot marker gun upon the grounds of, or within, a
public or private school providing instruction in kindergarten or any
of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, if the person has the written
permission of the school principal or his or her designee.
(g) Any certificated or classified employee or school peace
officer of a public or private school providing instruction in
kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, may seize any of
the weapons described in subdivision (a), and any certificated or
classified employee or school peace officer of any private
university, state university, or community college may seize any of
the weapons described in subdivision (b), from the possession of any
person upon the grounds of, or within, the school if he or she knows,
or has reasonable cause to know, the person is prohibited from
bringing or possessing the weapon upon the grounds of, or within, the
school.
(h) As used in this section, "dirk" or "dagger" means a knife or
other instrument with or without a handguard that is capable of ready
use as a stabbing weapon that may inflict great bodily injury or
death.


So on college campus there are no STATE restrictions to the carry of folding knives. However, there might be rules of conduct or "weapons" rules that the college has set in place. Be sure to check your schools policies.
 
Asking local LEOs is generally not the best way to get straight answers. If you ask 10 LEOs you will get 10 differant answers.

Best to go straight to the printed word.
 
Generally won't matter what LEOs think--if the school has policies more restrictive than the letter of the law, the school wins.

We had a sad story a few months ago about a college student who found himself in serious hot water for having knives. And colleges generally find creative ways to prevent you from adequate legal representation.
 
I agree, "generally won't matter what Leo's think.". I had a problem
in Pasadena CA. The campus police stopped me for carrying a folder.
The law is clear, I can carry, but what a potential hassle; money and time could have been wasted not to mention the embarassment of the arrest. Finally, after having a friend download the law which allows folders and after showing it to the Chief of Campus Police (I had to beg him to read it and he still he didn't believe me, finally he called the local DA) he let me go. No apology, no nothing. As for "school" rules, it is nice to obey them, but if you are not breaking a state or federal law, the school can't do too much to you from a legal standpoint. They can hold up your grades, expell you, etc.
 
I know that you are not supposed to carry a knife on my campus but I know plenty of people who do, including myself. I have not had any trouble and have carried a knife every day on my campus. As long as you aren't an idiot and dont go flashing it around or doing stupid things with it i'm sure you wont have a problem and if your really worried carry something like a SAK or dont clip the knife to your pocket and just let it sit in your pocket s no one can see. I havent had any trouble here and neither has anyone I know who carry knives ( which is alot), but then again i'm in Texas...not Commifornia :D
 
Seig Heil !
I reckon a boy scout can't carry a scout knife any longer ?
Welcome to hell...

Beware of them terree~ristes.
Wave that flag !
 
from the reading i did into my local CC that i attend, there is no problen with carying a folder. even still though, that doesent mean it wont cause problems. i carry a blade on me everywhere, i dont advertise and i dont take it out unless i REALLY need to. refering to what is ALWAYS mentioned around here, "people are sheep" they dont pay any attn. even though it was a bad idea, i carried a knife all throughout highschool aswell. same guidelines. i didnt advertise and i didnt take it out! never got busted and never got even a second glance. use common sence, stay off the radar and dont give police a reason to suspect u are dangerous and in need of a "cavity search"
 
My campus rules say under 3" blade. Unless you need it for a class or something, which is how I explain away my field knife for ROTC.
 
Ahh a fellow anteater! I myself carry a sweet little endura on campus and for public campuses there are no restrictions against folders other than switchblades etc... Fixed blades have to be carried unconcealed and must be 2 and 1/2 inches or shorter on a college campus.

http://www.equalccw.com/knifelaw.html Here is excellent info on what the law means. Took me awhile to decipher on my own. Hope that link will help.


Somewhere on the UCI website (I don't remember where) they say that any folder must be 3" or less, however I'm not sure if what they're saying is true because UCI is a public school and shouldn't have any extra rules like that, but that might be something to check into for yourself.
 
I think it was pointed out above somewhere; campus police simply do not know the law. They are refering to the law applicable to grades K-12 which includes ANY knife, fixed or folder with a blade longer than 2.5 inches. However, Section 626.10 (a) of the California Penal Code only applies to K-12. BUT Section 626.10 (b) applies to "...private university, the University of California, ...) states that you cannot bring a "knife have a FIXED BLADE longer that 2.5" upon the grounds...: No mention, therefore you are allowed to carry a folder (any size for that matter ) in the folded position. Note, in the open position, it becomes a fixed blade.

Campus police simply don't know this law very well. I had this problem in the Pasadena, CA area. Campus Police were all hot to prosecute, but I showed them the law (they still didn't care) but finally after I persisted they contacted the local DA who confirmed I was right. But don't wait around for an apology; it won't happen.
 
Just a quick follow up; I just got off the phone with UCLA's Campus Police's
Detective/Investigation Department. Mind you, the woman who answered the phone said "all weapons are illegal on campus" but the Detective confirmed (and he double checked with his superior) that a folding knife in the folded position IS permitted on campus and may be of any length as long as it isn't a switchblade, etc.
 
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