Los Angeles, CA knife law

jjk1285

jjk1285

Joined
Dec 13, 2005
Messages
39
My story starts with my friend being pulled over for a DUI while I was a passenger. His blood alcohol was very low, but because he was 20 yro (21 is the drinking age) he got a DUI. So basically, the leos take everyone out of the car, search us, and sit us on the curb. When they searched the car they found my BM 710 (3.9 in. blade) which i pulled out of my pocket and left in a door compartment when we were being pulled over. After some harassment they whipped out a pocketbook that said something about blades over 3" being illegal and let me off with a warning.

I already know the CA laws, folding knives in the closed position are fine, no matter the length. So i searched the Los angeles municipal codes later and all i found was "no knives in plain view," but nothing about a length limit on closed folders in the pocket.

any leos want to let me know what im missing???
then again, any knowledgable person would do.
 
Here it is in a nut shell.... The LEO was an idiot.

Pure and simple.

You are absolutly correct on the muni code and you are not missing anything. The LEO did not know the law.

When I first started reading your post my first thought was, Oh no what case am on working pro bono :p.

Glad the guy was smart enough not to press the issue.
 
Hey bud , did the Officer keep your knife ?
Not to try and be a parent or nothing but I hope you and your friends learned a lesson on the DUI thing , alcohol is the worst.
 
I just found someone's review of the CA law, http://www.ninehundred.com/~equalccw/knifelaw.html, and he also states that some cities like Los Angeles have a 3" limit. This was written a few years ago so not sure if it still applies, could the code have expired ??

The knife wasn't confiscated, the officer left it in the car which was towed so that I could get it back later. Interesting how the leo put a supposedly "illegal" knife in the glove compartment of a car getting towed. Initially I thought the knife was gonna get jacked, but i got it back from my friend's car later.

iWhen SHE found the knife, the leo asked me if a knew what a felony was. Even having a 5 inch butterfly knife is only a misdemeanor so..... yeah, but my friend was being cussed at by another officer and this lady had a huge taser next to her gun so i decided not to argue.
 
The 3" limit is only for open carry. There is no limit in LA for concealed carry of folders.
 
that reminds me of a time i had a run-in with burbank cops a while back,

I was helping my friend spraypaint a portion of his car, it was one of those old Mitsubishi eclipse where the red taillight wraps around the entire rear. I was painting the middle panel to match the car. Well the cops roll up with 4 squad cars, apparently some "concerned" neighbor called them in. Saw this mark on the pavement that said "SL" in white and started to accuse us of tagging. Long story short, they took our info and told us if they found out we were tagging we were gonna be busted later. Turned out the "SL" were markings signifying the locations of new streelights the city was putting in. Talk about retarded, they had 6 guys there and not one had any idea. BTW, burbank is a very small town and the Police dept. is a dedicated burbank dept. so I don't know how they thought a big SL on the concrete with an arrow next to it was a gang symbol or such...
 
Hey jjk1285,

The Burbank PD is a double edge sword. They are great to have, when they are on your side. They do a great job and can respond to any trouble anywhere in the city in well under 10 minutes. On the other hand, they'll bother you for the littlest thing like jaywalking or skateboarding. (I do neither.) So far I haven't had any trouble from Burbank PD.
I've been molested by 2 offduty LAPD before at a certain go-kart park in the City of Industry. They caught a glimpse of my utility belt as I was getting out of my go-kart. They thought it was a gun, so they accosted me and gave me a pat down. When they found no weapon on me they apologized and left me alone.
 
R.W.Clark said:
The 3" limit is only for open carry. There is no limit in LA for concealed carry of folders.
Click to expand...

Do you happen to know which section of the CA or City of Los Angeles penal code states this? I'd like to print it out and keep it in my wallet in case I'm harassed by police (which I have before).

My EDCs are a Benchmade 635 and a Victorinox Swisstool X, both in belt holsters, and often covered by my shirt. Is this still within legality for the greater L.A. metro area?
 
STATE LAW:

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov
CALIFORNIA PENAL CODE SECTION 12020-12040 (carrying)
CALIFORNIA PENAL CODE SECTION 142-181 (carrying into gov't building)

regarding LA law, search "los angels municipal code" on google and the first link you get will take you to the database, all i found in there was "no carryof knives in plain sight" nothing about city specific length limits.
 
http://www.amlegal.com/los_angeles_ca/

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.
 
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