Ok to carry in New York City?

These are the NYC legal knives:

1. Any non-locking folding knife with a blade under 4 inches.

2. Any locking folding knife with a blade under 4 inches that CAN'T be opened by:
....a) holding the knife by the handle and flipping the blade open
....b) holding the knife by the blade and flipping the handle open

Despite what some people say, it's not a good idea to carry a fixed blade knife in NYC. The bottom line is this. If it looks like a weapon, if the cop suspects that you are carrying this knife for use as a weapon, you will get arrested.
 
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I've lived in NY for over 20 years, but NYC has far stricter laws and policies than upstate.

First and foremost, although it is typically legal to carry and possess a folding lockblade with a blade length under 4", NYC has a law that if anyone sees the knife it is "alarming" so that is a mandatory arrest and incarceration. Pocket clips are completely outlawed there: knife clipped to pocket = automatic jail. NYC also has a widespread "stop and frisk" policy with no real oversight. If a cop says he saw a suspicious bulge and arrests you for a legal knife, you may get the charge dismissed weeks or months later after thousands of dollars in legal fees, but you will still go directly to jail.

No pocket clips, no belt sheaths, no obvious printing of a knife through a pocket. A knife that is not seen is legal, as long as it is under 4" blade length, single edged, and not scary enough to be deemed "of like kind" to a "dagger or dirk" by a prosecutor, or loose enough to be deemed a "gravity knife."
 
tyr_shadowblade said:
I've lived in NY for over 20 years, but NYC has far stricter laws and policies than upstate.

First and foremost, although it is typically legal to carry and possess a folding lockblade with a blade length under 4", NYC has a law that if anyone sees the knife it is "alarming" so that is a mandatory arrest and incarceration. Pocket clips are completely outlawed there: knife clipped to pocket = automatic jail. NYC also has a widespread "stop and frisk" policy with no real oversight. If a cop says he saw a suspicious bulge and arrests you for a legal knife, you may get the charge dismissed weeks or months later after thousands of dollars in legal fees, but you will still go directly to jail.

No pocket clips, no belt sheaths, no obvious printing of a knife through a pocket. A knife that is not seen is legal, as long as it is under 4" blade length, single edged, and not scary enough to be deemed "of like kind" to a "dagger or dirk" by a prosecutor, or loose enough to be deemed a "gravity knife."
Click to expand...

What you said about pocket clips and/or sheaths is generally accurate but stop and frisk has not been a policy for over a year.
 
I've been living in Manhattan for the past 15 years - the laws are there, but the police aren't lawyers; it depends on the time/day/mayor/taste of coffee etc, whether or not the officer has a hard on for a new knife or wants to make quota.

I got so sick of worrying about things that I went to EMT school, passed the state exam and don't have to worry about clip showing or not. It was a pain, 3 months of training, but I learned a lot and if I ever lose my 9to5 I can go work as an EMT :-)

Not saying it is for everyone, but it was my solution for the constant what if scenario's with knives in the city.
 
An EMT is NOT allow to carry a gravity knife, and the exposed clip part is only allowed for on duty as a EMT and going to and from that work, so what special exemption do you think you now have? An Officer MAY give you more of a "break" but the law does not show an exemption....Check NYS PL 265.20 for the list of people who have exemptions. NYC Admin Code 10-133 for the exposed carry part.

http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/nycode/PEN/THREE/P/265/265.20


http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/nycode/ADC/10/1/10-133
 
Hi Tom,

Indeed, I was not attempting to say without any certainty that EMT's could get away with carrying anything; however the leniency does play a factor - so does a PBA card or the Eagle Scout SAK. The three tiered services in the city, there is always infighting amongst EMS, FDNY and NYPD but a certain amount of professional courtesy, I think would be displayed by saying hey..."I am not a bad guy, I have training and am certified by the state." I believe there is an exception for hunters, obviously while hunting/fishing.
I was attempting to say, that instead of answering the question "Why do you have a knife?" and answering "It is a tool." It is much easier to say I am an EMT, again I have not been in the position to answer this question and hope never to be.

I am not sure if you saw this article from a few months back - http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2014/10/nyc-gravity-knife-law-arrests.php
Or this one a few days later - http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runni...rk_state_anyway_the_answer_might_surprise.php

A lot of it comes down to common sense, in a city of millions of people and tourists, exposed anything (EMT, Cop, FDNY or not) is going to cause stares and better to have it in the pocket than exposed as an invite for search or pickpockets/loss.

Thanks!
 
Just wanted to be sure you knew the law......There are guys out there who will arrest ANYONE....A NYPD school safety officer was arrested by the NYPD for carrying the wrong can of mace off duty......He had peace officer status when he was on duty only....The fishing part of the law does work even in NYC ( hunting and trapping are now allowed in the city limits). Fishing is allowed even in Central park.

I have that article. Look at knife rights web site too.....
 
So it may be advantageous to add a NYS Drivers license with the Lifetime Adventurer Logo - http://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/6099.html

I don't understand the city sometimes, it gets quite confusing. The Mace thing is ridiculous, zero professional courtesy given. I think in the 90's there was a EMT (Central Park Volunteer) that was arrested for having his EMT Shield - http://www.1strespondernews.com/web...te=NY&ID=dfd74a78-8d8e-4be4-ba46-f904b309ad0e

This caused an uproar and then NYC REMSCO changed protocol so it would not happen again.

On a separate knife related note - I had a recent business trip to Kiev when going through passport control they searched my luggage (with me present) and found my SAK and sheathed Strider SLCC. They didn't know what to do, they asked for my ID (not my passport) saw my NYS EMT card and stopped searching, gave me everything back and said enjoy my trip. I didn't know if I should $%^ or go blind.

Turns out the wealthy in the Ukraine and Russia buy Ambulances so they can get through traffic!
 
With regards to the fishing license read the following from the Manhattan DA: ( bottom of numbered page three to page four)

http://www.kniferights.org/DAoppbrief.pdf

The DA states the holder of a fishing license can not be charged. Now I would not feel that includes 24 carry of what might be considered a gravity knife or switchblade ( the NYPD considers assisted openers to be switchblade- wrong of course) but if you read NYS PL section 15.20 #2 it is an affirmative defense to quote what the DA has stated.

http://law.onecle.com/new-york/penal/PEN015.20_15.20.html

There are some that have proposed that if a fishing hook and 20 feet of monfilment line is considered fishing equipment for charging someone with fishing without a license at a lake, then those same items carried in your wallet with your fishing license could be considered fishing equipment at all times, and that a pocket knife was part of that equipment. THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVISE, but rather what has been discussed with those who enforce the law.
 
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