Puerto Rico carry and the law

[jm~]

Greetings.

Any information regarding knife carry laws in Puerto Rico would be appreciated. Planning to travel there for work and would like to be aware of my limitations vs. liabilities.
Hope im posting in the right place
Noticed this question posted a few days prior, but haven't seen a response as yet...

thanks to all....

jm~

 

[beamernc]

I have never been to Puerto Rico, but I worked with several guys from there. If I remember correctly they said that you could carry a knife in a sheath on your belt but could not carry any type of knife in your pocket.

 

[jm~]

ok... Thanks!

 

[superc]

Just came back. Concealed knives are forbidden. Knives for carry have to be linked to your vocation. You may have some knives in your home. Farmers can wear and carry vegetable knives while working in their field cutting cane or whatever, butchers and cooks can have appropriate knives while working, fisherman may have bait knives while fishing, diners in the restaurant may use an issued steak knife, but may not bring one with them to the restaurant, etc. Anything else and problems may ensue.

 

[Gadgetman7]

Just came back. Concealed knives are forbidden. Knives for carry have to be linked to your vocation. You may have some knives in your home. Farmers can wear and carry vegetable knives while working in their field cutting cane or whatever, butchers and cooks can have appropriate knives while working, fisherman may have bait knives while fishing, diners in the restaurant may use an issued steak knife, but may not bring one with them to the restaurant, etc. Anything else and problems may ensue.

Is that just fixed blades or does it apply to Swiss Army Knives as well?

 

[bulldog mack]

i live in pr and even the police cant tell me my edc is a 279 alpha folder on my belt and for two years i havent had any problems

 

[Erich]

Just got back from Puerto Rico - lovely trip. However, it was noteworthy that I did not see a single person with a knife clipped to his pocket - and no sheath knives in use, either.

I found this on Westlaw prior to leaving:

25 L.P.R.A. § 458d

Laws of Puerto Rico Annotated Currentness
Title Twenty-Five. Internal Security
Subtitle 1. Generally
Part V. Regulation of Firearms, Explosives, and Other Dangerous Devices
Chapter 51A. Puerto Rico Arms Act of 2000
Subchapter V. Weapons
Current selection§ 458d Carrying and use of bladed weapons and others


Any person who without justified motive, uses against another person brass knuckles, blackjacks, bludgeons, ninja stars, knives, daggers, swords, slings, rapiers, harpoons, curved knives, stilettos, air guns, ice picks, or any other similar object that may be deemed to be a bladed weapon, including safety razor blades, cudgels and hypodermic needles, or syringes with needles or similar instruments, or unsheathes, shows, or uses to commit or attempt to commit a crime, shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction shall be punished with a penalty of imprisonment for a fixed term of three (3) years. Should there be aggravating circumstances, the fixed penalty established may be increased to a maximum of six (6) years; should there be extenuating circumstances, it may be reduced to a minimum of six (6) months and one (1) day. The penalties established herein shall be without the right to suspended sentence, to parole, or to enjoy the benefits of a diversion program or to benefits or alternatives to imprisonment acknowledged in this jurisdiction, having to serve in calendar years the total amount of the penalty imposed.

Any person who possesses, carries, or conveys any of the weapons listed herein for their use as instruments proper to an art, sport, profession, occupation, trade or due to any health condition, or disability, or defenselessness, is excluded from the application of this section.

-- Sept. 11, 2000, No. 404, § 4.05, renumbered as § 5.05 on Jan. 10, 2002, No. 27, § 18; June 3, 2004, No. 137, § 17.

25 L.P.R.A. § 458d-1

Laws of Puerto Rico Annotated Currentness
Title Twenty-Five. Internal Security
Subtitle 1. Generally
Part V. Regulation of Firearms, Explosives, and Other Dangerous Devices
Chapter 51A. Puerto Rico Arms Act of 2000
Subchapter V. Weapons
Current selection§ 458d-1 Manufacturing, possession and distribution of bladed weapons


Any person who without justified motive related to any art, sport, profession, occupation or trade, or due to a health condition or disability manufactures, imports, offers, sells, owns or has for sale, rent or transfer brass knuckles, blackjacks, bludgeons, ninja stars, knives, daggers, swords, slings, rapiers, harpoons, curved knives, stilettos, ice picks, or any other similar object or any similar instrument that is deemed to be a bladed weapon shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction shall be punished by imprisonment for a fixed term of three (3) years. Should there be aggravating circumstances, the fixed penalty established, may be increased to a maximum of six (6) years; should there be extenuating circumstances, it may be reduced to a minimum of one (1) year and one (1) day.

The prohibition set forth in this section extends to any person imprisoned for the commission of any crime.

-- Sept. 11, 2000, No. 404, added as § 5.05A on Jan. 10, 2002, No. 27, § 20; June 3, 2004, No. 137, § 18.

also

1 L.P.R.A. § 693

Laws of Puerto Rico Annotated Currentness
Title One. The Commonwealth
Chapter 35. Public Buildings Security Act
Current selection§ 693 Security norms


(a) As a part of the minimum security norms to be adopted in all government dependencies, the following behaviors are hereby prohibited:

(1) The bearing of any type of weapon shall not be permitted, except for those used by duly identified law enforcement officers, officers assigned to the government dependency in question, as well as those used by private security guards assigned to the same dependency. Each dependency director shall be responsible for establishing by regulation the mechanisms necessary to dispose of the weapons borne, in accordance with the laws of Puerto Rico, by the visitors who go to said dependency while they receive the corresponding services.

(2) The introduction of blunt or sharp objects that may be used as weapons to assault third parties shall not be permitted. Excepted from this prohibition are those objects introduced into the government dependency for fairs or artisanry exhibitions, recognitions, and special events. Also excepted from this provision are canes, crutches, walkers or other instruments used by elderly or disabled persons.

(3) The introduction of animals shall not be allowed, with the exception of those duly trained to serve as guides to blind persons, the hearing impaired or persons who have any impairment that requires their use, as well as those trained for security that are accompanied by a law enforcement officer.

(4) The introduction of explosive materials or hazardous substances shall not be permitted. Excepted from this prohibition are those materials that, due to the nature of the service offered by the government dependency, are necessarily handled and stored therein. In these cases, however, the dependency must take all the necessary steps, by regulation, for the proper handling of such materials, so as to prevent them from putting at risk the health and security of their employees and visitors.

(5) The entrance of persons wearing hoods, masks, costumes, or having their face otherwise covered or concealed shall not be allowed. Excepted from this prohibition established in this subsection of this chapter are those persons wearing hoods, masks, costumes or having their face otherwise covered or concealed due to any activity previously authorized by the government dependency, such as exhibition fairs or seasonal festivities. In such cases, however, the persons who are going to access the dependency wearing a costume shall first identify themselves.

Excepted from this provision are undercover agents and/or informers of law enforcement agencies who are required to protect their identity.

(b) All public demonstrations shall be held in those adjacent zones recognized as traditional public forums, such as sidewalks, streets, town squares and parks, or public forums designated by law or regulation.

(c) When the public property so allows, the directors of the government dependencies shall place these minimum security norms on visible signs at all public access entrances to facilitate knowledge thereof by the citizens.

-- Apr. 29, 2008, No. 46, § 4.

1 L.P.R.A. § 693, PR ST T. 1 § 693

Current through December 2010