Virginia Laws

[thedetro125]

Can somebody who knows for sure give me the laws about a. underage carrying/possessing of switchblades/balisongs, and b. of age carrying/possessing of switchblades/balisongs.

From what i've heard so far about switchblades (i assume this is for of age people)-
from one site they said possession is legal, and carry is legal unconcealed, and legal concealed with permit
another site they said possession was legal, but carry is illegal

Havnt managed to find anything on balisongs yet, but i continue to look

Which site is most accurate? From my experience with the law, i believe that a police officer would arrest you for having a switchblade even if it was unconcealed, simply because he doesnt know the laws- a lot of situations happen like this with cops nowadays because they dont know the laws themselves, they just assume.

Any thoughts?
~Matt

 

[glistam]

Here's a link to the actual statute from VA's government website: http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+18.2-308

To break it down, the first line says "carries about his person, hidden from common observation" (i.e. concealed). So open carry of most anything (even pistols) is technically legal. BUT, open carry is not without risk. As you say, police do not always know the law all that well, and even when they do, if a person calls the police on you, the officer is obligated to stop you and ask you potentially uncomfortable questions at the very least. It may net a disorderly or brandishing citation, depending on the situation.

There is no per se prohibition against balisongs in Virginia that I have been able to find. A double-edged one could be a "dirk," but I'm not certain how that would go in court.

Under § 18.2-309, it is illegal to sell, barter, give etc. certain knives to minors. Not possess, just furnish too.

Switchblades are more less illegal entirely under § 18.2-311. Read very carefully:

If any person sells or barters, or exhibits for sale or for barter, or gives or furnishes, or causes to be sold, bartered, given or furnished, or has in his possession, or under his control, with the intent of selling, bartering, giving or furnishing, any blackjack, brass or metal knucks, any disc of whatever configuration having at least two points or pointed blades which is designed to be thrown or propelled and which may be known as a throwing star or oriental dart, switchblade knife, ballistic knife, or like weapons, such person shall be guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor. The having in one's possession of any such weapon shall be prima facie evidence, except in the case of a conservator of the peace, of his intent to sell, barter, give or furnish the same.