WA Knife Law (Bellingham Area) / Interpretation

H

Honeywell

Joined
Aug 1, 2002
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I did a search of the Bellingham Municipal Codes since I'm moving up there to go to college. There is no mention on legal blade size such as there is for Seattle which is under 3 1/2. In the RCW for Washington state there is no mention of length, I'm assuming to allow each city to set a limit on what they see fit. So am I to assume that there is no limit seeing that there is no mention in the Municipal Code or RCW?

For any of you that live up North in that area how accepting are the LEO of knives? I'm not a some "punk kid" out to cause trouble, just someone who wants to be prepared. I know LEO's are usually pretty....what's the word I'm looking for....strict with young adults, but I don't want that to be held against me. I was a Boy Scout, graduated high school with a 3.9 GPA was involved in clubs and sports. I guess what I'm trying to say is if I were to get caught with a knife that was found to be illegal would they be tuffer on me since I was a young adult (I'm 18) as opposed to if I was in my 30's. I'm just worried about the stereotype of the police and teens/young adults. I've met with a couple guys from my local PD for a job shadow (I want to be a LEO) and they are really nice, problem is if they ran into me on the street they wouldn't know my intentions or how I'm a good kid or whatnot.

Of course all this is dependent on the size limitations in Bellingham. I have an Emerson CQC7 which is 3.3 and a Spyderco Delica which is a tad under 3. The Emerson is what I'm worried about. If the limit was 3 and for some reason I was caught with the Emerson would they let it slide?

Thanks for any and all help/advice you could give.
 
Seriously. Call the Bellingham PD and ask them if the City's Municipal Code limits blade length and, if so, to what length. You might also call Western's Campus Security--the campus rules might be way stricter than Bellingham's.

If law enforcement interests you, you might look into becoming a reserve officer for Bellingham or a neighboring community. It might be fun and I'm sure they'd go easier on an 18-year-old with a Commander if he also had a local reserve officer ID ;)
 
Originally posted by diletante
If law enforcement interests you, you might look into becoming a reserve officer for Bellingham or a neighboring community. It might be fun and I'm sure they'd go easier on an 18-year-old with a Commander if he also had a local reserve officer ID ;)
Click to expand...

How old do you have to be to do that? I know the SPD has an Explorer program, is this similar?
 
I live in Bellingham, and as far as I've been able to find out, there are no restrictions on blade length. Within reason of course, don't try to carry around a short sword or somesuch. also the advice to check with WWU's police is good. They have tighter restrictions on the carry of weapons, mostly firearms, but I'm pretty sure that when they say "or other weapons", they include knives. Look in the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) for the specifics. Look at WAC 516-52-020, also 132U-120-050 and 495B-120-040. The last two deal with student responsibilities, and state the unauthorized posession of dangerous objects, but the first states that only LEO's are allowed to carry guns or other weapons.
 
Originally posted by Unicorn1
I live in Bellingham, and as far as I've been able to find out, there are no restrictions on blade length. Within reason of course, don't try to carry around a short sword or somesuch. also the advice to check with WWU's police is good. They have tighter restrictions on the carry of weapons, mostly firearms, but I'm pretty sure that when they say "or other weapons", they include knives. Look in the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) for the specifics. Look at WAC 516-52-020, also 132U-120-050 and 495B-120-040. The last two deal with student responsibilities, and state the unauthorized posession of dangerous objects, but the first states that only LEO's are allowed to carry guns or other weapons.
Click to expand...

Thanks a bunch for the information. I'll definitely be giving WWU a call, but on my housing contract, like you said, it mainly focused on firearms, no mention of knives. But I'll call just to be safe.
 
I can't help with specifics, but here is what I do know.
I live in Eastern Washington. I work out with several LEOs.
They are primarily worried about fixed blades over 3 inches. Especially double edged. I have not seen them as much as raise an eybrow over a folder. Perhaps a SIFU might make them take notice.
Attitudes are a little different over here. Less weirdness overall.

Again, not specific, but an idea of how some knives cause more concern.
I have a friend who was arrested on an old traffic issue. He was carrying 4 knives all around 4 inches. They were all returned to him when it was cleared up. No problem.

In any event, I am sure you will be comfortable with specific information. Be prepared to receive different answers from different people.

Your behavior will attract more attention than a clipped pocket knife. You have already indicated that you don't have ehavioral problem.

My 2 cents.

Ed T
 
Originally posted by Honeywell
How old do you have to be to do that? I know the SPD has an Explorer program, is this similar?
Click to expand...

I don't know how old you have to be . . . It was just a thought. You might ask when you call Bellingham PD. Actually, you might want to call a couple days before or after you ask about the knives ;) Seriously, though, some departments have reserve officers for times when their full time officers are all busy. I grew up in Issaquah. They had reserve officers, but I was never interested.

Good luck!
 

Here’s the Bellingham Municipal Code regarding weapons, including knives:​

​

10.30.015Weapons apparently capable producing bodily harm – Unlawful carrying or handling – Penalty – Exceptions.
​

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to carry, exhibit, display, or draw any firearm, dagger, sword, knife or other cutting or stabbing instrument, club, electronic control device, or any other weapon apparently capable of producing bodily harm, in a manner, under circumstances, and at a time and place that either manifests an intent to intimidate another or that warrants alarm for the safety of other persons.

B. Any person violating the provisions of subsection (A) of this section shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor. If any person is convicted of a violation of subsection (A) of this section, the person shall lose his or her concealed pistol license, if any. The court shall send notice of the revocation to the department of licensing, and the city, town, or county which issued the license.

C. Subsection (A) of this section shall not apply to or affect the following:

1. Any act committed by a person while in his or her place of abode or fixed place of business;

2. Any person who by virtue of his or her office or public employment is vested by law with a duty to preserve public safety, maintain public order, or to make arrests for offenses, while in the performance of such duty;

3. Any person acting for the purpose of protecting himself or herself against the use of presently threatened unlawful force by another, or for the purpose of protecting another against the use of such unlawful force by a third person;

4. Any person making or assisting in making a lawful arrest for the commission of a felony; or

5. Any person engaged in military activities sponsored by the federal or state governments.

D. In this section “electronic control device” means any electric or other conductive energy device such as a Taser or stun gun or other device designed to deliver an electronic charge or current that is apparently capable of injuring, immobilizing, or inflicting pain on an individual. [Ord. 2016-07-017 § 2].
 
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S SethJohns - this thread was posted in 2002! He either figured it out by now or he didn’t. He’s 39 now and probably well out of college and into a career, got a family, grill in the back yard, etc.
 
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