What is considered "concealed" police officers/anyone?

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Anyone know what is considered "concealed carry" for knifes? Is it a knife that's on you period? or only hidden full in a pocket or by clothing? I think this may vary by state, or county, but I'm not sure.

Thanks.
 
It has been my experience that all of these laws vary on a state to state level at least. Unfortunately, thanks to "officer discretion", oftentimes the law falls to the wayside of what the LEO thinks or believes (and many did not do so well in their criminal law class...). As for my area, it is generally accepted that if the knife (on clip or belt) is clearly visible to anyone approaching the side on which the knife is carried, then it is not concealed. I suggest checking out your state and county laws. Anyone out there know a good online law reference?
 
I don't think it matters, if the cop thinks you're doing something wrong that gives him probable suspicion and whatever rights you have are at his discretion.
 
I guess the best thing to do is always be a law abiding citizen and hope you never have to deal with that situation.

How about if you get pulled over? Should you pull all the knives out of your pockets and just lay them next to you on top of your car seat in plain view? :)
 
Originally posted by WadeF
...How about if you get pulled over? Should you pull all the knives out of your pockets and just lay them next to you on top of your car seat in plain view? :)
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No, not unless you consider your knives to be weapons and not tools.
 
So if you feel your knife is more of a weapon than a tool you could put it out in plain view? :)
 
Knives will be considered weapons by PO's. You may call it a tool, the states call them weapons, and the cops act accordingly. When in Rome, or something like that. Playing semantics with the wording will not get you far with the PO's if the situation presents it's ugly head on the streets.

Zombiehunter states: "if the cop thinks you're doing something wrong that gives him probable suspicion and whatever rights you have are at his discretion."

PO's have certain discretion, your rights are enumerated in the constitution, both civil and criminal. They are not up to officer discretion, and in fact, many LE's need to be reminded of this ocassionally on the streets.

Brownie
 
Here is another question I've often wondered about. If you have a concealed pistol/weapons permit...do you think a cop would be more leanient towards a concealed or larger than legal knife? I don't carry my 806D2 because it's so darn huge. I just feel that if a cop wanted to give me the business he would have alot of ammunition. In Michigan if you are not hunting they pretty much to not want you carrying larger blades. And again, that's up to the cop to decide.
Now I get asked about a dozen times a week if I am a cop or in the military...it's the haircut and just how I am built. And since I have a ccw I feel in the back of my head I could get away with it. But why push it.

Thoughts??
 
I think this may vary by state, or county, but I'm not sure.
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It does.

In Oregon, it is NOT concealed if any part of the knife is visible. Even a clip hanging over the edge of your pocket is not concealed. In Oregon, it is NOT concealed if it is in a sheath which completely covers the knife, but the sheath is visible.

That's just Oregon.
 
If you have a concealed pistol/weapons permit...do you think a cop would be more leanient towards a concealed or larger than legal knife?
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Different states issue different kinds of carry permits.

In some states, it's a "concealed weapons permit" which applies to guns, knives, and other types of weapons.

In some states, it's a "concealed firearms permit" which applies only to guns, not knives.

In some states, including Oregun, it's a "concealed handgun permit" which applies only to guns which are held in the hand and supported primarily by the hand and wrist when fired. No rifles, nothing with a stock... and no knives.

In other states, it can be even more restrictive.

In just about all states, your concealed carry permit is instantly revoked if you're convicted of any "weapons-related" crime. Illegally carrying a knife is a "weapons-related crime." So, in Oregun, illegally carrying a knife jeopardizes your concealed handgun permit.
 
In my area, a large portion of the local population carries pocketknives. The average are 3" bladed with a pocket clip. In most cases, officers do not immediately assume that the knife is a weapon, as the utility purposes are legitimate. The one factor that often decides whether you will be left alone, have your knife confiscated, or go to jail, is how you carry yourself. Do you appear to be a troublemaker? Are you acting out in a manner that might cause an LEO to question you? If so, you are probably going to deal with confiscation or arrest, as you have somehow given the officer a reason to believe that you might be trouble. If there has been no initial reason to search your person, and, say, the officer notices a shiny clip on your pocket as you are both going about your respective business, odds are that no legal action will be initiated. This, however, is how things tend to be done around HERE. This does not stand up in many other states, counties, or cities. I am fortunate enough to live somewhere that is saturated with pocketknife culture, and law enforcement that has better stuff to do than write me up solely for carrying a pocketknife.
 
Originally posted by Drew66
Here is another question I've often wondered about. If you have a concealed pistol/weapons permit...do you think a cop would be more leanient towards a concealed or larger than LEGAL knife?
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I think you've answered your own question here. If the knife is not legal to carry otherwise, a CCW permit doesn't make it any MORE legal to carry. I think it would still be an illegal knife to carry.

Rob
 
Virginia went from issuing CCW's (Concealed Carry Weapons) to issuing CHP's(Concealed Handgun Permits). I've talked to a few police officers from different areas of Va, and most seem to agree that the size of the knife doesn't matter as much as the intent of the person carrying it. Also, the consensus seems to be that as long as part of the knife is showing, such as the handle or clip, it is not considered concealed. But that's what I've found for Va, from talking to just a few officers. Someone else may disagree.

Chris
 
Hmmm. What if it's in a side pocket of your bag, pack, or attache...are you "carrying" it or just transporting it?
 
Originally posted by knifedaddy84
Hmmm. What if it's in a side pocket of your bag, pack, or attache...are you "carrying" it or just transporting it?
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For NYC: it depends on if any part of it is visible, and then on how accessible it is. Transporting requires that the item be "contained" somehow in such a way that it's not readily available for use. For example: a zippered case is adequate; some makers at the NYC Knife Shows likes to wrap it up with paper towels and then wrap it up with tape.
 
'carry' is one term that is probably the same across the board. if it's moving about by force you exert, and is available for use, then you're carrying it.

if it's on a backpack, and you're carrying the backpack, you're still carrying the knife.
 
In most states, "transport" vs. "carry" is a really grey area and you really have to look at what courts have decided in similar situation.

In Oregun, the courts have been very consistent for decades because of a Or. Sup. Court decision that was pretty clear. Oregun courts want to see a "formidable physical barrier" that completely separates the carrier from the weapon. A paper bag does not count, for example. A Cordura case does for most people. Basically, something you can not easily tear through or break. Then, they want to see TWO distinct actions required to open that barrier. Unzipping a zipper, for example, would be one action. Opening a lock would be another. So, you very often see Oregunians transport guns in Nylon or Cordura cases with zippers and a small lock.

I know a fellow who applied for an Oregun concealed carry permit. While the application was being processed, he moved to a different appartment in the same building. A bigger unit became available and he jumped on it. But, if you do that, in Oregun, you must notify the Sheriff's office within 24 hours of your move. He didn't. So, he was arrested for making a false statement on a CHL application, a very serious crime. For $3,000 his lawyer managed to convince the judge that it was an oversight and got it reduced to a minor misdemeanor with a small fine. But, it's still a misdemeanor and you can't get an Oregun CHL if you've had a misdemeanor within something like three years. So, he had to wait that amount of time before he could apply again. Days before that magic day, he decided to go out to a place he knew in the woods for a bit of target practice. So, he put his guns in a duffel bag and headed out. On the way back, he blew off a stop sign right in front of Old Smokey. It's not normal for an Oregun officer to search the vehicle for such a minor offense. They just write you the ticket and off you go. But, for some reason, the officer decided to search John's truck. Knowing John, I can only guess that he made some comment about the officer's mother's marital fidelity. Of course, I said truck. The duffel bag with the guns in it was sitting on the passenger's seat. A canvas bag is a formidable physical barrier. The zipper is one action, but there was no second action required. Unlawful concealment is a felony (Had John had his CHL, it would have been no problem). Some $6,000 in lawyer bills later, John's attorney managed somehow to convince the judge to change the charge to misdemeanor disorderly conduct. But, that still set his CHL back another three (I think) years.
 
Wow, that had to suck for him, but that was his choice not to properly transport the gun. I'm gonna stop by the city hall tommorrow and ask someone there about the law. I'll tell you guys what they say.
 
Seems alot of this is subject to the LEO involved. I have been told by an Officer in VA that ANY knife not visable is a "concealed weapon". I use a knife regularly at my job. I purchased a Spyderco Merlin because of the belt clip (not "concealed") and I thought the design would be useful for my job and not appear as a weapon. I was wrong. While stopping in a convenience store for a cup o' joe, an officer apporached me and had me hand over the knife. He wanted an explaination, threatened to incarcerate me, and he and his partner talked about how "lethal" the design is. After 10+ minutes of this, he handed the knife back to me. They both started laughing and he said "We just like f**king with people! Go on!" I was late for work.
In the attempt at being politically correct, I now carry a SAK hoping that it might be construed as what it is, a tool.

While the majority of our LEOs are intelligent, competent, well trained men and women, some are whatever. Watch yourself in the Old Dominion.

diablero
 
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