legality of the police

[phoenix223]

i have a problem. i bought the police yesterday(my first spyderco) and i dont know if it is legal for me to carry. i am 16 and live in phoenix arizona. if anyone can help me with my delima that would be awesome

[tique]

I would have to say your best bet would be to either find a police officer that you are friends with and ask them politely when you aren't carrying it, that seems to be the best way to find out what you can and can't get away with in your area.
Your other option is to find a good knife store and ask a knowledgible member of thier staff if it is legal or not. Usually there will be someone there that knows the laws pretty well.

[Glenn]

Phoenix,
Both the State of Arizona and the City of Phoenix should have websites. There is probably a state law and maybe a local city ordinance governing blade length.
-Glenn

[phoenix223]

thank you for the help guys.

[cerulean]

If you haven't found them yet, cut and paste Arizona Revised Statues: http://www.azleg.state.az.us/ars/ars.htm

All they have to say about knives is:

"13-3102. Misconduct involving weapons; defenses; classification; definitions

A. A person commits misconduct involving weapons by knowingly:

1. Carrying a deadly weapon without a permit pursuant to section 13-3112 except a pocket knife concealed on his person; or..."

http://www.azleg.state.az.us/ars/13/03102.htm

The Phoenix Code of Ordinances doesn't seem to be on the web anywhere. Your best bet would be to go to a local library and ask if they have a copy, then check the Criminal Code for knife stuff.

It's always better to research the laws yourself. Second hand information, even if it comes from a police officer, can frequently be wrong.

Also, keep in mind that your school almost certainly prohibits carrying any type of knife.

[phoenix223]

cerulean thanks for the help. i am going to the police dept after school tomarrow to find out.

[earthworm]

Call the local district attorney/county prosecutor(I'd call from a pay phone to defeat Caller ID)& ask what blade length is legal,are lockbacks &/or serrated edges covered,etc.As this office handles prosecutions & inditments they'd know.Be advised that the law will not prevent cops from hassling over anything,but it is a defense in court.Good Luck!

[earthworm]

P.S. I echo cerulean's thought:Do Not Carry ANY Knife To School!!!

[Allen E. Treat]

Dear Phoenix 223 ;
You might want to check
with a lawyer who works for a legal assistance network ; If you can't find one
I worked for a lawyer who assures me that
under Federal Law ( which supercedes state
laws ) the legal blade length in the good ol'
U.S. is 4 inches. Spyderco's catalog lists
the blade length of the "Police" model as
4 1/8". Use your discretion, NEVER bring it
to school ( a new Federal Law on the books
makes this a SERIOUS crime ), and do like
Mack the knife ( a song recorded before your
time ) does " ..keeps it/out of sight..
Asking a police officer will only get you a
negative response if you already didn't get one. Exercise your Constitutional right to
"..keep and bear arms..." but just be low key.

A.E.T.

[cerulean]

"I worked for a lawyer who assures me that
under Federal Law ( which supercedes state
laws ) the legal blade length in the good ol'
U.S. is 4 inches."

Hearsay info is worse than useless. If such a law exists, please provide a reference.

I must repeat: Second hand information is frequently wrong. To anyone reading this - please, I beg of you, do the research yourself!

In reality, you'll be charged under state law. If a local law is more restrictive though, then you'll be charged under that.

[solid_soldier]

Cerulean is very right. I had a "slight misunderstanding" involvling my Buck/Strider and some a$$hole campus LEOs. It is very possible that some officers do not even know the knife laws and go about using their own discretion.
Don't take it to any K-12 school. College may be different, my school (CSU Fresno) has a 5" limit on blades.
Always say that it is a tool, regardless of what its use is and don't do anything stupid with it.

That's why we carry knives

[formula44]

Cerulean is right about what the Arizona Statute says ... anything but a pocket knife... What is and isn't a pocket knife is the question. My GUESS is it is determined by case law, court cases, which means it can change.

[knifenerd]

There is a site you can use to do some legal research, but it is mainly directed to the legal profession. You can give it a try at: www.findlaw.com

Other than that, get some valid legal advice.

Dick