picking locks - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

5 Mar 2005

...
 I own more than one hundred locks, and sometimes I
can't find the key to
open one.  In some cases, I purchase equipment with locks but no keys.
So I think I have an entirely legitimate use for lock picks.  Whether a
court would agree is an open question. 
Well, like I said, legal use is not defined, so you likely would be ok 
(it boils down to, does the cop think you have it for reasons of B&E, if 
so, you are in violation of the law, if not, you are good to go... NJ 
also has a similar law on knives... there is actually no definition of 
how long of a blade is illegal to carry, it all has to do with intended 
use... technically, if I had a valid reason, I could strap a 3 foot long 
sword to my side and walk around with it... on the other hand, if I have 
a box cutter in my pocket for no valid reason, I can be arrested... mind 
you I've carried a pocket knife every day for most of my life, and I've 
never been so much as questioned about it... that includes the two times 
I was removed from my car at gun point and then searched)

...
   (It is also
illegal to have a police scanner in your car, 
Contradicted by the Communications Act of 1934, which being Federal
law should override it. 
I know if a few people that have gotten in hot water for having police 
scanners in their car. Mind you, it is ONLY in their car (although 
portable may be covered as well). Having them in your house is just fine.

...
 Now I'm baffled.  I can see reasons for banning
lock picks and police
scanners, even though I vehemently disagree with those reasons.  But
why on earth should center punches be illegal?  I don't carry one
routinely, but if I'm going somewhere that I expect to need one,
I carry it. 
The idea is, a center punch is a rapid access tool for quietly and 
cleaning taking out a car window. So it becomes a B&E tool... much like 
your bolt cutters. (I actually carry a center punch in my car 
specificially TO break car windows... it is in my med kit that I carry in 
my trunk, and I've had to use it a few times when I've come across car 
accidents).

But again, these things really boil down to can you convince the cop you 
have a valid reason for having them. If not, can you convince a judge. 
Anyone that has anything but an invalid reason, really shouldn't be 
worried. Those that plan to use them for illegal purposes tend to be 
pretty obvious (I don't know of anyone that has been harrassed over 
having the items EXCEPT for people that really were using them for 
nefarious reasons... I know of a few people that were questioned on them, 
and I know of a bunch of people that the items are ignored, because they 
have obvous legit reasons... just about all my friends have police 
scanners in their cars... but just about all my friends are in emergency 
services or law enforcement). 

-chris
<http://www.mythtech.net>