4 ms·

On a legal note; IANAL, but I did a little research before getting started in lock picking a while back. iirc, there are no federal laws against having picks.

On a legal note; IANAL, but I did a little research before getting started in lock picking a while back. iirc, there are no federal laws against having picks. However, states often have laws against "possession of burglary tools". In my jurisdiction, if they can establish intent to burglarize -- ie, you're also carrying an empty duffel bag, a crowbar, and a map with the bank circled on it -- its a class II felony. I repeat; I am not a lawyer.

Tyrannosaurs 13y ago
Presumably then the issue is more about carrying them with you when you're out and about rather than having them in a toolbox at home? In the same way you can have a big knife at home but carrying it in your bag is a problem.
minikomi 13y ago
Depends on where you live - in Japan, you probably don't want to be carrying them around..
joshuak 13y ago
Then you should just build them into your business card. https://www.flickr.com/photos/ranh/106709219/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/ranh/106709219/
- fabulist 13y ago
  I like how the torsion wrench works, thats clever. I used to carry a similar card. It was a fake credit card that opened up, and had a small set of picks inside. I kept it in my wallet in case I was ever locked out.
grkvlt 13y ago
An obvious hack to get around this would be to put 'Locksmith' on your business card, or get a set of cards advertising a side business as a Locksmith. Bingo, they're not burglary tools, they are required tools of the trade for your profession, similar to knife exemptions for Chefs.
- rtkwe 13y ago
  Most states require locksmiths to be certified and advertising services without being licensed is a bigger infraction than carrying picks.
elsporko 13y ago
I could not access Appendix B (Legal Issues) from the online version but someone posted the PDF which includes that section. In it this very issue is addressed including the advice "It may be a good idea to carry around a xeroxed copy of the appropriate page from your state's criminal code." Problem solved.
emhart 13y ago
State by state (and some non-us countries): http://lockwiki.com/index.php/Legal_issues http://lockwiki.com/index.php/Legal_issues
enscr 13y ago
> if they can establish intent to burglarize That's a line that'll generate hours of debate going nowhere.

Tyrannosaurs 13y ago

Presumably then the issue is more about carrying them with you when you're out and about rather than having them in a toolbox at home? In the same way you can have a big knife at home but carrying it in your bag is a problem.

minikomi 13y ago

Depends on where you live - in Japan, you probably don't want to be carrying them around..

joshuak 13y ago

Then you should just build them into your business card. https://www.flickr.com/photos/ranh/106709219/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/ranh/106709219/

fabulist 13y ago
I like how the torsion wrench works, thats clever. I used to carry a similar card. It was a fake credit card that opened up, and had a small set of picks inside. I kept it in my wallet in case I was ever locked out.

grkvlt 13y ago

An obvious hack to get around this would be to put 'Locksmith' on your business card, or get a set of cards advertising a side business as a Locksmith. Bingo, they're not burglary tools, they are required tools of the trade for your profession, similar to knife exemptions for Chefs.

rtkwe 13y ago
Most states require locksmiths to be certified and advertising services without being licensed is a bigger infraction than carrying picks.

elsporko 13y ago

I could not access Appendix B (Legal Issues) from the online version but someone posted the PDF which includes that section. In it this very issue is addressed including the advice "It may be a good idea to carry around a xeroxed copy of the appropriate page from your state's criminal code." Problem solved.

emhart 13y ago

State by state (and some non-us countries): http://lockwiki.com/index.php/Legal_issues http://lockwiki.com/index.php/Legal_issues

enscr 13y ago

> if they can establish intent to burglarize That's a line that'll generate hours of debate going nowhere.