Menu
Sacramento Bail Bonds
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Our Services
  • Bail Bond Process
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • English EN
  • Spanish ES
Sacramento Bail Bonds
What to Know about Carrying Knives in California

What to Know about Carrying Knives in California

Posted on August 4, 2020August 4, 2020 by matt

What to Know about Carrying Knives in California

T

Some states have incredibly strict laws when it comes to carrying knives. California isn’t one of them. The state actually has a surprisingly permissive attitude when it comes to both open carry and concealed knives. 

The general rule of thumb is that yes, you’re free to carry a knife while you’re out and about. Things don’t start to get sticky until it comes to the number of knives you own.

California’s Laws Regarding Carrying Knives

It’s common knowledge that California states you can carry a knife either open or concealed. What is less well known is that there are some knives you can carry concealed and others that must be open carry. If you have a dirk or a dagger, you’re allowed to keep the knife on you, but you’ll have to make sure it’s visible. The same is true if you have a pocketknife or utility knife that’s blade is stuck in the open position.

The list of knives you’re allowed to carry either as open carry or concealed includes box cutters, pocket knives, and utility knife. Remember, in order to meet the requirement, the blade must be less than 2” and it can’t be stuck in an open position.

You’re never allowed to carry a misleading or undetectable knife while you’re in California. Misleading knives are knives that are designed to look like something else. Examples of this include knives concealed in a cane, a belt, or built into a lipstick tube. Undetectable knives are knives that are made out material that doesn’t set off metal detectors.

What Happens When you Break one of California’s Knife Laws

The broad nature of California’s knives laws means that few people are arrested for simply having a knife on them. The bulk of knife-related arrests in California stem from using a knife while committing a crime or for carrying a knife into a weapons-free zone. That being said, some people have been arrested for carrying exactly the type of knife California prohibits, such as getting caught with an undetectable knife.

If you’re caught doing something you’re not supposed to, such as carrying a concealed switchblade knife, you will be charged with a misdemeanor. In most cases, the defendant gets charged a fine and assigned community service, though you could face up to 3-years imprisonment.

Something to Keep in Mind

While you are allowed to carry a concealed knife in California, you do have to be mindful of where you are. Certain places are deemed “weapons-free zones.” Both open and concealed knife carrying is prohibited in these areas. Schools are a perfect example of weapons-free areas. The same is true for any building that’s owned/rented by the U.S. government and most state-owned/operated properties.

BAIL BOND NEWS

Get Your First Month Free

Get Your First Month Free

Due to how suddenly the need to pay bail can arise, many people simply cannot afford to post their loved ...
Read More
Want to Bail Someone Out Quickly?

Want to Bail Someone Out of Jail Quickly?

When something bad happens, you want it to be over quickly. You do whatever you can to make things better ...
Read More
How to Dress for Court

How to Dress for Court

It doesn’t matter if you’re in civil or legal court, you want to make sure you’ve dressed appropriately. The good ...
Read More
How to get Free Legal Assistance in California

How to get Free Legal Assistance in California

Nearly everyone has a point in their life where they need some sort of legal advice. If you’re lucky, you ...
Read More
Bail Bonds in Sacramento Makes Posting Bail Easy for First-Timers

Bail Bonds in Sacramento Makes Posting Bail Easy for First-Timers

Do you have a lot of questions about bail and how it works? Don’t worry, you are not alone. Most ...
Read More
What Is Bail?

Do You Know What Bail Is?

Bail is a subject that most people have heard of but don’t know a whole lot about. This is due ...
Read More
©2021 Sacramento Bail Bonds | Powered by WordPress & Superb Themes