Legality of knives in truck in New Jersey

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SouthernBoy

SouthernBoy

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I just posted this on another gun website and thought I'd include it here for y'all's input.



I have a question about carrying knives in my truck, not on my person, on a trip to New Jersey. These knives are...

  • A Syderco folding clip-on knife with a 3 3/4" blade.
  • A sheathed Baby K-Bar knife with a fixed 5 3/8" blade.

These knives are for the purpose of cutting a seat belt to free someone in the event of an accident. I do not carry them for defensive purposes, but I'm not so ignorant to believe police in some jurisdictions might think otherwise.

So are these knives legal in one's vehicle when in New Jersey?
 
Personally, as a former NJ resident (a long time ago) I don't see why this would pose a problem. But, I would suggest you go to Knifeup.com and read up on NJ law. It's only a page and explains it better than I can.
 
NMPOPS said:
Personally, as a former NJ resident (a long time ago) I don't see why this would pose a problem. But, I would suggest you go to Knifeup.com and read up on NJ law. It's only a page and explains it better than I can.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info.

I'm starting to think my best option may be to leave the K-Bar at home and just keep the folding Spyderco in my console.
 
https://www.akti.org/state-knife-laws/new-jersey/

Which Spyderco? If you're carrying a Rescue for seatbelt cutting then you have a good argument that you're using it for a rescue tool. If you're carrying anything with a point, it is a harder sell.

The problem with NJ isn't just that the state is restrictive, but that the local LE can be problematic and call any knife anything they want. Then you have to spend the time/money to fight the charges or pay the extortion of the fine.
 
hso said:
https://www.akti.org/state-knife-laws/new-jersey/

Which Spyderco? If you're carrying a Rescue for seatbelt cutting then you have a good argument that you're using it for a rescue tool. If you're carrying anything with a point, it is a harder sell.

The problem with NJ isn't just that the state is restrictive, but that the local LE can be problematic and call any knife anything they want. Then you have to spend the time/money to fight the charges or pay the extortion of the fine.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this. Perhaps I'll leave the Spyderco home as well. I am hearing that vehicles with tinted windows, especially those from the South, can be targeted. My truck has tinted windows, factory down, on its passenger side and rear windows. Since it's factory, I'm hoping that makes the truck exempt. Thing is, I'll be in the far eastern part of the state which I would guess might be more problematic.
 
I hate buying specialty tools when general purpose ones will work just fine, but maybe a cheap rescue tool with a belt cutter and glass breaker would be a good investment.

I've never been to NJ. I hope I never have to go. If I do, I'll be playing by the letter of the law. Too many horror stories about that place.
 
HSO brings up a good point (get the jest). The knife can be made by the maker for any specific purpose, but that purpose can be distorted by local LE looking to increase revenue. Like NYC and gravity knives. I have a specific made seat belt cutter. Keep it in the truck. In my tool box in the bed, I have a k-bar. Full size. Not sure I would like to take these to NJ or MA. But they seem to be fine in NY. But never NYC.
 
My thanks to all of you good people for your valuable information. The last thing I want to be is some experiment made into an example for what not to do. Not a good thing.
 
I can't recall the exact language - but I understand folding knives on your person are OK so long as you have a "legitimate purpose" - which most definitely does not include defense. Check the law, check blade length maximums, etc. NYC is a complete no go, you can't even get pepper spray there as a non-local. In NJ I recall 3/4 of an ounce of pepper spray was OK. Those two-shot kimbers were good to have just in case. Some folks were afraid to carry them because they use a primer to launch the spray.
 
I've lived in NJ most of my life. I carry a 3-4" blade folder and a Swiss Army knife most of the time. The only time I was ever questioned was going into a courthouse where everyone has to empty their pockets. I had a 4 " Kershaw with a screwdriver and bits built into the handle. The deputy sheriff said "that's a pretty big knife". I responded with "I carry that for the screwdriver" and that was the end of it.

I've seen Port Authority Police stop trucks all day long and just about every trucker had a 4" or so folder on his belt. Never saw one arrested for it. There are many reasons a trucker has to carry a knife as you know.

I wouldn't worry about carrying your folder in NJ

Don't bring a gun though.
 
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