Traveling this holiday season - know the law (even if carrying a knife)

No one likes me so I have no reason to travel. Makes life easier.

I'm always mindful when in years when I do a lot of traveling. Thankfully, most of the places I go reciprocate with my CCW as it's generally from Indiana to Kentucky. Knife laws are also similar. The bugaboo this year is that I am planning a quick trip up to Michigan to visit some good friends. MI reciprocates with my IN permit as long as I am a resident of IN, which I am. However, driving through Ohio is another matter. Most of the time when I make the trip, I just don't bring much in the way of a large carry gun. Instead I just opt for a small .380 or .22 mag unloaded and cased in my trunk in my luggage when we leave Louisville and start heading north. I'm just driving straight through and should I ever get stopped it would probably be unlikely that an Ohio police officer would feel the need to pilfer through the bags of a family of three driving what is basically a station wagon for doing 5 over the speed limit. If so, my storage should pass muster in OH anyway.

I usually don't even unpack my gun at my friend's house anyway. We usually don't leave the house while we visit. When stopping at a gas station in OH, I just rely on the fact that I don't look like a soft target, and I keep my tool bag close to the driver's side door. I'm a contractor. I look like a contractor. I carry my tool bag with me everywhere. It sports a short crowbar along with other rudimentary tools just in case I need to fix something to convince someone.

My travels to visit family requires two different carry permits to keep me legal, and I still have to pass through a stupid state that I can't carry in.

Knives are restricted in size in the visiting state also, so I have to be careful.

Everyone ought to be cognizant of alcohol too. Holiday cheer can lead to drinking a beer or two with friends or family. If you get behind the wheel, it's a mistake already. If you do it as an out of stater with a gun in your possession. I imagine it's not going to go well.

460Shooter said:

My travels to visit family requires two different carry permits to keep me legal, and I still have to pass through a stupid state that I can't carry in.

Knives are restricted in size in the visiting state also, so I have to be careful.

Everyone ought to be cognizant of alcohol too. Holiday cheer can lead to drinking a beer or two with friends or family. If you get behind the wheel, it's a mistake already. If you do it as an out of stater with a gun in your possession. I imagine it's not going to go well.

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You make an excellent point about knives and being aware of what is legal. While traveling to MI, I'm not going t carry much more than a slip joint and a multi-tool. I don't need much more than that, and my tool bag has a good selection to press into service should a repair be required. I'm also not up to snuff on what is and is not legal in OH and MI. They aren't "free for all" states like KY and IN where I think the only thing really verboten in IN is throwing stars (for whatever weird reason). I don't want to risk carrying a 3.75" folder with a flipper tab in my pocket if a police officer thinks that's too much like a switchblade and over 3.5" or something. Fixed blades, balisongs, AO folders, true automatics are all staying home. I'll probably just take a Leatherman and my GEC Beer Scout.

My biggest issue is that I taking a trip with my wife to Jamaica next month. In Jamaica, a single stray cartridge in your luggage is a punishable felony, never mind firearms. They also have this "no knives of any kind" weird clause in there. We are staying at an all inclusive, so really, I don't need much at all. However, I feel the same way about having tools on me the way some feel about having a gun. I'm thinking about splurging on a Leatherman Tread man-bracelet. Lots of little useless tools on a bracelet that looks like it was made out of a bike chain. Expensive but kinda cool looking and TSA compliant since it has no blade on it at all. Stainless so the ocean won't bother it too much. I obviously want to respect the laws of the host country, but I do like being at least a little prepared when in a far away land.

Texas10mm said:

No one likes me so I have no reason to travel. Makes life easier.

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I'm sure someone likes you...do you have a dog?

I'm lucky in that we never visit our out of state relatives. Makes life nice and simple...and very pleasant.

Choctaw said:

I'm sure someone likes you...do you have a dog?

I'm lucky in that we never visit our out of state relatives. Makes life nice and simple...and very pleasant.

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No dog. But I do have a 4.5 year old Goffin's Cockatoo that thinks I'm the best guy around.

Fiv3r said:

I'm also not up to snuff on what is and is not legal in OH and MI.

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Ohio's goofy. Nothing is really restricted, but there's a blanket statement against concealing "deadly weapons" and there's no good definition of what a deadly weapon is. But open carry is completely fine, and from what I can gather a knife with a clip where just the top of the knife is showing out of your pocket is technically open carry. An 10" bowie knife on your hip that's completely visible is fine too. But people have been arrested with sub 2" blades in their pocket when they say they carry them for protection, so if asked you carry a knife for opening letters and packages, NOT defense! I've been asked by an officer on 3 different occasions if I had a "deadly weapon" on me and every time I made sure to say "no weapons, but I do have a small pocket knife" and I've never had an issue. I typically carry either Benchmade or Spyderco knives with blades in the 2.5-3.5" range.

Texas10mm said:

No dog. But I do have a 4.5 year old Goffin's Cockatoo that thinks I'm the best guy around.

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Now that's what I'm talking about!

The only place I travel to on a routine basis is the Florida panhandle to see my MIL. I make the trip 4 times a year or so. And every single time, I go to 3 or 4 sites to see if anything about the carry of knives and firearms reciprocity has changed between the 2 states.

Thanks for the reminder. Safe travels, everyone.

Land of the free? Yeah right.

This is why I go old timey when i visit Michigan. A slip joint with a 2.5ish" sheepsfoot blade with a screwdriver/caplifter as the secondary blade doesn't raise many eyebrows. It's slow to deploy, not stabby, and even has "Beer Scout" pinned on the side of it. Its functionally novel and ridiculously useful.

As far as guns go, the little .380 or maybe a snub nose should do well enough if for some reason my buddy's home in his very nice neighborhood is set upon during the 2 days I'm there. The most outside of the house thing we might do is run down to the liquor store on a beer run, so I'd like to have something for that.

Honestly, it's more of a talisman for me as we rarely get out of the house. We're too busy catching up and playing with the kids to leave.
Better to have a little something than a lot of nothing. He's not a gun guy even if he enjoys shooting mine when he visits our home town. His wife is the same way as her dad shoots, but she feels no need to purchase a gun. They both know that I'm armed in their house. Still, better to have something that fits easily in my pocket over something strapped to my hip just to keep a low profile.

Fiv3r said:

You make an excellent point about knives and being aware of what is legal. While traveling to MI, I'm not going t carry much more than a slip joint and a multi-tool. I don't need much more than that, and my tool bag has a good selection to press into service should a repair be required. I'm also not up to snuff on what is and is not legal in OH and MI. They aren't "free for all" states like KY and IN where I think the only thing really verboten in IN is throwing stars (for whatever weird reason). I don't want to risk carrying a 3.75" folder with a flipper tab in my pocket if a police officer thinks that's too much like a switchblade and over 3.5" or something. Fixed blades, balisongs, AO folders, true automatics are all staying home. I'll probably just take a Leatherman and my GEC Beer Scout.

My biggest issue is that I taking a trip with my wife to Jamaica next month. In Jamaica, a single stray cartridge in your luggage is a punishable felony, never mind firearms. They also have this "no knives of any kind" weird clause in there. We are staying at an all inclusive, so really, I don't need much at all. However, I feel the same way about having tools on me the way some feel about having a gun. I'm thinking about splurging on a Leatherman Tread man-bracelet. Lots of little useless tools on a bracelet that looks like it was made out of a bike chain. Expensive but kinda cool looking and TSA compliant since it has no blade on it at all. Stainless so the ocean won't bother it too much. I obviously want to respect the laws of the host country, but I do like being at least a little prepared when in a far away land.

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Is it illegal to have a knife or just against the resorts rules for you to bring one? If you really feel like you need a knife then pack a small roll of duct tape. When you eat your first meal keep the knife and make a pocket sheath for it from the duct tape. This works everywhere, but you do need to check local laws to make sure you aren't setting yourself up for a problem.

Elkins45 said:

Is it illegal to have a knife or just against the resorts rules for you to bring one? If you really feel like you need a knife then pack a small roll of duct tape. When you eat your first meal keep the knife and make a pocket sheath for it from the duct tape. This works everywhere, but you do need to check local laws to make sure you aren't setting yourself up for a problem.

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I'm not entirely sure, but I think I'll just play it safe and stick with something TSA compliant. Jamaica is one of those countries where there fair amount of sketchiness going on off property. We're going there on a company trip to an all inclusive and we're using it as an excuse to completely relax. No tourist destinations, no off property excursions. Hopefully just lots of drinks on the beach brought to me by very friendly people.

I'm a little hesitant to tempt fate with anything more than a small SAK or a box cutter keychain tool stored in my checked luggage. I dont anticipate needing to cut anything more than a tag off something my wife buys. I'm sure we'll have to go through customs and have our stuff checked, so I dont want to raise eyebrows or lose something to a search. I'm hoping we dont come back with much more than a healthy January tan anyway, so a wearable tool like the Tread may work best.

In short, I'm just trying to justify a $174 piece of jewelry with very limited "just in case" functions It's really no different than when we try to justify a new gun that fits a specific role.

Luckily we are the outlier in my family, we live a whole 3 hours away.

Though when I visit my inlaws near Milwaukee I do pack more ammo...

Fiv3r said:

However, driving through Ohio is another matter. Most of the time when I make the trip, I just don't bring much in the way of a large carry gun. Instead I just opt for a small .380 or .22 mag unloaded and cased in my trunk in my luggage when we leave Louisville and start heading north.

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Since Ohio recognizes all states licenses I am not sure why you would be concerned.

rtroha said:

Since Ohio recognizes all states licenses I am not sure why you would be concerned.

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Ah is that fairly new? I could have sworn there was some sort of guideline at one point. It's been years since we went up there.

That's good to know. Thanks for the heads up!

Fiv3r said:

Ah is that fairly new? I could have sworn there was some sort of guideline at one point. It's been years since we went up there.

That's good to know. Thanks for the heads up!

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Wasnt it in Ohio where there were those videos of the LEO freaking out and threatening to blow the heads off legal CCW holders a few years back?

JR24 said:

Wasnt it in Ohio where there were those videos of the LEO freaking out and threatening to blow the heads off legal CCW holders a few years back?

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I couldn't say, but I don't want to paint all LEOs in the state with such a broad brush. Especially since I will be traveling nearly the full length of the state. I like Ohio just fine, but all I plan on doing in it is buying some of their gas and peeing in a couple of their toilets. Six hours tops

Now as far as responding to a police officer when stopped, I tend to comply above and beyond. It's an inconvenience for me. It costs me time, and I will probably have to pay a good chunk of change because I was caught breaking the law (speeding). For him, he has no idea what he's walking into. Could be a routine stop, could be what causes another officer to knock his door at 3 am and give bad news to his wife. I'm in sales. I'm a communicator. Anytime I have dealt with an LEO I have found that being polite, courteous, and compliant gets me on my way faster and makes the officer feel better about the stop. If prompted if I am carrying a weapon or have a permit, I would actually borrow a line I picked up here. Something along the paraphrased lines of, "Officer, for your safety and mine, I want to inform you that I am lawfully armed. I have a holstered XXXX on my XXXX hip (or whatever). How would you like for me to comply?" All while keeping my hands fully visible. Honestly, if I were to be asked to step out of the car, I would probably give him information on the action the gun, "chambered with the safety on", "striker fired with a round chambered", etc. My guess is that if my ID checks out and my permit is valid and all of my crucial documents are presented, he's probably just going to let me be.

I don't want to give the officer anything to worry about, and I don't want to escalate a situation because I am asked to step out of the car and he finds a SIG on my hip or something. Officers are under enough stress. I'd rather step out of the car than have him start to flake out.

I think that if my license reciprocates, I come across as a regular guy just traveling with his family in a little too big of a hurry, and I go out of my way to make it easy on the officer, 99.9% of the time things are going to work out. I might drive off with a ticket, but no one is going to leave the scene sweating bullets.

Fiv3r said:

I couldn't say, but I don't want to paint all LEOs in the state with such a broad brush. Especially since I will be traveling nearly the full length of the state. I like Ohio just fine, but all I plan on doing in it is buying some of their gas and peeing in a couple of their toilets. Six hours tops

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To be clear, it was one LEO in one area. I also dont want to paint with a broad brush.

hso said:

Michigan law prohibits a person from carrying a dagger, dirk, stiletto, or a double-edged, non-folding stabbing instrument of any length. The prohibition on “double-edged non-folding stabbing instrument of any length” means that, although automatics are now legal, an out-the-front double edged automatic would be prohibited under the amended statute. A double edged spear point knife cannot be carried in Michigan. A spear point knife with an unsharpened false edge is not technically double-edged, but it might be classified as a dirk or dagger by a prosecutor.

All bets are off in Ohio.

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Yes, Ohio needs to modernize the knife laws just as they have done with the gun laws in recent years.

JR24 said:

Wasn't it in Ohio where there were those videos of the LEO freaking out and threatening to blow the heads off legal CCW holders a few years back?

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That was some nut job in Canton Ohio. Not indicative of the state. Our firearms SIG doesn't side with the officer . https://www.buckeyefirearms.org/ohi...nst-canton-officer-who-threatened-execute-him neither does the law for the most part.

Fiv3r said:

Ah is that fairly new? I could have sworn there was some sort of guideline at one point. It's been years since we went up there.

That's good to know. Thanks for the heads up!

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Since 2015.

hso said:

Be sure you know the law of the jurisdictions you're traveling through and to this holiday season...not just for the guns you typically carry.

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Very true. Also be aware that few if any states have any sort of legal preemption with regards to knife laws (as opposed to firearms laws).

I travel to IL a couple times a year (not because I like IL, but because I have family and life-long friends their). The people I visit all live near Chicago, and we occasional venture into the city for dining or sight seeing opportunities. IL has one law for knives, Chicago another. IL limits carry of any "knife with a blade of at least 3 inches in length". Chicago, on the other hand, prohibits concealed carry of any knife longer than 2.5 inches, or 2.0 inches for people under 18.