Worst nightmare came true: PD confiscated my ParaMilitary..

GarageBoy · #1

Okay, I'm walking down the stairs at the Grand Central subway station (not the railroad station) and I make it 1/2 way down the platform and cop and his azzhat partner grabs my knife and says "why are you carrying this?" I say, it's a tool, I work at the Army Navy store (which I do, but I didn't go today) and his tone was the equivalent of calling BS on me. They were like, "why doesn't it have tape residue on it or anything", I go "it's a $95 knife, I take care of it" and he says I'm giving him an attitude..and says he could have arrested me, but I don't have a prior record..

Somewhere in that conversation I told him it was a legal knife, but he flicked it open and said, "nope, gravity knife" and checks out the edge I put on it.

I ended up with a summons, where I have to meet with a judge or something..

To add insult to injury, I got stuck in the middle of East Harlem, in the rain, since the trains were halted to due to gas station leak..

tonydahose · #2

sorry to hear about this. the cops must have been bored, bitter or a bully(there are some in every class, the kids that got picked on in school become cops and then its time for payback). i dont know your local laws but if it is legal you should get it back. im guessing the guy was just looking to get a freebie knife and when you "got an attitude" he wrote you the summons to cover his butt. i hope you get your knife back and dont get into any trouble because of it. i have said it before...i dont care what the law is , if a cop wants to take your knife (knivessss, you guys know who you are) away he will and you will have to fight it in court later.

clovisc · #3

man -- that does totally suck...

the length should be "legal," but i hear NY isn't too friendly about the spyderhole, either. last time i went to NYC, all i brought was a subcom, to be on the safe side.

but there's no way that a spyderco is a "gravity knife." unless someone is really "interpretive" when it comes to the law.

one idea -- if he tries to argue it as a "concealed weapon," you can defend yourself by saying "if it was concealed, how did you see it well enough to yank it out of my pocket??!!!"

if you go and are honest and respectful, you should hopefully come out of court okay.

good luck, man -- fight the good fight!!!!

Th232 · #4

Very sorry to hear about it.

Hope you get it back (and in good shape and time!).

Do they have to give you receipts if they confiscate anything?

Good luck with the summons, too!

GarageBoy · #5

I have the summons, thats about it.
No receipts, so I assume its a goner.

I was written up for having it in plain view, rather than in a pocket.

cgjones · #6

How did you have it in plain view?

flyguy · #7

I hope you are able to get your knife back. Please keep us updated. When is your court date?

GarageBoy · #8

Apparently, clipped to my pocket is plain view
Court date is in July

Agent Starling · #9

what a drag

...good luck and i hope everything turns out well for you.

Ex Agent Starling

bh49 · #10

I am sorry to hear about this. I hope you will be OK and get your para back.

Bolster · #11

This is terrible. So much for our recent thread of appropriate explanations to police!

Can someone tell me if any knife you can spyder drop, could be defined as a gravity/inertia knife? Apparently being able to flick it open is equivalent to a gravity knife in this officer's opinion...which would include most, maybe all, of my Spyders.

Also, I wonder if intentionally sticking a bit of tape on the blade would help...probably not, as the "where's the tape" challenge is probably only brought into play for a clean knife. If there WERE tape on it, the officer probably would not choose that particular challenge.

I'm also puzzled about the "outside of pocket" clipping as opposed to "inside the pocket" clipping. Seems to me that GarageBoy's clipping the knife outside his pocket is more "honest" and less "concealing," more like how many laws demand fixed blades be worn. Yet it seems that it was clipping the knife to the outside of the pocket that got the officer wound up?

At any rate, GarageBoy, I'm truly saddened by this. Let us know how it turns out.

Dr. Snubnose · #12

Bolstermanic wrote:This is terrible. So much for our extended discussion of appropriate explanations to police of last week! Can someone tell me if any knife you can spyder drop, could be defined as a gravity/inertia knife? Apparently being able to flick it open is equivalent to a gravity knife in this officer's opinion...

That's a bunch of Bull....there isn't a knife I can't inertia open...I defy any Judge to call my Ladybug a Switchblade or gravity knife cause I can flick it open...Jeeeezzzz.....sounds like these cops had nothing better to do...Doc :D

Bolster · #13

Dr. Snubnose wrote:....there isn't a knife I can't inertia open...

I dunno...you should try inertia opening my Queen toothpick... I definitely have knives that only open with a prybar...but no Spydies.

Can you open a UK Pen by "flicking" it...just by hanging onto the blade with thumb and forefinger?

Slatts · #14

I think some immature police weenie wanted a free knife. You should fight like **** so he doesn't keep it.

Harry White · #15

Bolstermanic wrote: Can you open a UK Pen by "flicking" it...just by hanging onto the blade with thumb and forefinger?

yes, absolutely. i was doing just that today. it takes more force than with other spydies, but it can be done fairly easily.

i was in new york city a couple weeks ago and all i carried was my meerkat. i kept it deep inside my front pocket and did not take it out in public.

i hope you get your para back! that really stinks. :mad:

cobrajoe · #16

This is just sickening. Isn't there something about a right to a fair and speedy trial?

I'm sure the para isn't the most people friendly knife out there, but it sure dosen't seem like most "tactical" folders on the market.

Dr. Snubnose · #17

The problem here is the knife was worn outside the pocket had it been clipped inside the pocket I doubt there would have been a stop or confiscation...he just might have to explain why he would wear a knife hanging outside of the pocket (advertising to all) as opposed to concealed inside the pocket...I am no lawyer ( and you might do well to consult with one) however I do believe the burden of proff that you carried your knife in this fashion is on you to prove you didn't have an bad intentions.....Doc :D

Dr. Snubnose · #18

Bolstermanic wrote:I dunno...you should try inertia opening my Queen toothpick... I definitely have knives that only open with a prybar...but no Spydies.

Can you open a UK Pen by "flicking" it...just by hanging onto the blade with thumb and forefinger?

Yes I can flick the UK Pen open, don't know about your Queen Toothpick but I don't see why I couldn't...never had a problem doing it with any other knife...some take more practice than others but I have been able to open any folder using inertia....Doc :D

I once went into court for jury duty with a switchblade I forgot I was carrying and it was an Italian made switch...no buttons...it opened by twisting ad sliding the handles in two different directions...it did have circular rubber inserts in the handles for grip and after a guard took the knife from me, and pressed all the rubber buttons and tried to pull the blade out unsucessfully he handed it back to me and told me my knife was broken and to just put it away in my pocket, I took it back and said yeah I got to get that fixed....Doc :)

huugh · #19

Dr. Snubnose wrote: I once went into court for jury duty with a switchblade I forgot I was carrying and it was an Italian made switch...

Hey you are quite famous, they even made a movie about it :D

The Mastiff · #20

I think at least a consultation with an attorney is advised here. You are facing troouble and it shouldn't be taken lightly. Find out the law, your rights etc. It sounds like there's more you're not telling us, but I don't mean to be offensive in saying it. Not many people walk around with a knife clipped to the outside of their pocket. Good luck . Joe