New Orleans, LA Knife Law

[Exmasonite]

Hey everybody. Going to be travelling to New Orleans in the next few days. Wondering what people know about the knife carry laws there.

Found a couple links "quoting" the LA legislation (i know, i need to track them down on the .gov site)

http://www.thebladeshop.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=35
http://www.lazydragon.com/laws/louisiana.htm


Looking at louisiana statutes, my concern is the following:

4) The manufacture, ownership, possession, custody or use of any switchblade knife, spring knife or other knife or similar instrument having a blade which may be automatically unfolded or extended from a handle by the manipulation of a button, switch, latch or similar contrivance.


So, i have a CRKT M-16 or a Leatherman knife, both of which have little "latch/nub" that helps open the knife one handed. Would they fall under this statute?

Thanks!

(yes, i realize i need to contact the appropriate LE agencies, etc. just starting here)

 

[JimmyN]

having a blade which may be automatically unfolded or extended from a handle

You highlighted the wrong portion. The question to determine legality would be whether pushing a "button, switch, latch or similar contrivance" opens the blade automatically (springs, gravity, etc), or whether you have to manually open the blade.

 

[Nio]

So, i have a CRKT M-16 or a Leatherman knife, both of which have little "latch/nub" that helps open the knife one handed. Would they fall under this statute?

The strange thing about Louisiana knife law is that it is so vague. By the letter of the law, according to the policemen I talk to, nobody except LE or firemen/rescue can carry a knife in their pocket. It's illegal for civillians to carry anything - and if you read the law, it could be interpreted that way.

The fact of it, though, is that nobody is ever arrested for carrying a knife unless they use it in conjuction with a crime. In all my years of looking, I have never found anyone who was prosecuted under the statute. I, personally, carry a 5" CS Voyager and a Spyderco Original every day. Having been stopped, searched, had my CCW checked, and sent on my way three times now, I don't worry about the knives. It's pretty obvious that LEs don't.

Nio