If you’ve ever carried a box of fishing tackle in your pickup truck and wondered, “Am I going to have trouble carrying my fishing knife?”, you probably have too many. time!
- The definition of a weapon really depends on the intention of the handler
- There are legitimate reasons to carry certain items in your car, such as knives
- Remember – a lot of people have dash cams these days!
If you are stopped by the police and you happen to be carrying a knife, then – in theory – should be fine, as long as you are carrying that ‘weapon’ for a lawful purpose.
So yeah, if you have a fishing rod and a toolbox, and you’re stuck like a catch for the day, you’re in less trouble than if you just had a knife or other weapon in the box. glove box or in the door pocket. of your vehicle.
CarExpert spoke to a NSW Police officer who suggested it was indeed appropriate for the situation.
If you are carrying a knife, baseball bat, or anything else that you are legally allowed to possess (not a gun, unless you are authorized to carry them and you have a reason), then, as long as you do not intend to do anything illegal with those articles, you really shouldn’t find yourself in any trouble.
However, please note that the police can inspect your vehicle without a warrant if they have grounds to believe that there is something illegal in the vehicle or have some doubts about what is going on with the vehicle. vehicle or the occupants of the vehicle. If you try to stop them, you could be arrested and charged with obstructing the police.
You cannot own a weapon as a means of self-defense. Our police contact told us that they had once encountered a driver who had a spray bottle in their car that they claimed was in the vehicle for “self-defense”, this immediately turn that can of Impulse into a weapon in the eyes of the law.
You may have seen dash cam videos in which a driver appears to be being harassed stepping out of his vehicle with some sort of weapon in self-defense. They’re breaking the law, and are likely to commit much more serious offences than the bastard stalking them.
So, if you’ve ever thought it was okay to leave a cricket racket in your car – but you haven’t hit the net in 10 years – and you wanted something like that to feel “safe”, you can go for it. breaking the law. A cricket bat is an example of a “dangerous item”. Other weapons that may fall under that term include hammers or axes.
Self-defense weapons are basically considered as having a weapon that you intend to use to hurt someone. It will ultimately come down to the purpose of what you intend to use it for. And if you’re curious about what the “intent” might be, you should really talk to an attorney.
If you are found guilty of possessing a weapon such as a knife without a lawful cause in NSW, under the Crime Summary Act 1988 you could face up to two years in prison and/or a $2200 fine if the case ending up in court. Otherwise, you could be subject to an on-the-spot fine of up to $500.
In Queensland and other states, the laws are pretty much the same in that you can’t carry knives in public and police consider your vehicle ‘in public’, unless you have a good reason. QLD police do not consider self-defense a ‘reasonable excuse’ for carrying a knife.
Not intended as legal advice. Check with the relevant road authority in your state or territory.
