The New and Organized Lockpicking Law Thread--by marso

[Varjeal]

Washington, D.C.

§ 22-2501. Possession of implements of crime; penalty.

No person shall have in his or her possession in the District any instrument, tool, or implement for picking locks or pockets, with the intent to use such instrument, tool, or implement to commit a crime. Whoever violates this section shall be imprisoned for not more than 180 days and may be fined not more than $1,000, unless the violation occurs after he or she has been convicted in the District of a violation of this section or of a felony, either in the District or another jurisdiction, in which case he or she shall be imprisoned for not less than one year nor more than 5 years.

Word on the street: Unknown
Selling picks: Unknown
Summary: (At home) Unknown, (In public) Unknown, (Sell) Unknown
Submitted: lecatpuke

[Varjeal]

West Virginia

http://129.71.164.29/WVCODE/masterfrm3Banner.cfm

No discernable code was located in direct reference to legality of lock picks, but this related quote bears some relavance:

§30-18-5. Eligibility requirements to be licensed to conduct security guard business.

(a) In order to be eligible for any license to conduct security guard business, an applicant shall:
...
(9) Not have been convicted of any of the following:
...
(B) Making or possessing burglar's instruments;

Word on the street: Unknown
Selling picks: Unknown
Summary: (At home) Unknown, (In public) Unknown, (Sell) Unknown
Submitted: lecatpuke

[Varjeal]

Wisconsin

43.12 Possession of burglarious tools. Whoever has in personal possession any device or instrumentality intended, designed or adapted for use in breaking into any depository designed for the safekeeping of any valuables or into any building or room, with intent to use such device or instrumentality to break into a depository, building or room, and to steal therefrom, is guilty of a Class I felony.

Police/Court interpretation:
It comes down to intent. You may possess lockpicks, but if you are caught carrying them on you outside of your home this may be interpreted as intent to commit a burglary - unless of course you're a locksmith.


submitted by Exodus5000

[Varjeal]

Wyoming

http://legisweb.state.wy.us/statutes/statutes.htm

6-3-304. Possession of burglar's tools; penalties.

(a) A person is guilty of possession of burglar's tools if he possesses an explosive, tool, instrument or other article adapted, designed or commonly used for committing or facilitating the commission of a crime involving forcible entry into buildings or occupied structures with intent to use the article possessed in the commission of such a crime.

(b) Possession of burglar's tools is a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than three (3) years, a fine of not more than three thousand dollars ($3,000.00), or both.

Word on the street: Unknown
Selling picks: Unknown
Summary: (At home) Unknown, (In public) Unknown, (Sell) Unknown
Submitted: lecatpuke

[Varjeal]

USA Military Mailing Policy

Can someone please pick the major points, or state if you can or cant.

http://hqdainet.army.mil/mpsa/main.htm

Word on the street: Unknown
Submitted: Kysi

[Varjeal]

Poland

I've translated this onto english myslef, so it does not sound as professional, as it should, but the meaning stays basically the same.


CRIMES ACT wrote:
Act. 129. § 1. Every person who:
1) creates, has in possesion or purchases lockpicks, if not employed in a profession in which lockpicks are needed;
2) supplies lockpicks to a person not employed in a profession in which lockpicks are needed;
3) creates, owns or purchases keys to a foreign house, apartment or other space or recess, without the approval of a person authorised or the local authorities shall be liable to arresting, inprisonment or fine.

§ 2. The same punishement will be put on person who creates, owns or purchaches equipement purposed for thievery, or supplies that kind of equipement to others.
§ 3. Lockpicks, keys and other equipement purposed for thievery will be taken, even if they were not the property of the delinquent.

Word on the street: Unknown
Selling picks: ??? You can't create, but can you sell???
Summary: (At home) Unknown, (In public) Bad, (Sell) ???
Submitted: Aqua

[Varjeal]

Finland

Here is that law (section 28, article 12a):
http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/alkup/2002/20020400

If that ain't working, then here is copy-paste:

"28 luku
Varkaudesta, kavalluksesta ja luvattomasta käytöstä
12 a §
Murtovälineen hallussapito
Joka ilman hyväksyttävää syytä pitää hallussaan sellaista avainta toisen lukkoon taikka tiirikkaa tai muuta välinettä, jota voidaan perustellusti epäillä pääasiassa käytettävän tunkeutumiseen toisen hallinnassa olevaan suljettuun tilaan rikoksen tekemistä varten, on tuomittava murtovälineen hallussapidosta sakkoon."

Now here is my translation. It ain't perfect, but in case that somebody wants to come to Finland with picks in pocket, this is a very good guideline

--START--
Section 28
About burglary, (something else) and unauthorized use
Article 12a
Posession of burglary tool
Whoever without an acceptable reason holds such a key or a lock pick or something similar to someone elses lock so that he/she can be under suspicion to use that tool/whatever to enter to someone elses property (close space) to commit a crime, shall be convicted to fines from holding a burglary tool.
--STOP--

Okay, my text might be very crude, cause translating a law text is f-ing difficult...it is even difficult sometimes to understand it in Finnish..

But anyways, the message is clear: If you are stopped by the police for whatever reason and they find your lock picks, the police might give you a "bad look" and quoestion you why you have them. If you can show that lock picking is your hobby (bag full of your own locks or locksmith certificate or good speech) then there is nothing to worry about. But if you are caught from the front door of a bank with your picks in pocket in the middle of the night, you are under very heavy suspicion and will get at least fines. As a sidenote, in Finland you don't get a rap sheet if you get only fines.

This is my contribution to the Lockpicking101 forum, so please feel free to use and share this information!

Thank you and keep up the good work!

Jaakko