New York City?

[EricM]

I'd have to agree it's a young hobby DB, though as everyone has stated above in one capacity or another, NYC is/isn't illegal in carrying or using at home... etc etc..

Though I found that, when I was starting TOOOL-USA with Mouseling and the crew, I really shied away from doing it in NYC because there are little sticky bits in the law about teaching people, and how it can be illegal or construed as illegal, and I really didn't want to deal with the hassle yet of putting anyone off since it was of course post 9/11 and since I was starting one of the earlier pick clubs in the US(current grouping of public pick clubs).

And as I looked into New Jersey statute it was much more relaxed, and then I decided to have it inbetween Philly, and NYC to get more members from both ends, it actually settled as a mid point for everyone, I actually have to travel 1.5 hours down and back every time and it doesn't always, I sometimes wish it was in NYC it takes me only 15 minutes or so depending on traffic to get there.

But to note as someone did above best place to go is the 2600 meets

http://www.2600.com/meetings

Every first Friday of the month, you'll catch me there I'm there more or less, depending on what I have going on this side of the Hudson.

But if you really want to get one going, PM me and I'll meet up with you at the meeting or if you want a cool cafe/bar/etc etc if not at the 2600 meet and we can definitely talk shop, and I'll help you get going with whatever you need since I have a lot of people up north that don't really like traveling to the meets in Princeton because it's too far. I've definitely been jonesing for one since TOOOL-USA opened up as a first site but alas you know what happened and now we are at Princeton, but then again I think Princeton was the better choice.

Anyway guys PM for any other stuff on setting up a NYC a lockpicking chapter up in NYC because I'm down with that.

[Santos718]

I'm in NY too, the state not the city. I looked up the NYS penal code and it's only illegal to have lockpicks with intent to burglar...if that's even a verb.

I've looked in starting a chapter here in NYC, but the law above is also for the city of new york and intent to burglar just means having it on you or in your car. In the privacy of your own home it's fine, as long as it doesn't "set foot" on the streets of NY. Thats why I went on a got my license and badge, so if I do get caught carrying the tools (random checks on trains), I'm ok!!!

[AlexPuedroKj]

great :)

[slleepytime]

i live in nyc and i would like to find ppl who are serious about starting a club here.. i don't know much about starting a club but i'm wiling to get the ball rolling as they say. pm/e-mail me if your in nyc and want to meet at the next 2600 meeting (which i never been to but i feel is a great starting point) and start talking and finding ppl who are interested in the sport and take it from there. let me know ppl.

p.s. i'm going for my ham license dec. 5 "technician"

[ghostman]

im on long island, so im pretty close to nyc. why does the law have to ruin all the fun

[evilwill]

I'm in NYC as well and I'm a total noob. I would love to meet up with others to learn and improve. Please let me know whats going on with this

In regards to the NYPD and HAM radio operators, one of the reasons they hassle them is that with a little knowledge you can program a 2 watt portable to recieve and transmit on NYPD frequencies. NYPD radios are not trunked, Some are still using the old motorola saber radios.

Theres another law here that goes something along the lines of it not being illegal to own a scanner but it is illegal to bring that scanner into your car..eh..go figure.

[dougfarre]

If the law says it is illegal to own lockpicks with "intent to burglar" then there is no reason why you shouldn't be able to carry them with you.

Burglary - also called breaking and entering - is a crime related to theft or another crime. It typically involves someone breaking into a house, business, boat, or motor vehicle with an intent to commit a crime. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burglar

Who has proof of the actual stature? At HOPE we were passing lockpicks around like candy and it wasn't a problem. I know that NYC has strict rules about picksets, but seriously, I think we have some major paranoia going around here. There is no reason why you couldn't have an organized L.I meeting in the coffee shop across from the UN building, in Manhattan, after Homeland Security raised the terror threat level to a RED status, after President Bush just declared war on Iran. Locksport is here, and we are making our presence known. If you want to stay low-key then maybe locksport is not for you.

Now if the law says otherwise, then ignore all of this. But don't hide because you are scared of a little confrontation. If we want progression and public acceptance of our hobby, we need to stop making our activities so subtle as to "not upset anyone." Have your meeting where you want it, when you want it! And don't tell me your going to move your meeting to yucky New Jersey because the big city is too scary, come on, you just lost half your potential members!

How do you like them Street Oranges?
[/u]

[vcapo]

Folks,
Here is the actual NYC law.

140.35 Possession of burglar`s tools.
A person is guilty of possession of burglar`s tools when he possesses
any tool, instrument or other article adapted, designed or commonly used
for committing or facilitating offenses involving forcible entry into
premises, or offenses involving larceny by a physical taking, or
offenses involving theft of services as defined in subdivisions four,
five and six of section 165.15, under circumstances evincing an intent
to use or knowledge that some person intends to use the same in the
commission of an offense of such character.
Possession of burglar`s tools is a class A misdemeanor.

A burglary is defined as: A person is guilty of burglary in the third degree when he knowingly
enters or remains unlawfully in a building with intent to commit a crime
therein.

In other words, if your hanging out picking locks at Burger King, Central Park or some other public place, your good to go but if a cop picks you up and you just happen to be in your ex girlfriends apartment even though she hates you and never gave you the key, your in bigggg trouble.

[zosimos]

Great site I'm from central NJ and I am going to go to the next 2600 meeting. Can anyone help me connect with the NJ Toool Group. I want to go to the next meeting.

Z

Cyril.zosimos@gmail.com

[Antique key maker]

I'm in NYC, and if anyone ever starts any kind of group meeting, Please Email me at buyeraccount2010@gmail.com

[slimjim123]

awesome, I'm in nyc,

I think i'll do some more research into the 2600's meetings and maybe check one out this year.

If you're driving in nyc, just throw the picks in your glove-box and lock them in when not using them. They can't search the glove-box if its locked, at least without a warrant.

[gunny]

Did this ever come to fruition?