New law in NJ pertaining to bump keys.

[Johnny P]

I know everyone is tired of the bump key threads, but this is a new law in NJ to clamp down on the ownership, mnufacture, selling, buying and/or use of bump keys.

A4041 CHATZIDAKIS
2
\
AN ACT concerning certain lock picking t 1 ools and supplementing
2 Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes.
3
4 BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and General Assembly of the State
5 of New Jersey:
6
7 1. a. It shall be unlawful for a person to knowingly
8 manufacture, purchase or possess an altered or modified key that is
9 able to work in multiple locks by striking or applying other force to
10 the key in order to cause a lock to open in a manner that is
11 unintended by the lock’s manufacturer.
12 b. An offense under subsection a. of this section shall be a
13 fourth degree crime if the defendant was found in possession of a
14 bump key while committing or attempting to commit burglary
15 pursuant to N.J.S.2C:18-2; otherwise it is a disorderly persons
16 offense.
17 c. This act shall not apply to a law enforcement officer acting in
18 an official capacity or to a person licensed as a locksmith pursuant
19 to section 7 of P.L.1997, c.305 (C.45:5A-27).
20
21 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
22
23
24 STATEMENT
25
26 This bill would make it unlawful for a person to knowingly
27 manufacture, purchase or possess an altered or modified key,
28 commonly known as a bump key. Bump keys are either
29 manufactured or modified keys used to pick locks and are
30 commonly used in burglaries. When tapped into a lock, a bump key
31 can manipulate the pins inside the lock in such a manner that it
32 unlocks a door with minimal force and trace of break-in, thus
33 allowing a burglar entry into a home.
34 Under the provisions of the bill, it would be a fourth degree
35 crime to possess a bump key while committing or attempting to
36 commit a burglary. Otherwise, a person who constructs, purchases
37 or possesses a bump key would be guilty of a disorderly person’s
38 offense. The penalty for a fourth degree crime is up to 18 months
39 imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. The penalty for a
40 disorderly person’s offense is up to 6 months imprisonment, a fine
41 of up to $1,000, or both.

[maintenanceguy]

It's Not law yet.

In Feruary, it was referred to Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee for review, there's been no action since.

With the big smoke and mirrors show going on in Trenton about "property tax reform" this session, It's unlikely that this little, trivial bill will even make it to the floor for discussion. There are hundreds of bills introduced every year that just die a quiet death in committee becasue there's no time to get to them.

[WOT]

6 This bill would make it unlawful for a person to knowingly
27 manufacture, purchase or possess an altered or modified key,
28 commonly known as a bump key.

If it was cut on a fresh blank to valid depths and valid spacing parameter on a non-modified key blank, it is still a valid key. Note the terms "altered" or "modified".

If you were to file down your house key, that would be altering.

[Shrub]

It does seem to have a few holes in it,

For example and leading on from WOT,

WHat happens if a police officer stops someone with a bum key and then in their defense the person stopped pulls out a padlock that has been keyed to 999 and opens the lock with it,

There can not be any charge for carrying a key that openes a lock,

Also are the police gogin to be trained in what a bum key is? how are they gogin to tell the differance between a 999 key and a 98799 key?

[freakparade3]

Oklahoma passed a similar law early this year. Their law does not state "with intent". In Oklahoma even attempting to make a bump key you can go to jail for one year. I travel to Oklahoma about 4 times a year, guess I should leave my bumpkeys at home. I have my Foley Belsaw card, don't know how much that would help though.

[raimundo]

I have a schlage C original #98988, never used it as a bump key, its on my keyring.

[Spike666]

If you were caught doing anything illegal,IE: theft/burgulary/robery whatever and they have half a notion that you may have one and used it your key looks like one you will prob. be charged.

Don't steal and don't break and enter you prob. wont ever have a problem.

Police will 99% never know unless they try to figure out how you got in somewhere then it may occure to them.

A locksmith may be called into court by pross. or defense to prove /disprove its use.

[SlingsVaqueros]

Since I live in NJ, and I studied criminal justice in this state, and I learned a great deal about what constitutes "possession" as a term in NJ law (I legally own a lot of guns), I'll toss my 2 cents into this debate.

In general, the only way that a law enforcement officer is going to search an individual for a bump key is if the person has already been caught for something else. Simple possession of a quasi-illegal item in NJ needs to be accompanied by the intent to use it for illegal purposes. A construction worker can have a crowbar, I can carry a credit card, you could have the deeply cut keys mentioned in the above posts, and we could all get arrested. The trick is we would all have our cases dismissed promptly due to a lack of evidence showing that we intended to commit a crime with these items that otherwise could be used for breaking and entering.

Similarly; New Jersey requires that a person who wishes to purchase a firearm must apply for, and be approved for, a firearms ID card. I purchased several guns in Arizona that I brought with me when I moved back to New Jersey. The guns I bought legally in Arizona continue to be legally owned in New Jersey, but a law enforcement officer could arrest me for weapons possession and the onus would be on me to prove that I legally own these guns. I have subsequently gotten my Firearms ID card to avoid such a case, but it has happened before in this state and it has a similar legal feel to the possession of lock picks or bump-keys.

The bottom line is weather or not it's worth the hassle of being in the right after spending a few days in jail, posting bail, and hiring a lawyer just to prove that you didn't do anything wrong...

[MaximumCheese]

Most cops would never even think to look, nor would they be able to identify a 999 key on sight. I'd say bump keys are the most stealthy picks you can carry if you integrate them with your other keys. (Assuming, of course, that you run into a lock that you have the bump key for.) I don't make it a habit of going around breaking into things, so I probably don't have to worry about simply having bump keys. Picks, on the other hand, would be a lot harder to explain.

[raimundo]

the key I mentioned is a schlage original with the numbers on it. its a legit key, cut by schlage co. I don't have a lock for it currently, but the low cuts would keep a lot of pickers slowed down, they would be in there prying those pins all the way up. on the other hand, if you knew the bitting of the key, you could pick it super easy.

[SlingsVaqueros]

What's interesting in NJ law is that anything can pass into law; it could be unconstitutional, discriminatory, or in violation of other laws or ordinances, but if someone doesn't stop it or fight it out in court, the law stays. My family sued the town I grew up in twice for gross violations of the zoning and building laws that affected our town. We won both times, but it's just an example of the "catch me if you can" attitude of the politicians in this area.

The laws regarding locksmithing in NJ were amended in 2004 and now require a certain amount of electrical training to become a locksmith. I think that's a great idea, but there isn't one school in the country that meets the new guidelines required to take the locksmithing exam. I called the NJ Attorney General's office and they said they don't have any schools on file that will qualify anyone to take the exams for certification and that the only locksmiths in NJ were Grandfathered into business. There are no reciprocal licenses for NJ either because no other state uses the same criteria as NJ, so if you're a lockie from out of state, your license is no good here.

I hate this state...

I’ve decide that instead of fighting for this law to be repealed, I’m just going to move and never set foot in NJ again.

[digital_blue]

They'd have a tough time passing a bill like that in any state that does not specifically license locksmiths.

I agree with some of the above comments. When I think about what I do in the course of a common day, I cannot imagine the circumstances that would lead to being searched. Simple fact is, other than the occasional driving infraction, I'm not out there breaking laws. So I wouldn't personally worry about it.

In fact, a bill like this is probably a GOOD thing. It gives the authorities more ammunition to go after those who actually are committing crimes. Good for them.

db

[darkk]

I hate this state.

I carry bumpkeys on my keychain for emergencies along with a folding pick set. Just like NJ's ridiculous gun laws, outlawing carrying or possessing these devices will only stop law abiding citizens from carrying them, criminals don't care if they're illegal or not.

[Wreckmaster]

The laws regarding locksmithing in NJ were amended in 2004 and now require a certain amount of electrical training to become a locksmith. I think that's a great idea, but there isn't one school in the country that meets the new guidelines required to take the locksmithing exam. I called the NJ Attorney General's office and they said they don't have any schools on file that will qualify anyone to take the exams for certification and that the only locksmiths in NJ were Grandfathered into business. There are no reciprocal licenses for NJ either because no other state uses the same criteria as NJ, so if you're a lockie from out of state, your license is no good here.[/quote]

Why would a locksmith need knowladge of electrical training? And why would the state require such knowladge?

I hate this state...

I’ve decide that instead of fighting for this law to be repealed, I’m just going to move and never set foot in NJ again.

As a former truck driver, it would not hurt my feelings if that whole state just fell off the map. I have never liked driving there and I have had nothing but bad luck when I go there. I do not like it there.

I also agree with the comment by darkk about criminals do not care if they break the law by having bump keys, because what they intend to steal is a bigger crime than having the key.

Just a thought.
What do you think would happen if those guys on that "It Takes A Thief" show on Discovery or TLC (I can't remember which network it is on) started getting into homes with bump keys.

[LockNewbie21]

(Sniff Sniff)-- Newbie smells technicalities

Modified key- this can be an older key cut to a repinned lock, a key a newbie butches in a bumpkey attempt.

The Term Bump key- Officer this is a Rap, slap,crack, smack key.. Not a bumpkey.

Caught using- Again, how many years have they been around?

I feel like smackin the legislature that wrote this with a sledge hammer.. and then bump open there lock.