Which country is best to be a hobbyest lock picker?

[AMaturePerson]

I've heard that is some states you can be arrested for even carrying lock picking tools without being an actual locksmith, and in others its completely legal as long as you are only opening your own locks. With such a diverse tolerance level in just one country, I'm curious to hear how hard/easy it can be for people abroad.

[ARF-GEF]

AFAIK German lockpickers who are member of the lockpicking organisation there and have a membership card with them, don't get in trouble for owning pick. So from what I know Germany is a pretty good place to be a picker at

[bembel]

In Germany, you don't need to be a member of a lockpicking organisation or a membership card. Even as a member of the SSDEV, I never applied for one (never sent in a picture yet). Lockpicking is perfectly legal, as long as you abide the law. And if you don't, a membership card won't help you very much.
But yes, Germany is a pretty good place for this hobby: Well organized SSDEV clubs and events in your neighborhood and lots of interesting locks to play with.

[spoonzor]

1. Netherlands all the way. TOOOL!
2. Germany
3. Some states of USA.

Those are the only countries that have a -real- active lockpick community, as far as i know. Please tell me if i'm wrong.
In other countries the public opinion is that only burglars use lockpicks shame shame shame, we need to educate those Hollywood zombies.

I still didn't find out about the law here in Thailand, but cops here (as most countries) don't know much of the law either, so meh... As long as you don't intend to do anything illegal and are not lock picking in public I won't expect any problem, anywhere.

In the Netherlands, it can be illegal to have a screwdriver in your car, if the cop feels like you intend to harm someone with it or are going to break and enter etc., but if you explain it's to screw screws it's fine. Same counts for crowbars and bolt cutters, I guess it counts for lockpick set's too.