Legality of carrying objects in vehicle

[AlexD333]

So me and the missus were discussing earlier about a rather large pickaxe I have aquired. I'm gonna keep it in the terrano for emergencies. We were wondering the the police would class this as an offensive weapon.

I don't plan to use it often on other cars

[Peasgood1]

How often do you expect to be in a situation where the police would find the need to search your car?

I rarely go out without guns, knives, axes etc etc. never a problem as i am not likely to be searched.

[rustic]

You will probably find that a pick axe handle or a base ball bat on their own, with out any other supporting items, will be considererd more as an offensive weapon. Too readily available.
A crook lock on it's own is more convincing.

Pick axe, some work gloves, a spade in the boot, with a bit of mud... sorted.
Mind you with that stuff, it looks as though you are going equipped to break in somewhere. Just ditch the bag with the word "swag" on it...

So if you do carry a base ball bat for sport, then keep it in a bag with the rest of the gear.

A man was arrested carrying a petrol powered chain saw through a town.
Now if he was returning it to a shop... he should make sure it is covererd up, but this very young guy alleged he was a tree surgeon and was taking it to be sharpened. He did get very aggressive when challenged though.

[supergnome]

Reason to carry...Pickaxe handle no reason. Large wheel brace or wrench wrapped in a cloth, probably justified.

[Fez_uk]

Never needed a pickaxe offroading, just take a spade.

[AlexD333]

Hmm ok good amount of different views, thanks all.

Sorry if I confused people it's a pickaxe and separate handle, both of which are wrapped up in different bags.

Hopefully it's just how you speak to the police if you get stopped. All of my encounters have been pleasant because I treat them so well

It's raining at the moment but I will take some pictures too.

[Lazy-Ferret]

I think the main thing is "availability", e.g., in a zipped up bag in the boot is not the same as tucked down the side of the drivers seat. You need to go through several steps to get to it. Most of it is about attitude, and how it is packer. You can carry a 12inch carving knife in the high street, as long as it is wrapped up, and you have good cause to be carrying it at the time, e.g., just bought it or returning it.

Originally Posted by Fez_uk

Never needed a pickaxe offroading, just take a spade.

Like Fez, I can't really see why you would need a Pickaxe for off roading in this country, so it would make it hard to justify to a Police officer why you are carrying it. Even on the most out of the way "Byways" you should not need to be breaking up any form of hard surface, it normally the lack of hard surface that is the problem you are stuck in the first place, and going round breaking off rocks and boulders from the surrounding countryside will be very frowned upon.

[AlexD333]

Originally Posted by Lazy-Ferret

I think the main thing is "availability", e.g., in a zipped up bag in the boot is not the same as tucked down the side of the drivers seat. You need to go through several steps to get to it. Most of it is about attitude, and how it is packer. You can carry a 12inch carving knife in the high street, as long as it is wrapped up, and you have good cause to be carrying it at the time, e.g., just bought it or returning it.



Like Fez, I can't really see why you would need a Pickaxe for off roading in this country, so it would make it hard to justify to a Police officer why you are carrying it. Even on the most out of the way "Byways" you should not need to be breaking up any form of hard surface, it normally the lack of hard surface that is the problem you are stuck in the first place, and going round breaking off rocks and boulders from the surrounding countryside will be very frowned upon.

True that true that. I guess I will have to keep it under my seat instead

Lol I may get a shovel instead

[rustic]

Originally Posted by AlexD333

True that true that. I guess I will have to keep it under my seat instead

Lol I may get a shovel instead

How to confuse Alex...

Put a spade and a shovel in the corner and ask him to take his pick...

Sorry Alex, all the components from a well known joke.

[AlexD333]

Originally Posted by rustic

How to confuse Alex...

Put a spade and a shovel in the corner and ask him to take his pick...

Sorry Alex, all the components from a well known joke.

Hey I don't blame you, I couldn't have resisted.

[TONUP]

I regularly carry a locking blade pocket knife whilst I am at work to cut boxes, banding and cable ties etc.

The way I understand the law is that this blade is illegal, as the blade locks.

I am never sure if I can justify my carrying it for work related purposes or not though.

I think a lot of it would be down to the discretion of the police officer, and my attitude when questioned.

I would not carry it into the local park, or shopping center though.

Regards

Alan

[Lazy-Ferret]

Originally Posted by TONUP

I regularly carry a locking blade pocket knife whilst I am at work to cut boxes, banding and cable ties etc.

The way I understand the law is that this blade is illegal, as the blade locks.

I am never sure if I can justify my carrying it for work related purposes or not though.

I think a lot of it would be down to the discretion of the police officer, and my attitude when questioned.

I would not carry it into the local park, or shopping center though.

Regards

Alan

I was told once that Electricians can justify carrying a flick knife while working, as they need a knife they can open single handed, but it has to be in their tool box going to and from the place of work.

The whole locking blade is so hard, again, I would think that "Technically" you should have it in a tool box going to and from work rather than your pocket. I have a couple of Gerber multi-tools, and all the blades on them lock open, and because of the size, you tend to put them on your belt. I worked on customer sites all over the place, but in London, when you did not want to hump a full sized tool box on the Train, I used to carry it on me as it has most of the tools needed to do a quick mechanical fix on a computer.

Like you say, I think a lot of it is down to your attitude when you talk to the police, and what you were doing before or planing to do after you had it in your possession. Not to mention, how often are you randomly stopped and searched by a police officer. I have only ever been searched once in 49 years, and that was while driving home at 3am one morning, and the police had a road block, as they were looking for some guys who had just "Borrowed" £53 million pounds in cash from Securitas in Tonbridge!

I have a Victorinox emergency tool in the car, that has various tools to break glass, cut laminated windows, and seat belts etc, and that again has all locking blades, but it was recommended as safety kit on our SE4x4R first aid course by an off duty police officer. To be fair, it lives in the car, and I do not tend to carry it with me when out and about walking anywhere, but it would cause nasty damage in the wrong hands.

[johnb5177]

I regularly have a tractor full of chainsaws, various blades, tools etc. I think 'tools of the trade' are acceptable things to carry when stowed away properly. When I worked in UK as countryside Manager, I was never without my Gerber multitool......ever.......its down to attitude and intent I think.
The 'tree sugeon' who was carrying an uncovered chainsaw in a town...to have it sharpened.....was a pratt of the first order......totally unacceptable.......firstly he should be able to sharpen it properly himself........secondly blade covers and black bin bags are cheap....

[Sweety]

Lock knifes are a bit of a no no these days in the eyes of the law but if it's a knife for work I think you can just get around it as there is nothing worse than having a sharp knife closing on your fingers but i'm sure it's still legal to carry a knife which has a blade under 3" unless they have changed the law again I've got 2 lock back knifes 1 with a 4" blade that I used to use for work & 1 that has a huge 3/4" blade that I carry on my keyring

[Lazy-Ferret]

Originally Posted by Sweety

snip....

& 1 that has a huge 3/4" blade that I carry on my keyring

Awww cute....

Don't let Makeitfit see it, otherwise we will have a whole new debate on what is and is not gay...