Reading [thread=513651]this[/thread] recent thread made me curious about what the state of Florida considers illegal to carry in my car. I keep a little knife in my glove compartment for various reasons that don’t include stabbing the Wendy’s guy when he forgets ketchup for my fries, but am I breaking some law unknowingly?
I checked a couple FL law sites and didn’t see anything, but I have no experience in researching law statutes so I thought I’d ask here.
I don’t have an answer for you, just chiming in to second the request. I too have a small knife in my glove box. I have a convertible and have it so I’ll never have to cut my roof to escape from my car.
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=Ch0790/SEC25.HTM&Title=->2008->Ch0790->Section%2025#0790.25
Scroll alllll the way to the bottom - it appears to state that it is legal to carry a “dangerous weapon” (includes knife under section 790.001(13)) in your car in Florida as long as it is “securely encased or is otherwise not readily accessible for immediate use.”
Thanks! I wonder if ‘not readily accessible’ means ‘way in the bottom of a cluttered glovebox, underneath various pens, papers, CD cases, spare quarters and a hairbrush’?
In all seriousness, should I seal it in an envelope so if I ever do get searched and questioned, I can argue it isn’t easily accessible?
Some googling reveals having it in the glove compartment is acceptable.
http://www.floridafirearmslaw.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=FFL&Category_Code=Carrying-Concealed-Firearm-Concealed-Weapon
I think I’ll do the envelope thing too, though.
Allowing for the fact that laws vary and what I’m suggesting might be illegal in some places, I would get a small box(maybe lockable), put in a few basic tools and the knife and put in the trunk or under the back seat.
I would venture that not readily accessible to the driver would mean out of reach from the driver’s seat.