Is it legal to merely posess lockpicks (pick-and-tension-wrench ones, not Slim Jims and auto jigglers) legal in New York City if you’re not a locksmith? If so, if I had a set, would I be allowed to pick my own locks?
I carry a Slim Jim under the back seat, just in case I lock my keys in the car.
As a locksmith all I can say is check your local and state laws.
I am not familiar with your areas laws.
That’s kinda like locking your spare luggage key inside your suitcase.
Ooh, I hadn’t thought of that! And a Slim Jim won’t work on a suitcase lock, so it wouldn’t even do any good to carry one in it.
I remember one time when I locked my keys in one of my MGBs. I had to call a locksmith pronto, because it was starting to rain and the top was down.
Was the locksmith succesful? 
Yes. He made me go away while he was working, and told me to be sure to call him if it ever happens again.
I always write the combination of my combination locks on the back. It beats having to remember more crap.
You’re lucky when I locked myself out of my Sunbeam Tiger, the locksmich wouldn’t come out. I had to stand in the rain until my wife came home with the spare key. The seats and carpet were soaked!
I locked my keys in my car a while back. It started to rain as I was working with a slim jim. Took me a 30 minutes to get the wife and kids out, and by that time I was soaked.
the metal sort, I take it, not the tasty beef treat. Those are totally ineffective in a lockout situation… you might make a greasy spot on the windows, but your not getting in…
… they do make a good treat for the AAA guy. You lock your keys in the cars, call AAA, and a few of those on hand to give them. THey like those…
…Or, if your really thinking ahead, you could leave one on the seat. When the AAA guy comes to unlock your car, you can use them as an insentive to egg him on: " You get in there, that’s yours buddy!"
- Jake Johannsen
Johnny, just get one of those magnetic key boxes & stick a spare on your bumper.
“… would I be allowed to pick my own locks?”
You can pick your locks & your neighbor can pick his locks, but you can’t pick your neighbors locks. 
There are those that have been wooshed here, but we shant name names.
I think that’s a WINNER!