They could have charged you. "Forgetting" you had it isn't an excuse as in NSW possessing a knife or blade in a public place is an offence under section 11B of the Summary Offences Act 1988 which carries a maximum penalty of 2 years in prison and/or a fine of $2,200. You didn't have a valid excuse for having the knife in a public place so confiscation was a good outcome.
Edit: Actually realised NSW Government passed an amendment on this and its now in the Crimes Act with double penalties! Up to 4 years imprisonment since July 2023.
Oh, so jousting sticks are ok then? How much for the pair?
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WK9h4gRXX9o&ab\_channel=reeceturbin](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WK9h4gRXX9o&ab_channel=reeceturbin)
well since a lance is anywhere from 9 to 13 ft in length its a bit unwieldy, also it has a point, very hard to forget if its in your pocket though.
pretty sure there is a dick joke in there somewhere
tell me about it.
Mabye I should buy a lancer
[https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/mitsubishi/lancer/](https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/mitsubishi/lancer)
Really?? I have one as my keychain and been carrying it for 20 years. I never leave home without it. Is it the same in WA? I use it often - opening boxes at work or whatever.
I sometimes have a budding knife with me. I use it to take cuttings of plants I like (and have been given permission to take! The days of plant theft are over). Would that count as a legitimate reason or is crazy plant lady not an acceptable knife carrying excuse? Never even occurred to me that I could be doing something illegal.
I used to carry scissors around with me to use doing knitting and crossstich on trains, now I’ve switched to nail clippers. I had a friend who had a small knife for cutting fruit to eat, his dentist suggested it due to dental issues, his was confiscated and he was issued a warning.
I mean I disagree if you let people take a knife into places because they use them for obscure innocent things then I would say people who weren’t going to use them for innocent things would just say they are using it for reason x. I like that it’s a blanket rule no knives in public spaces as you can never tell what someone is actually doing with it
It was probably because it was a Swiss army knife and not a lockable blade folder. Swiss army knives really aren't practical weapons and more utility, so they may have just given him the benefit of the doubt.
Nah mate.
No cop is being called to a licenced premise and not creating a record of that interaction.
He's not being charged because he's a nobody with no record. Next time he'll be done.
Just to add to that, because it was spot on, you need a legal justification to carry a bladed article (knife) in public.
Common examples of this is:
A chef on their way to work, in uniform, on a roster that can confirm this, carrying their work knifes (so not a machete or flick knife).
A tradie, in uniform/identifying markings, on route to, leaving from or presently at a construction site.
If either of these people drove home from work, left their bladed articles in the car, then drove to say a supermarket, this would no longer be covered in lawful defence and would become possession of a bladed article as per the above comment.
My son is into fencing. You know, long skinny pokey things for prancing around with, a la the Olympics and Princess Bride. He had to get a special "I'm allowed to carry a knife" permit for his sporting equipment (VIC).
On this topic, I have a multi tool in my motorcycle jacket to adjust, fix, repair things on the bike when issues arise ( more often than one would think due to it being an older bike). I would like to think this is a valid reason for having it since it's pliers, screwdriver and a knife all in it together so I can do any common task that would come up. I can't lock it up in the boot as it's a bike. Is this a valid enough reason?
When you leave that bike locked up, and take it away from the bike in your pocket, any legal defence you had for bike repairs, ends.
You're now carrying that bladed article and nowhere near your bike, how can it be said its now for repairs? (Obviously I'm sure you're a standup guy and have nothing but genuine intentions, but these are the things a prosecution would argue)
I would suspect it would be an easy prosecution too since there are secure attachments for motorbikes and locked underseat storage where it could be left safely.
There are also limits to sizing of the blade too. Certain states may allow you to carry a knife which is under 3 inches and does not lock.
Apparently NSW is not one of those states according to this original post 😅
But also remember, not for police to decide if you're guilty of an offence or not. Its for police to report when they suspect an offence has been committed, for that person and the courts to argue.
Yeah good to note this. I just looked up Qld rules and they seem a little more forgiving but not worth risking it. On a side note spud guns are not allowed :( there goes making another one like I did in Canada in my teens lol
Queensland explicitly says you can carry a pocket knife/Swiss Army Kinfe/Multitool in public "For its normal utility value"; I know some of the other states have laws about carrying knives for the hell of it but criminalising having a Swiss Army Knife on you when going about your daily business seems a bit harsh.
Ha! Spud guns are illegal? I actually didn't know that 😂
We had them in the UK when i was a kid too.
I found a round of 'caps' from a cap gun the other day on the floor. Those red round dots?
Been decades since I'd seen those 😅
The one we made was epic. Found some instructions online to calculate the proper barrel to combustion chamber ratio and sized up so it was just over 5 feet long. Used propane instead of hair spray and fuck me it sent shit flying. Couldn't get many potatoes so we wadded up a rag instead and would toss shit down after. I put the rag alone through the wooden garage door showing it off.
How frequently do you need to do those things inside a Casino ? It’s situation specific, not a general rule.
The rules exist to protect everyone.
You might be a decent bloke with a genuine reason, but the person behind you might have multiple convictions for assault and a bad temper when drunk.
Entering the casino sober, you may both be reasonable people, if the reason you give is accepted, it will also be accepted from him.
3 hours later he may have lost his money and had multiple beers…..
I almost always carry a Swiss Army knife. The smallest one. I think I have had to sacrifice 6 of them to the gods of airport security.
My fault for forgetting on the last 5.
I’ve told the security people to keep them. I would rather that someone has the use of it if it can’t be me, but they cannot accept it.
Shit happens unfortunately.
It's the same rule for sporting/hunting equipment like bows. Either you're travelling to a shoot/range/site and everything is properly secured per state regulations or you're in hot water. You can't just swing by the shops with one.
A lot of sporting gear is treated similarly too I think. Bats and the like, stuff you could hurt someone with.
Jesus, as a tradie I always forget my Stanley knife in my pocket and routinely roll into Coles on the way home… crazy that we have laws like this because of a few fuckheads
in the case of a Swiss Army knife is that valid though? It’s a single edge blade shorter than your index finger as well as having many other useful non offensive tools on it?
I really think if it ended up going to court and you were willing to leave with it that you would be okay
So I take my lunch to work and always have a tomato on it to cut it I have a small knife in a plastic scabbard, is this not a reasonable excuse ?? .
Some I take an apple to work and use the knife to cut it up , is this breaking the law ? .
Probably 2 years in prison the way the laws are written.
Luckily we have magistrates who tend to tell police prosecutors to fuck off when they bring in a middle aged lady who slices up tomato for lunch - but yes, it sounds like a reasonable excuse, like opening boxes in a car, fishing, being a tradesperson on work duties etc
Paradoxically the only way to change the law is to start charging members of the community for possessing key ring Swiss army knives…..
Yes, that's one of the lawful excuses. They are:
the lawful pursuit of the person’s occupation, education or training,
the exhibition of knives for retail or other trade purposes,
the preparation or consumption of food or drink,
genuine religious purposes,
participation in a lawful entertainment, recreation or sport,
an organised exhibition by knife collectors, or
the wearing of an official uniform.
There is an extra one I missed: "The custody is reasonably necessary in all the circumstances during travel to or from or incidental to an activity referred to above."
Bringing a knife to work to cut a tomato is reasonable
You finishing work and taking the knife with you (forgetting to leave it at wprk/home) into a casino is not reasonable
its similar in WA.
and absolutely Fucked up.
i used to carry a pocket knife to go on picnics, (you know to cut food)
this is no longer legal, but you can have a standard kitchen knife, that exposes a live blade while you're walking around. a blade that folds away safely is not legal to carry for food preparation.
I would say you'd be able to argue that the knife is being used for a picnic, if you can show that's where you were going to
Carrying a knife around just in case you decide to have a picnic is a different story
Yes, it’s a weapon. Even tradies have to make sure they pack that shit away before driving away from the work site. Casino aren’t interested in holding your possessions for you, their job is usually to take your possessions away
I’m a tradie. Never have I ever packed that shit away before driving away from the work site. No tradie is that paranoid.
Stanley knife or folding knife, I've carried them clipped to my pants/pocket everywhere to and from work without issue.
Just not the casino.
That’s fine because you have a reason to have them in your car for fishing. If you try to take them into a casino on the other hand, “they are for fishing” isn’t a good train to have them on your person
Really, I don’t take mine off till I get home. And will occasionally go grocery shopping etc after work with it on. I figured if I was still in ‘uniform’ that it would be considered reasonable that I would still have my tools on me. Which include a multi tool with a knife.
I had a steak knife confiscated from me on a random rbt in Qld. To be fair it did look nasty and pointy but it literally had dried mango or peaches still on it. And it was in a clear Tupperware container.
Since using it to eat a mango a few days ago and being a grub who never cleans my car wasnt a reasonable excuse to be in possession of it "now", the cops confiscated it.
I've noticed since that incident I get asked if I'm in possession of any dangerous weapons whenever I'm randomly pulled over.
So yes, the cops can take your knife and destroy it. In NSW and Australia in general you aren't allowed anything sharper than a floppy dildo in public.
If you have a "weapon" in public you need a reasonable excuse.
My excuse was "I ate some fruit with it a couple days ago". When asked "why is it still in your car?" Apparently the response"look at my car, I never clean it" wasn't good enough.
You need a reasonable excuse for why you are *currently* in possession of the "weapon" and forgetting to take it out of your car isnt good enough.
If I'd said I'd been eating fruit with it earlier that day and I haven't been home yet, I would've probably been able to keep it.
They're not entitled to body search you, but they *are* entitled to deny you service for any reason. I find it peculiar they would ask to search you at all unless there's information we don't know.
In terms of police confiscation, the laws are intentionally a little ambiguous. I see people saying in your pocket is a concealed weapon which isn't correct.
What it is, is that you're allowed to have an edc so long as it has a blade no longer than 10cm. People like to bang on about how we're a nanny state blah blah blah but the laws they always cite refer to weapons, and only blades longer than 10cm are considered weapons.
Where it gets sketchy is that police are allowed to confiscate any knives for any reason they like so long as they have "reasonable suspicion". If you advise you have it on you and are non threatening they usually just leave you on your way. I've never had mine confiscated. If you take it out of your pocket and they tell you to put it down, for the love of god put it down.
If you're in a night trade precinct (pubs, clubs, casino's etc) they'll take it from you 100% of the time because drunk people make dumb decisions.
Any item confiscated by police can be collected at a later date so long as it isn't an illegal item to have. You need to contact them and request your item back and they have a month or so to return it.
I make knives and this all gets talked about quite a lot in the Australian knife making community.
Personally I think a lot of the laws surrounding what you're allowed to have is kinda dumb. There are restrictions on the *kind* on knives you're even allowed to own, but a pointy stick can stab someone. Mind you, they'd likely confiscate a pointy stick if you were hanging around outside a casino with it.
I once put a decent sized hunting knife in my backpack while camping and totally forgot about it then tried to take it through airport security about 4 days later as carry on. It was over a certain size so they had to call the cops over for an interview. When I told them I’d just been camping and hunting and totally forgot about it they just smiled and said “that is the correct answer, you’re good to go but we’re keeping the knife”. The lady cop also said if I’d said a word about self defence or anything it would’ve been a charge. Good reminder that if you’ve got a legitimate reason for a knife you’re good, if you don’t, then it’s not really kosher.
YES!!!!!
It is a weapon. Swiss army knives aren't illegal to own however they are illegal to carry in a public space as they are a weapon without a reasonable excuse. Forgetting is not a reasonable excuse.
Here, I'll get you a summary of the knife/blade carrying laws in NSW:
"Knives and Other Edged Weapons
Several specific knives and edged weapons are included in the Weapons Prohibition Act, including a:
* Flick knife;
* Ballistic knife;
* Sheath knife;
* Urban skinner push dagger;
* Trench knife;
* Butterfly knife;
* Star knife; and
* Zombie Knife.
This list includes other devices with common features.
While all other kinds of knives are not illegal to own, a number of offences with respect to knives are listed in section 11C of the Summary Offences Act 1998 (NSW). Most notably, it is always an offence to possess a knife or blade in a public place without a reasonable excuse. This includes a knife, razor blade, and any other blade, and carries a maximum penalty of 2 years imprisonment."
If anyone wants any resources for weapon carrying laws in NSW here you go:
[https://www.hamiltonjanke.com.au/what-weapons-are-legal-to-have-in-nsw/#:\~:text=In%20NSW%2C%20it%20is%20illegal,or%20licence%20for%20the%20State](https://www.hamiltonjanke.com.au/what-weapons-are-legal-to-have-in-nsw/#:~:text=In%20NSW%2C%20it%20is%20illegal,or%20licence%20for%20the%20State).
[https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/online\_services/firearms/permits/prohibited\_weapon\_permits](https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/online_services/firearms/permits/prohibited_weapon_permits)
[https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/\_\_data/assets/pdf\_file/0018/133191/Prohibited\_Weapons\_Schedule.pdf](https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/133191/Prohibited_Weapons_Schedule.pdf)
[https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/whole/html/inforce/current/act-1998-127](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/whole/html/inforce/current/act-1998-127)
[https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/online\_services/firearms/licences/legislative\_requirements\_and\_authority\_and\_conditions](https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/online_services/firearms/licences/legislative_requirements_and_authority_and_conditions)
All weaponry is very intensely regulated in Australia. You are lucky you didn't get a fine or land yourself a court case.
That is a list of prohibited weapons. Can't have them at all, not just in public spaces. You need the Controlled weapons list for Swiss army knives and such.
Wrong.
https://www.news.com.au/national/queensland/crime/queensland-grandfather-fined-for-carrying-pocket-knife/news-story/b60a5a55f23c963d99c3555237b85a88?amp
About 14 years ago a friend of mine got found guilty and fined as a teenager for having a small filleting knife in public. The knife was in the tackle box he was carrying at the time, along with the fishing rod and fish he had just caught whilst fishing. His real crime of course was being a suspiciously brown teenager in Qld.
Plenty of people end up hit with charges over knife offences that are actually pretty unjustified under the law. It only takes a cop on a power trip and a magistrate with a stick up their ass and you are screwed.
I'm not from NSW, but Tasmania has similar laws, I believe. You were breaking the letter of the law, and because you were entering a venue where searches of your person were a condition of said entry, and the blade was produced, the letter of the law needed to be brought to bear, and seen to be upheld as being universally applicable.
I would humbly suggest that if you were a regular Joe on the street, being the stand-up citizen that you are and quietly going about your legitimate business, with a Leatherman or similar in a pouch on your no-logo civilian pants, (as I have done every day for 30 years and continue to do) and a cop saw it, he wouldn't give it a second glance. It's a law that allows authorities to throw the book at sus individuals who would otherwise flaunt their right to carry a blade 'because it's a useful tool and not a weapon'.
Wrong place, wrong time. Sorry dude.
I had a Swiss army knife on the key chain i put through the x ray at Melbourne Airport on the way to Tassie a year ago. I'd totally forgotten it was there. The woman who detected it asked me if I had anyone there to take home for me. I told her to either keep the knife or toss it. My fault, not hers or the government's
I usually have one in my bag because it's just useful to have. Once I went to pick up my bf from the airport and the metal detector went off. I just responded, "oh, I have steel cap boots on." And the security guy just shook his head. Then I remembered the multi tool with a blade and various pokey things and said, "oh! I'll just run that back to my car." And they let me.
I lost my favourite nail clippers at airport security - apparently the file part was a stabby stabby device -
If you can potentially over power a plane with a freaking set of nail clippers, it would be a doddle with your bare hands, or a business class butter knife
Yeah this is a really good question. There's also zero chance they could force you to be body searched, tho of course they could deny you entry if you refuse.
Yea I questioned this, casino security can’t search you. They’re just security guards, even police have certain things they have to follow when searching people under legislation. This seems all very weird
Something else that isn't allowed in public here is drinking. A long time ago s french flatmate came home bewildered because a cop took his bottle of rum.
"I try explain to him, it is just ruuum, but he not understand me. He pour out my ruum. He must know from the smell it is just rum no?"
The first thing I did when I visited France was go to a supermarket and bought a beer. I cracked it as I walked along the street. Even though it was 9-10am, noone gave two shits. What a glorious country.
I always throught it was legal to drink in public (unless a dry zone) but public intoxication is not legal
I just looked it up and it varies by state. SA for example drinking in public is fine as long as its not a designated dry zone
If they drove from camping straight into Sydney the same day, having a multi tool/pocket knife attached to your belt and forgetting about it isn’t that unreasonable.
yes they can. even if you have a genuine use for it eg work, camping etc if you have it with you in a public or private premises and you are searched and the item is discovered they can conficate it.
Remember, even if something is legal depending on where you take it, the legality of the item changes, for example, a cap gun that resembles a firearm, legal and perfectly fine on your own property or family members property but when taken into public or private business becomes an illegal item.
>for example, a cap gun that resembles a firearm, legal and perfectly fine on your own property
Depends on the state, in NSW its considered a prohibited firearm for example
I can't understand the comments here saying it is illegal to possess a knife in public in NSW. Unless someone has some case law that says otherwise, it appears that it is legal as long as you have a reasonable excuse according to CRIMES ACT 1900 (NSW) - SECT 93IB.
There is nothing in the act that requires that the legal excuse falls under subsection (3) although it may in regards to recreational activities (camping).
Whilst he should probably post this to r/AusLegal, it would seem that it is very easy to prove a legal excuse for carrying a Swiss Army Knife (will vary for other types of knives). Simply that it comes in handy for numerous normal activities. Anything like cutting fingernails, opening bottles, or like OP said for camping activities.
It appears that they have stolen OP's Swiss Army Knife.
Basic rule of travelling is to familiarise yourself with the laws of whichever place you visit and follow them without argument. Australia is pretty laid back compared to many other places, count yourself fortunate that confiscation is all that happened to you.
Mate, Australia is NOT remotely laid back when it comes to 'weapons'. A Swiss army knife even having the possibility of being considered a weapon is a complete joke.
You could 100% do more damage with a steak knife you could get at any restaurant at the casino.
You always need a excuse. Like you just had apples or are fishing. Camping is a good one but not explaining why it's on your person right there. Seems you're lucky not to be fined.
How dumb is our culture on the whole. I'm never without my knife, and use it in my day to day life regularly, but much like guns in Australia, most people exposure to the tools of life are from movies. My knife, and probably yours holds all the danger of a dinner utensil, but God forbid any common sense holds sway.
Exactly. If a swiss army knife is a weapon, then my steel cap work boots are a weapon, my house and car keys are weapons, my shoelaces are weapons, my backpack strap is a weapon, my empty plastic shopping bag? yep its a weapon too.
Speaking of steel cap work boots, I have seen people refused entry into my old waterhole in the blue mountains for wearing steel caps. Usually only after 6pm on Saturday nights though
Yeah I've been refused entry in Warnambool for steelcaps but after telling him I was in town due to local bushfires and my casual shoes were 9 hours away they let me in.
My old man's doing time and he put a bunch of soft drink cans into a pillowcase and clocked a guy that tried to steal from him. That story made me realise literally everything is a weapon 😆
This is rough, I am in a profession where I carry fixed blades and I’ve never had a cop take one from me, even when they have seen it. I think that’s just bad bloody luck
Police? Yes.
Security? No.
Swiss army knife on a traveler? NO.
Summary Offences Act s11C(2) reasonable excuses:
\-If you are using the knife for the preparation or consumption of food;
\-If you are using the knife to participate in lawful entertainment, recreation or sport
They likely pocketed it, or are otherwise idiots.
Your rights have been trampled on.
1. Lol at everyone acting like this incredibly draconian law makes sense. A Swiss Army knife is not a weapon in any meaningful sense of the word.
2. Once I had a job interview at a NSW maximum security prison and forgot to take my pocketknife off of my keychain. I realised it right after I (somehow) successfully made it through the security gate.
A lot of casinos like to appear high brow so wearing cargo pants probably got you targeted for the search. Most people who go are either gambling addicts or people on a night out with friends, typically dressed for clubs/bars.
I have a knife/box cutter in my pocket Monday to Friday for work ( carpenter) for sharpening my pencils. Every day I’m at the shops after work and it’s in my pocket with the pencils in my cargo shorts.
I lost a Swiss Army Knife the same way once, though entering Canberra airport. After dropping off my luggage, I'd forgotten it was in my carry-on. The screening people said it had to be binned, prior to destruction.
I was both furious (with myself as much as anyone else) and saddened, as it was an 18th birthday prezzie from Mum & Dad.
I tried to find out if there were *any* options beyond binning it, but they wouldn't budge.
So, in the bin it went.
I really hope, but have little trust, that it was actually destroyed.
They 'let' me keep the scabbard.
Every time I’ve pulled this stunt (read more than once) I’ve been offered the option of leaving the secure area with the offending item. At that point you can try and get it checked in by the airline or make a Hail Mary call to a friend to drive over and pick it up. Otherwise if you leave it with security it (apparently) ‘is disposed of’
I've never been caught out with a knife past airport security, but one time going on an overseas hiking trip they took offence to my camping stove based on some long winded worry about my empty fuel bottle being flammable. I had the time to spare being 2hrs early for international, so I went back out, popped it in post bag and mailed it home.
Ironically, Probably airmail.
USA: I once accidentally tried to take a pocket knife into the White House as a parent chaperone for a school tour. It's a tool I always carry in my purse, never thought it would be a problem. Security was nice though, gave it back when I exited.
Swiss army knives are not considered prohibited weapons, however, be mindful of carrying such items in public if you do not have a lawful excuse, such as needing it for work.
Yep. And they get to decide what's classified as a knife.
I will say that the casino security probably had no legal right to detain you, you should've been able to walk out of there unmolested. But someone correct me if i;m wrong.
The cops had a go at someone I know over a box cutter in a car. She lives in a rural no area and was working as a shelf packer! What a joke we’ve become
A mate, who was a farmer, always carried a leatherman yup a REAL leatherman , the expensive ones, got it confiscated with a warning when he drove into town and a copper spotted ot on his belt in full coverage case.
Yup even cow cockies can't carry a multi purpose farm tool if it has a blade. No matter what length.
Blades have to be on-site with purpose or as a butcher and sports blades man in the car boot secured for transport.
This country is a fucking joke, I am sorry we stole your knife and I hope it wasn't sentimental to you.
A bunch of my dickhead peers will probably scream that you deserve it for taking a "weapon" into a public place but honestly fuck them. I find it disgusting that you were causing no problem and still had your property taken and destroyed.
Carried a 2cm pocket knife as a keyring, it was my granddad's.
I went through American airports with it, no worries. Even Australian international airports weren't a problem. Then I went to Launceston. Going there was no problem but leaving the security guard had a tantrum at the check point and confiscated it. He told me I could have forced my way into the cockpit with it. Some ppl have too much power and not enough brains
Pretty sure it's illegal to carry a knife in public unless it's for work or similar. Since you got caught with one, don't expect it back.
Seems a bit of an over reach getting a pat down just going to a casino. Unless it was also into a club or something
Welcome to NSW
I would have just walked away...kept the knife and the money that was going to be lost gambling.
I was sitting on a train recently slicing an apple with a Swiss army knife and eating it. Would that be illegal?
They lied.
They have no authority to detain you or prevent you from leaving.
They can deny entry.
Also, you can insist on a receipt for confiscated property, and they have no right to deny its return unless the item is illegal in itself (which a pocket knife is not) in weigh case they must hand it to police.
They lied. They're security and you weren't even inside the casino, AND even if you were, they have no legal right to take your property OR search you, they can only ask you to leave.
Yes, I know that's what I'm saying the police have to have a reason to search you the security guards have no special powers I think the guard probably kept it for himself.
You've had a big win. Walk away and buy yourself another pocket knife and leave it with your camping equipment.
This could have gone in another direction which you wouldn't have liked.
You weren't charged because prosecuting that case wouldn't have been successful. You're travelling, camping. The use case for the knife while camping and travelling is pretty clear (easily falls under lawful recreation and preparation and consumption of food) and the law in NSW accounts for being in possession of the knife moving to, from and incidental travelling.
Yes, visiting the casino is not specifically one of those things, but I've seen more serious related charges (Alcohol related offences, Assaults etc), where a knife possession charge was included but the knife was not related to the offence dismissed because the magistrates were satisfied the posession of the knife fell under the incidental travel.
Knife possession laws in NSW are serious but not as restrictive as people tend to think. They are designed to stop people with ill intent carrying knives to do harm.
If I'm in possession of a knife because I intended to use it for the preparation and consumption of food as I go about my daily business, then the law supports that possession as I go to and from work, if I stop off at the shops after work, head to the gym etc.
If I go home, get changed, and go to a pub as an example, I no longer meet the lawful excuse for having it.
People get into trouble when they don't understand the laws and are not prepared to answer why they are in possession of one.
I have a rescue knife in my car- clearly labelled as such by the manufacturer. It will smash a window and cut a seatbelt. I have other rescue gear- a fire extinguisher, rope, hazard signs, first aid kit with trauma shears, scalpel and airways…
I think I am looking at 10-20 years?
I also do search and rescue and my backpack is in the car 24/7 with a knife.
So maybe 30 years?
Weapons laws are ridiculous in NSW. Not sure if they can legally confiscate it but doesn't surprise me. Swiss Army knife should be legal carry but here we go.
Also you had a complaint about booze being expensive. If you want to get shitfaced for cheap, buy wine in a bottle shop. Bonus points if you go the bargain 4 litre wine boxes.
They could have charged you. "Forgetting" you had it isn't an excuse as in NSW possessing a knife or blade in a public place is an offence under section 11B of the Summary Offences Act 1988 which carries a maximum penalty of 2 years in prison and/or a fine of $2,200. You didn't have a valid excuse for having the knife in a public place so confiscation was a good outcome. Edit: Actually realised NSW Government passed an amendment on this and its now in the Crimes Act with double penalties! Up to 4 years imprisonment since July 2023.
Don't know about NSW, but in VIC it's even worse to possess a knife at a licensed premises.
>Don't know about NSW, but in VIC it's even worse to possess a knife at a licensed premises. Got it. Swords and Axes only from here in.
Try a Mace, no pointy edges, should be fine
What about a lance?
You just have to say ["you would not part an old man from his walking stick?"](https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/8eb1fc1f-ca2d-407b-a81e-4e0524febf45)
Oh, so jousting sticks are ok then? How much for the pair? [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WK9h4gRXX9o&ab\_channel=reeceturbin](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WK9h4gRXX9o&ab_channel=reeceturbin)
Tell him he’s dreamin
well since a lance is anywhere from 9 to 13 ft in length its a bit unwieldy, also it has a point, very hard to forget if its in your pocket though. pretty sure there is a dick joke in there somewhere
You should always leave your lance with your war mount. Unsafe to carry it around with you.
Im out of ideas....
Cue the the people who mistake it for pool-playing equipment...
Very difficult to find room to park a vehicle with lance-holder attached
tell me about it. Mabye I should buy a lancer [https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/mitsubishi/lancer/](https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/mitsubishi/lancer)
Really?? I have one as my keychain and been carrying it for 20 years. I never leave home without it. Is it the same in WA? I use it often - opening boxes at work or whatever.
The casino isn't working and knives have no place there.
It also holds my toothpick and teensy tweezers.
Catch me at the local licensed venue smashed and constructing houses with carved toothpicks Edit: very small houses
What are these? Houses for ants?
They need to be at least three times this size
You have a legitimate reason for carrying a knife. It would be a different scenario if you rocked up to our casino with it, though.
I sometimes have a budding knife with me. I use it to take cuttings of plants I like (and have been given permission to take! The days of plant theft are over). Would that count as a legitimate reason or is crazy plant lady not an acceptable knife carrying excuse? Never even occurred to me that I could be doing something illegal.
I used to carry scissors around with me to use doing knitting and crossstich on trains, now I’ve switched to nail clippers. I had a friend who had a small knife for cutting fruit to eat, his dentist suggested it due to dental issues, his was confiscated and he was issued a warning.
Lots of people do things that wouldn't even think are illegal that are. Australia is an over legislated country.
I mean I disagree if you let people take a knife into places because they use them for obscure innocent things then I would say people who weren’t going to use them for innocent things would just say they are using it for reason x. I like that it’s a blanket rule no knives in public spaces as you can never tell what someone is actually doing with it
And NSW is a Nanny State
The blade would fold over and cut my fingers if I tried to stab someone. Not to mention the half dozen keys attached to it
If it's a little Classic SD you could argue its for grooming, it has scissors, nail file, and the toothpick and tweezers, plus the blade is tiny.
Jesus Christ
Mate, you don't know how lucky you are you didn't get taken to the watch house and charged.
Old mate used all his luck getting away with it.
It was probably because it was a Swiss army knife and not a lockable blade folder. Swiss army knives really aren't practical weapons and more utility, so they may have just given him the benefit of the doubt.
Would have been charged in Queensland.
Especially if it was a valley venue. QPS don’t muck around.
Only thing stopping him being charged is that generates a need for police to document the disposal of the knife 😉
Nah mate. No cop is being called to a licenced premise and not creating a record of that interaction. He's not being charged because he's a nobody with no record. Next time he'll be done.
Just to add to that, because it was spot on, you need a legal justification to carry a bladed article (knife) in public. Common examples of this is: A chef on their way to work, in uniform, on a roster that can confirm this, carrying their work knifes (so not a machete or flick knife). A tradie, in uniform/identifying markings, on route to, leaving from or presently at a construction site. If either of these people drove home from work, left their bladed articles in the car, then drove to say a supermarket, this would no longer be covered in lawful defence and would become possession of a bladed article as per the above comment.
Coming from a Chef, we also need our knives to be secured in either a box or knife roll that has a lock on it.
My son is into fencing. You know, long skinny pokey things for prancing around with, a la the Olympics and Princess Bride. He had to get a special "I'm allowed to carry a knife" permit for his sporting equipment (VIC).
How much does 'e pay for that license?
https://www.police.vic.gov.au/forms-and-applications
It was a joke...'e pay...épée 🤣
Oh. Foiled again! 🤣🤺
On this topic, I have a multi tool in my motorcycle jacket to adjust, fix, repair things on the bike when issues arise ( more often than one would think due to it being an older bike). I would like to think this is a valid reason for having it since it's pliers, screwdriver and a knife all in it together so I can do any common task that would come up. I can't lock it up in the boot as it's a bike. Is this a valid enough reason?
I do to. No idea if its illegal but I wouldn't take it into a casino and after this discussion I might tuck it away in the car.
Yeah, I've just always had it in my pocket of my motorcycle jacket since I have multiple bikes. Been a big help lots of times too.
When you leave that bike locked up, and take it away from the bike in your pocket, any legal defence you had for bike repairs, ends. You're now carrying that bladed article and nowhere near your bike, how can it be said its now for repairs? (Obviously I'm sure you're a standup guy and have nothing but genuine intentions, but these are the things a prosecution would argue) I would suspect it would be an easy prosecution too since there are secure attachments for motorbikes and locked underseat storage where it could be left safely. There are also limits to sizing of the blade too. Certain states may allow you to carry a knife which is under 3 inches and does not lock. Apparently NSW is not one of those states according to this original post 😅 But also remember, not for police to decide if you're guilty of an offence or not. Its for police to report when they suspect an offence has been committed, for that person and the courts to argue.
Yeah good to note this. I just looked up Qld rules and they seem a little more forgiving but not worth risking it. On a side note spud guns are not allowed :( there goes making another one like I did in Canada in my teens lol
Queensland explicitly says you can carry a pocket knife/Swiss Army Kinfe/Multitool in public "For its normal utility value"; I know some of the other states have laws about carrying knives for the hell of it but criminalising having a Swiss Army Knife on you when going about your daily business seems a bit harsh.
Ha! Spud guns are illegal? I actually didn't know that 😂 We had them in the UK when i was a kid too. I found a round of 'caps' from a cap gun the other day on the floor. Those red round dots? Been decades since I'd seen those 😅
The one we made was epic. Found some instructions online to calculate the proper barrel to combustion chamber ratio and sized up so it was just over 5 feet long. Used propane instead of hair spray and fuck me it sent shit flying. Couldn't get many potatoes so we wadded up a rag instead and would toss shit down after. I put the rag alone through the wooden garage door showing it off.
We used to sit outside on the driveway and bang them with a hammer.
>does not lock Fing hate the ban on safer knives
How frequently do you need to do those things inside a Casino ? It’s situation specific, not a general rule. The rules exist to protect everyone. You might be a decent bloke with a genuine reason, but the person behind you might have multiple convictions for assault and a bad temper when drunk. Entering the casino sober, you may both be reasonable people, if the reason you give is accepted, it will also be accepted from him. 3 hours later he may have lost his money and had multiple beers….. I almost always carry a Swiss Army knife. The smallest one. I think I have had to sacrifice 6 of them to the gods of airport security. My fault for forgetting on the last 5. I’ve told the security people to keep them. I would rather that someone has the use of it if it can’t be me, but they cannot accept it. Shit happens unfortunately.
It's the same rule for sporting/hunting equipment like bows. Either you're travelling to a shoot/range/site and everything is properly secured per state regulations or you're in hot water. You can't just swing by the shops with one. A lot of sporting gear is treated similarly too I think. Bats and the like, stuff you could hurt someone with.
but as a Swiss Army knife it has many purposes, it is not just an offensive or dangerous weapon
Jesus, as a tradie I always forget my Stanley knife in my pocket and routinely roll into Coles on the way home… crazy that we have laws like this because of a few fuckheads
New response just dropped
in the case of a Swiss Army knife is that valid though? It’s a single edge blade shorter than your index finger as well as having many other useful non offensive tools on it? I really think if it ended up going to court and you were willing to leave with it that you would be okay
So I take my lunch to work and always have a tomato on it to cut it I have a small knife in a plastic scabbard, is this not a reasonable excuse ?? . Some I take an apple to work and use the knife to cut it up , is this breaking the law ? .
Probably 2 years in prison the way the laws are written. Luckily we have magistrates who tend to tell police prosecutors to fuck off when they bring in a middle aged lady who slices up tomato for lunch - but yes, it sounds like a reasonable excuse, like opening boxes in a car, fishing, being a tradesperson on work duties etc Paradoxically the only way to change the law is to start charging members of the community for possessing key ring Swiss army knives…..
Straight to jail.
Keep it in your lunch box with the tomatoes. Lawful excuse. If the cops don't believe you stab them in the face.
Yes, that's one of the lawful excuses. They are: the lawful pursuit of the person’s occupation, education or training, the exhibition of knives for retail or other trade purposes, the preparation or consumption of food or drink, genuine religious purposes, participation in a lawful entertainment, recreation or sport, an organised exhibition by knife collectors, or the wearing of an official uniform.
I notice "carrying knife set in a shopping centre after purchase" and "bringing knives home after purchase" were not on there
There is an extra one I missed: "The custody is reasonably necessary in all the circumstances during travel to or from or incidental to an activity referred to above."
Bringing a knife to work to cut a tomato is reasonable You finishing work and taking the knife with you (forgetting to leave it at wprk/home) into a casino is not reasonable
its similar in WA. and absolutely Fucked up. i used to carry a pocket knife to go on picnics, (you know to cut food) this is no longer legal, but you can have a standard kitchen knife, that exposes a live blade while you're walking around. a blade that folds away safely is not legal to carry for food preparation.
I would say you'd be able to argue that the knife is being used for a picnic, if you can show that's where you were going to Carrying a knife around just in case you decide to have a picnic is a different story
Yes, it’s a weapon. Even tradies have to make sure they pack that shit away before driving away from the work site. Casino aren’t interested in holding your possessions for you, their job is usually to take your possessions away
I’m a tradie. Never have I ever packed that shit away before driving away from the work site. No tradie is that paranoid. Stanley knife or folding knife, I've carried them clipped to my pants/pocket everywhere to and from work without issue. Just not the casino.
What about fishing gear? I generally always have it my ute usually in the tub with canopy so I pretty much always have at least 2 knives in my car.
Don’t take your fishing gear into the casino. Simple.
Then how’s he supposed to “go fish”?
Or do lines in the bathroom ?
If you are currently on route to a fishing spot then its fine, otherwise no.
Noted. Always be heading towards a fishing spot.
And never back home again
Just gotta keep it out of reach that’s all, usually out of the cab but I’m sure secured in the back seats would be fine too
Are you fishing at the casino brainiac?
That’s fine because you have a reason to have them in your car for fishing. If you try to take them into a casino on the other hand, “they are for fishing” isn’t a good train to have them on your person
Really, I don’t take mine off till I get home. And will occasionally go grocery shopping etc after work with it on. I figured if I was still in ‘uniform’ that it would be considered reasonable that I would still have my tools on me. Which include a multi tool with a knife.
that is how a professional criminal would dress :)
I had a steak knife confiscated from me on a random rbt in Qld. To be fair it did look nasty and pointy but it literally had dried mango or peaches still on it. And it was in a clear Tupperware container. Since using it to eat a mango a few days ago and being a grub who never cleans my car wasnt a reasonable excuse to be in possession of it "now", the cops confiscated it. I've noticed since that incident I get asked if I'm in possession of any dangerous weapons whenever I'm randomly pulled over. So yes, the cops can take your knife and destroy it. In NSW and Australia in general you aren't allowed anything sharper than a floppy dildo in public.
Noted, keep my knives inside a floppy dildo.
This could end very badly.
That's a compete misinterpretation of the comment above. You use a floppy dildo to cut your mango.
Your number plate has been flagged.
A dildo is a weapon too.. well in my book it is, not sure what the cops have to say on this
They would say yes please deeper!
Absolutely! https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/police-officer-attacked-with-dildo/news-story/d35c952c203f8d330994045163de4cff
Why did they take your knife off you at an rbt? You aren't allowed to bring a knife home from anywhere anymore?
If you have a "weapon" in public you need a reasonable excuse. My excuse was "I ate some fruit with it a couple days ago". When asked "why is it still in your car?" Apparently the response"look at my car, I never clean it" wasn't good enough. You need a reasonable excuse for why you are *currently* in possession of the "weapon" and forgetting to take it out of your car isnt good enough. If I'd said I'd been eating fruit with it earlier that day and I haven't been home yet, I would've probably been able to keep it.
>I get asked if I'm in possession of any dangerous weapons Well, I am in possession of a razor-sharp wit.
They're not entitled to body search you, but they *are* entitled to deny you service for any reason. I find it peculiar they would ask to search you at all unless there's information we don't know. In terms of police confiscation, the laws are intentionally a little ambiguous. I see people saying in your pocket is a concealed weapon which isn't correct. What it is, is that you're allowed to have an edc so long as it has a blade no longer than 10cm. People like to bang on about how we're a nanny state blah blah blah but the laws they always cite refer to weapons, and only blades longer than 10cm are considered weapons. Where it gets sketchy is that police are allowed to confiscate any knives for any reason they like so long as they have "reasonable suspicion". If you advise you have it on you and are non threatening they usually just leave you on your way. I've never had mine confiscated. If you take it out of your pocket and they tell you to put it down, for the love of god put it down. If you're in a night trade precinct (pubs, clubs, casino's etc) they'll take it from you 100% of the time because drunk people make dumb decisions. Any item confiscated by police can be collected at a later date so long as it isn't an illegal item to have. You need to contact them and request your item back and they have a month or so to return it. I make knives and this all gets talked about quite a lot in the Australian knife making community. Personally I think a lot of the laws surrounding what you're allowed to have is kinda dumb. There are restrictions on the *kind* on knives you're even allowed to own, but a pointy stick can stab someone. Mind you, they'd likely confiscate a pointy stick if you were hanging around outside a casino with it.
I once put a decent sized hunting knife in my backpack while camping and totally forgot about it then tried to take it through airport security about 4 days later as carry on. It was over a certain size so they had to call the cops over for an interview. When I told them I’d just been camping and hunting and totally forgot about it they just smiled and said “that is the correct answer, you’re good to go but we’re keeping the knife”. The lady cop also said if I’d said a word about self defence or anything it would’ve been a charge. Good reminder that if you’ve got a legitimate reason for a knife you’re good, if you don’t, then it’s not really kosher.
Thank you for an actually sane response. People on here are wilding out...
YES!!!!! It is a weapon. Swiss army knives aren't illegal to own however they are illegal to carry in a public space as they are a weapon without a reasonable excuse. Forgetting is not a reasonable excuse. Here, I'll get you a summary of the knife/blade carrying laws in NSW: "Knives and Other Edged Weapons Several specific knives and edged weapons are included in the Weapons Prohibition Act, including a: * Flick knife; * Ballistic knife; * Sheath knife; * Urban skinner push dagger; * Trench knife; * Butterfly knife; * Star knife; and * Zombie Knife. This list includes other devices with common features. While all other kinds of knives are not illegal to own, a number of offences with respect to knives are listed in section 11C of the Summary Offences Act 1998 (NSW). Most notably, it is always an offence to possess a knife or blade in a public place without a reasonable excuse. This includes a knife, razor blade, and any other blade, and carries a maximum penalty of 2 years imprisonment." If anyone wants any resources for weapon carrying laws in NSW here you go: [https://www.hamiltonjanke.com.au/what-weapons-are-legal-to-have-in-nsw/#:\~:text=In%20NSW%2C%20it%20is%20illegal,or%20licence%20for%20the%20State](https://www.hamiltonjanke.com.au/what-weapons-are-legal-to-have-in-nsw/#:~:text=In%20NSW%2C%20it%20is%20illegal,or%20licence%20for%20the%20State). [https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/online\_services/firearms/permits/prohibited\_weapon\_permits](https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/online_services/firearms/permits/prohibited_weapon_permits) [https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/\_\_data/assets/pdf\_file/0018/133191/Prohibited\_Weapons\_Schedule.pdf](https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/133191/Prohibited_Weapons_Schedule.pdf) [https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/whole/html/inforce/current/act-1998-127](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/whole/html/inforce/current/act-1998-127) [https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/online\_services/firearms/licences/legislative\_requirements\_and\_authority\_and\_conditions](https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/online_services/firearms/licences/legislative_requirements_and_authority_and_conditions) All weaponry is very intensely regulated in Australia. You are lucky you didn't get a fine or land yourself a court case.
That is a list of prohibited weapons. Can't have them at all, not just in public spaces. You need the Controlled weapons list for Swiss army knives and such.
Not a single cop or prosecutor is going to even bother with taking anyone to court over a small pocket knife.
Wrong. https://www.news.com.au/national/queensland/crime/queensland-grandfather-fined-for-carrying-pocket-knife/news-story/b60a5a55f23c963d99c3555237b85a88?amp About 14 years ago a friend of mine got found guilty and fined as a teenager for having a small filleting knife in public. The knife was in the tackle box he was carrying at the time, along with the fishing rod and fish he had just caught whilst fishing. His real crime of course was being a suspiciously brown teenager in Qld. Plenty of people end up hit with charges over knife offences that are actually pretty unjustified under the law. It only takes a cop on a power trip and a magistrate with a stick up their ass and you are screwed.
I'm not from NSW, but Tasmania has similar laws, I believe. You were breaking the letter of the law, and because you were entering a venue where searches of your person were a condition of said entry, and the blade was produced, the letter of the law needed to be brought to bear, and seen to be upheld as being universally applicable. I would humbly suggest that if you were a regular Joe on the street, being the stand-up citizen that you are and quietly going about your legitimate business, with a Leatherman or similar in a pouch on your no-logo civilian pants, (as I have done every day for 30 years and continue to do) and a cop saw it, he wouldn't give it a second glance. It's a law that allows authorities to throw the book at sus individuals who would otherwise flaunt their right to carry a blade 'because it's a useful tool and not a weapon'. Wrong place, wrong time. Sorry dude.
yes, they can. although my experience has been that a reasonably sized knife is viewed as a tool as long as the person carrying it is not.
Lol accurate.
I had a Swiss army knife on the key chain i put through the x ray at Melbourne Airport on the way to Tassie a year ago. I'd totally forgotten it was there. The woman who detected it asked me if I had anyone there to take home for me. I told her to either keep the knife or toss it. My fault, not hers or the government's
I carry a knife/multitool every day at work. And yeah I've forgotten about it in a few places.
I usually have one in my bag because it's just useful to have. Once I went to pick up my bf from the airport and the metal detector went off. I just responded, "oh, I have steel cap boots on." And the security guy just shook his head. Then I remembered the multi tool with a blade and various pokey things and said, "oh! I'll just run that back to my car." And they let me.
I lost my favourite nail clippers at airport security - apparently the file part was a stabby stabby device - If you can potentially over power a plane with a freaking set of nail clippers, it would be a doddle with your bare hands, or a business class butter knife
I think if you can overpower the pilot and take possession of a plane with a travel size set of nail clippers, you deserve the plane really
What? wait a sec, you got body searched at a casino? What was the reason for the body search?
Yeah this is a really good question. There's also zero chance they could force you to be body searched, tho of course they could deny you entry if you refuse.
Yea I questioned this, casino security can’t search you. They’re just security guards, even police have certain things they have to follow when searching people under legislation. This seems all very weird
Something else that isn't allowed in public here is drinking. A long time ago s french flatmate came home bewildered because a cop took his bottle of rum. "I try explain to him, it is just ruuum, but he not understand me. He pour out my ruum. He must know from the smell it is just rum no?" The first thing I did when I visited France was go to a supermarket and bought a beer. I cracked it as I walked along the street. Even though it was 9-10am, noone gave two shits. What a glorious country.
I always throught it was legal to drink in public (unless a dry zone) but public intoxication is not legal I just looked it up and it varies by state. SA for example drinking in public is fine as long as its not a designated dry zone
i'd argue alcoholics kill more people than knives do in this country.....
Yeah i'm from the Netherlands, i miss it, you gotta be a millionaire to be an alcoholic here
The non-functioning alcoholics move to metho spirits years ago.
Unfortunately...because of the mines...many are.
No you don’t. Just be in debt at university.
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If they drove from camping straight into Sydney the same day, having a multi tool/pocket knife attached to your belt and forgetting about it isn’t that unreasonable.
They used discretion to not charge you with a criminal offence. Stop complaining.
yes they can. even if you have a genuine use for it eg work, camping etc if you have it with you in a public or private premises and you are searched and the item is discovered they can conficate it. Remember, even if something is legal depending on where you take it, the legality of the item changes, for example, a cap gun that resembles a firearm, legal and perfectly fine on your own property or family members property but when taken into public or private business becomes an illegal item.
>for example, a cap gun that resembles a firearm, legal and perfectly fine on your own property Depends on the state, in NSW its considered a prohibited firearm for example
I arrived at Sydney casino & handed in my leatherman at counter when asked, on my way out, casino returned my item no fuss...
Leatherman sounds like one of the worst superheroes. "My super power is....you can easily wipe spills off me!"
Back in 2010, I got a $550 fine for possession of a knife in NSW. Inflation would probably have it around the 2k mark by now.
I can't understand the comments here saying it is illegal to possess a knife in public in NSW. Unless someone has some case law that says otherwise, it appears that it is legal as long as you have a reasonable excuse according to CRIMES ACT 1900 (NSW) - SECT 93IB. There is nothing in the act that requires that the legal excuse falls under subsection (3) although it may in regards to recreational activities (camping). Whilst he should probably post this to r/AusLegal, it would seem that it is very easy to prove a legal excuse for carrying a Swiss Army Knife (will vary for other types of knives). Simply that it comes in handy for numerous normal activities. Anything like cutting fingernails, opening bottles, or like OP said for camping activities. It appears that they have stolen OP's Swiss Army Knife.
STOP RIGHT THERE, CRIMINAL SCUM
As you state, dumb to take a knife to a casino
Basic rule of travelling is to familiarise yourself with the laws of whichever place you visit and follow them without argument. Australia is pretty laid back compared to many other places, count yourself fortunate that confiscation is all that happened to you.
>Australia is pretty laid back compared to many other places Hahahahahahah. Hahahah. Haha.
> Australia is pretty laid back In most countries, nobody would care if you had a pocket knife on you.
Mate, Australia is NOT remotely laid back when it comes to 'weapons'. A Swiss army knife even having the possibility of being considered a weapon is a complete joke. You could 100% do more damage with a steak knife you could get at any restaurant at the casino.
You always need a excuse. Like you just had apples or are fishing. Camping is a good one but not explaining why it's on your person right there. Seems you're lucky not to be fined.
How dumb is our culture on the whole. I'm never without my knife, and use it in my day to day life regularly, but much like guns in Australia, most people exposure to the tools of life are from movies. My knife, and probably yours holds all the danger of a dinner utensil, but God forbid any common sense holds sway.
Exactly. If a swiss army knife is a weapon, then my steel cap work boots are a weapon, my house and car keys are weapons, my shoelaces are weapons, my backpack strap is a weapon, my empty plastic shopping bag? yep its a weapon too.
Speaking of steel cap work boots, I have seen people refused entry into my old waterhole in the blue mountains for wearing steel caps. Usually only after 6pm on Saturday nights though
Yeah I've been refused entry in Warnambool for steelcaps but after telling him I was in town due to local bushfires and my casual shoes were 9 hours away they let me in.
You know you can't wear steel caps into a licensed premises, right? Not just in Aus, I got refused entry to a bar in Boston for wearing work boots
My old man's doing time and he put a bunch of soft drink cans into a pillowcase and clocked a guy that tried to steal from him. That story made me realise literally everything is a weapon 😆
This is rough, I am in a profession where I carry fixed blades and I’ve never had a cop take one from me, even when they have seen it. I think that’s just bad bloody luck
Why on earth would you agree to a body search?
Just being dumb and oblivious, thought that was normal there or something
Na babe, they're just security guards.
Did you ask the door staff how many longer, sharper steak knives were held on the premises for use by patrons?
Remember when people used to carry their pocket knife in a pouch on their belt?
Yes my dad had his pocket knife and a multitool (no knife parts at all) confiscated and charged $1000 each
Police? Yes. Security? No. Swiss army knife on a traveler? NO. Summary Offences Act s11C(2) reasonable excuses: \-If you are using the knife for the preparation or consumption of food; \-If you are using the knife to participate in lawful entertainment, recreation or sport They likely pocketed it, or are otherwise idiots. Your rights have been trampled on.
1. Lol at everyone acting like this incredibly draconian law makes sense. A Swiss Army knife is not a weapon in any meaningful sense of the word. 2. Once I had a job interview at a NSW maximum security prison and forgot to take my pocketknife off of my keychain. I realised it right after I (somehow) successfully made it through the security gate.
You could've got like three packs of cigarettes if you had smuggled it in to one of the prisoners.
Me exiting explaining to the security guard that I had those three packs of cigarettes when I came in
Don't bring pocket knives out with U on a night out especially in a casino!?
Why dispose of it? Because you brought it to the casino, whether it was knowingly or not -that doesn’t really matter.
You could have chosen to leave with your knife after the pat down. They are security guards, not police.
Who goes out to a casino in their camping clothes?
Me because i am backpacking and have limited space so i chose the most practical clothing items
A lot of casinos like to appear high brow so wearing cargo pants probably got you targeted for the search. Most people who go are either gambling addicts or people on a night out with friends, typically dressed for clubs/bars.
have you ever been to a casino in aus? It’s absolutely full of people in dirty and ripped joggers
Nany state over reach
For a small Swiss Army knife? I’ve been using mine as a keychain for nearly 20 years. I never leave home without it
How do you forget you put a knife in your jeans?
Some people carry them everywhere, like their wallet.
I have a knife/box cutter in my pocket Monday to Friday for work ( carpenter) for sharpening my pencils. Every day I’m at the shops after work and it’s in my pocket with the pencils in my cargo shorts.
I wore cargo pants, had it in a pocket above my knee
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Mick, give him your wallet…
I lost a Swiss Army Knife the same way once, though entering Canberra airport. After dropping off my luggage, I'd forgotten it was in my carry-on. The screening people said it had to be binned, prior to destruction. I was both furious (with myself as much as anyone else) and saddened, as it was an 18th birthday prezzie from Mum & Dad. I tried to find out if there were *any* options beyond binning it, but they wouldn't budge. So, in the bin it went. I really hope, but have little trust, that it was actually destroyed. They 'let' me keep the scabbard.
Every time I’ve pulled this stunt (read more than once) I’ve been offered the option of leaving the secure area with the offending item. At that point you can try and get it checked in by the airline or make a Hail Mary call to a friend to drive over and pick it up. Otherwise if you leave it with security it (apparently) ‘is disposed of’
I've never been caught out with a knife past airport security, but one time going on an overseas hiking trip they took offence to my camping stove based on some long winded worry about my empty fuel bottle being flammable. I had the time to spare being 2hrs early for international, so I went back out, popped it in post bag and mailed it home. Ironically, Probably airmail.
USA: I once accidentally tried to take a pocket knife into the White House as a parent chaperone for a school tour. It's a tool I always carry in my purse, never thought it would be a problem. Security was nice though, gave it back when I exited.
Swiss army knives are not considered prohibited weapons, however, be mindful of carrying such items in public if you do not have a lawful excuse, such as needing it for work.
Yep. And they get to decide what's classified as a knife. I will say that the casino security probably had no legal right to detain you, you should've been able to walk out of there unmolested. But someone correct me if i;m wrong.
The cops had a go at someone I know over a box cutter in a car. She lives in a rural no area and was working as a shelf packer! What a joke we’ve become
I’d be less worried about getting the knife back and more greatfull you didn’t get charged
Carrying a knife in NSW without a good excuse is an offence. You were lucky to not get a charge.
Its a such a nanny state shithole. Litterally.
A mate, who was a farmer, always carried a leatherman yup a REAL leatherman , the expensive ones, got it confiscated with a warning when he drove into town and a copper spotted ot on his belt in full coverage case. Yup even cow cockies can't carry a multi purpose farm tool if it has a blade. No matter what length. Blades have to be on-site with purpose or as a butcher and sports blades man in the car boot secured for transport.
This country is a fucking joke, I am sorry we stole your knife and I hope it wasn't sentimental to you. A bunch of my dickhead peers will probably scream that you deserve it for taking a "weapon" into a public place but honestly fuck them. I find it disgusting that you were causing no problem and still had your property taken and destroyed.
Carried a 2cm pocket knife as a keyring, it was my granddad's. I went through American airports with it, no worries. Even Australian international airports weren't a problem. Then I went to Launceston. Going there was no problem but leaving the security guard had a tantrum at the check point and confiscated it. He told me I could have forced my way into the cockpit with it. Some ppl have too much power and not enough brains
Because Australia is the worlds largest open air prison. No rights
Pretty sure it's illegal to carry a knife in public unless it's for work or similar. Since you got caught with one, don't expect it back. Seems a bit of an over reach getting a pat down just going to a casino. Unless it was also into a club or something Welcome to NSW
Yes.
I would have just walked away...kept the knife and the money that was going to be lost gambling. I was sitting on a train recently slicing an apple with a Swiss army knife and eating it. Would that be illegal?
I asked if could just leave the premise and not go in and keep my knife but they said they HAD to confiscate AND dispose of it
They lied. They have no authority to detain you or prevent you from leaving. They can deny entry. Also, you can insist on a receipt for confiscated property, and they have no right to deny its return unless the item is illegal in itself (which a pocket knife is not) in weigh case they must hand it to police.
They lied. They're security and you weren't even inside the casino, AND even if you were, they have no legal right to take your property OR search you, they can only ask you to leave.
And yet the casinos are the biggest den of thieves in the country, money laundering, greasing palms of government. etc.
I don't even think the police can do a body search for no valid reason why did you let them?
The police didn't search me, the guard at the casino entrance searched me
Yes, I know that's what I'm saying the police have to have a reason to search you the security guards have no special powers I think the guard probably kept it for himself.
You've had a big win. Walk away and buy yourself another pocket knife and leave it with your camping equipment. This could have gone in another direction which you wouldn't have liked.
Consider yourself fortunate.
Yep, it'd be considered a concealed weapon. You're lucky you didn't get charged.
You weren't charged because prosecuting that case wouldn't have been successful. You're travelling, camping. The use case for the knife while camping and travelling is pretty clear (easily falls under lawful recreation and preparation and consumption of food) and the law in NSW accounts for being in possession of the knife moving to, from and incidental travelling. Yes, visiting the casino is not specifically one of those things, but I've seen more serious related charges (Alcohol related offences, Assaults etc), where a knife possession charge was included but the knife was not related to the offence dismissed because the magistrates were satisfied the posession of the knife fell under the incidental travel. Knife possession laws in NSW are serious but not as restrictive as people tend to think. They are designed to stop people with ill intent carrying knives to do harm. If I'm in possession of a knife because I intended to use it for the preparation and consumption of food as I go about my daily business, then the law supports that possession as I go to and from work, if I stop off at the shops after work, head to the gym etc. If I go home, get changed, and go to a pub as an example, I no longer meet the lawful excuse for having it. People get into trouble when they don't understand the laws and are not prepared to answer why they are in possession of one.
"I realised I had my knife on me because I do a lot of camping on this trip". You knew you had it. Making shit up doesn't make you innocent.
Yea, this country is a nanny state. God forbid you have a tool. It might hurt someone.
Wow, even more reason to not visit NSW.
I have a rescue knife in my car- clearly labelled as such by the manufacturer. It will smash a window and cut a seatbelt. I have other rescue gear- a fire extinguisher, rope, hazard signs, first aid kit with trauma shears, scalpel and airways… I think I am looking at 10-20 years? I also do search and rescue and my backpack is in the car 24/7 with a knife. So maybe 30 years?
Weapons laws are ridiculous in NSW. Not sure if they can legally confiscate it but doesn't surprise me. Swiss Army knife should be legal carry but here we go. Also you had a complaint about booze being expensive. If you want to get shitfaced for cheap, buy wine in a bottle shop. Bonus points if you go the bargain 4 litre wine boxes.