Q: In oregon is it legal to carry a multitool with a knife in my pocket
i live in portland oregon and like to go out. On walks, to the taco bell with friends, hikes, lots of things. I am 15 and I bought a multitool. It has a fire starter, seatbelt cutter, glass smasher, flashlight, etc. but the biggest question is the knife it has. The knife is 3.5 inches long, about 0.7 inches wide and has to be pulled out manually. It then locks into place with a little piece of metal i have to push or pull to the side and then push the knife back into its handle. Am I legally allowed to keep the multitool in my pocket while in public. Or does the knife or multitool have to be visible at all.
A:
Oregon’s carrying concealed weapons law (ORS 166.240) makes it a Class B misdemeanor to carry concealed on your person:
- any knife with a blade that projects or swings into position by force of a spring or centrifugal force;
- any dirk, dagger, ice pick, slungshot, metal knuckles; or
- any similar instrument that could be used to inflict injury.
So no concealed switchblades, brass knuckles, etc. However, mere pocketknives with folding blades are okay. Yours sounds like a mere pocketknife, but keep in mind that the statute could be read more broadly and you could be cited for violating it. Further, cities and counties sometimes have more restrictive laws that might make it illegal to carry your knife concealed on your person. Either way, be smart out there and consult with an attorney with this and any other legal questions. Best of luck to you.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
