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Re:The MIT Lockpicking Guide by fabulist on Monday April 14, 2014 @04:48AM (#7585134)
On a legal note;

IANAL, but I did a little research before getting started in lock picking a while back. iirc, there are no federal laws against having picks. However, states often have laws against "possession of burglary tools". In my jurisdiction, if they can establish intent to burglarize -- ie, you're also carrying an empty duffel bag, a crowbar, and a map with the bank circled on it -- its a class II felony.

I repeat; I am not a lawyer.

Re:The MIT Lockpicking Guide by Tyrannosaurs on Monday April 14, 2014 @05:00AM (#7585171)
Presumably then the issue is more about carrying them with you when you're out and about rather than having them in a toolbox at home?

In the same way you can have a big knife at home but carrying it in your bag is a problem.

Re:The MIT Lockpicking Guide by joshuak on Monday April 14, 2014 @07:31AM (#7585548)
Then you should just build them into your business card.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ranh/106709219/

Re:The MIT Lockpicking Guide by fabulist on Friday April 18, 2014 @08:38AM (#7608929)
I like how the torsion wrench works, thats clever.

I used to carry a similar card. It was a fake credit card that opened up, and had a small set of picks inside. I kept it in my wallet in case I was ever locked out.

Re:The MIT Lockpicking Guide by elsporko on Monday April 14, 2014 @09:11AM (#7585897)
I could not access Appendix B (Legal Issues) from the online version but someone posted the PDF which includes that section.

In it this very issue is addressed including the advice "It may be a good idea to carry around a xeroxed copy of the appropriate page from your state's criminal code."

Problem solved.

Re:The MIT Lockpicking Guide by emhart on Monday April 14, 2014 @10:14AM (#7586244)
State by state (and some non-us countries): http://lockwiki.com/index.php/Legal_issues
Re:The MIT Lockpicking Guide by grkvlt on Monday April 14, 2014 @09:08AM (#7585879)
An obvious hack to get around this would be to put 'Locksmith' on your business card, or get a set of cards advertising a side business as a Locksmith. Bingo, they're not burglary tools, they are required tools of the trade for your profession, similar to knife exemptions for Chefs.
Re:The MIT Lockpicking Guide by rtkwe on Monday April 14, 2014 @02:18PM (#7587848)
Most states require locksmiths to be certified and advertising services without being licensed is a bigger infraction than carrying picks.
Re:The MIT Lockpicking Guide by minikomi on Monday April 14, 2014 @05:59AM (#7585319)
Depends on where you live - in Japan, you probably don't want to be carrying them around..
Re:The MIT Lockpicking Guide by enscr on Monday April 14, 2014 @10:25AM (#7586313)
> if they can establish intent to burglarize

That's a line that'll generate hours of debate going nowhere.